cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Qualitative and Quantitative Aspects of the Modern Nitrogen Cycle

The biogeochemical cycling of nitrogen was recognized and largely defined in the nineteenth century. Although great detail about both the processes and the organisms that carry them out have been reported during the 100+ years since the definition of the cycle was completed, only two new processes were added to the cycle, anaerobic ammonia oxidation and industrial fixation of N2 by the Haber-Bosch process. The latter process has injected large amounts of reactive nitrogen into the global environment such that many locations have excess nitrogen present that accelerates eutrophication, emission of greenhouse gasses, destruction of ozone, and some direct health effects. Nevertheless, nitrogen is still the primary limitation on food production, and as the world population continues to increase, the demand for nitrogen fertilizer will continue to drive fixation of N2 into reactive nitrogen faster than denitrification and anammox can return it to the atmosphere as the nonreactive N2.
187 Application of text mining methods to identify lupus nephritis from electronic health records

Background Lupus nephritis (LN), or chronic inflammation of the kidneys, is a frequent complication of SLE and associated with higher overall morbidity and mortality. Previous studies have found that LN affects individuals of Hispanic, African American and Asian descent more than those of European ancestry. Accurate estimates of LN in the population remain limited due to the inability to capture this information through structured data fields in electronic health records (EHRs). We aimed to develop a text mining pipeline to extract information on LN diagnosis within clinical notes in the EHR of a large, diverse university health system. Methods Individuals with a single diagnosis code for SLE (710.0) during June 1, 2012 November 5, 2016 from the EHR of a university health system were included (n=2,509). All clinical notes for patients were extracted and annotated using a clinical text-mining tool, the Clinical Event Recognizer (CLEVER), and a custom-built dictionary that included lupus nephritis and associated terms. Positive and negative mentions of LN were tagged and evaluated for performance. Results Over 1300 positive and 400 negative mentions of LN were detected from clinical notes. Manual review of 50 note mentions (25 positive and 25 negative) determined that our text-mining tool detected LN with 79% sensitivity and 86% specificity (table). Conclusions We conducted the first text-mining strategy to extract LN status from clinical notes. Additional evaluation of the LN text-mining pipeline on a gold-standard chart-reviewed cohort of SLE patients (n=332) is ongoing. Further refinement of the pipeline will allow us to classify stage of LN (Class I-V) to better phenotype SLE severity, and conduct follow-up studies to determine factors associated with this important disease outcome. Funding Source(s): NIH-NIAMS F32 AR070585 (Gianfrancesco)
Rural implications of a needs assessment of physical educators with mainstreamed disabled students: A case study in Colorado:

Results of a physical education needs assessment survey in the state of Colorado were compiled to determine comparative needs of rural and non-rural teachers and programs. Five hundred and eighty teachers were surveyed, 87 of whom served in rural areas. Physical educators in rural areas had the least number of disabled students in regular classrooms, yet were the most involved teachers in the placement process. Rural physical educators were the most likely to share their financial resources with programs for the disabled, but had the smallest budgets from which to draw funds. They also did the best overall job of partici-pating in the IEP process, yet seemed least trained in assessment and evaluation.
Full-Field Deformation Measurement of Morphing Wings

A micro air vehicle that can achieve a versatile flight condition is being designed. One way of achieving such versatility is through biomimicry. One aspect of this design utilizes a bird-like wing that changes shape to match four flight regimes; take-off-and -landing, cruise, high speed dash and one that enhances maneuverability. A joint mechanism using a tendon actuator between the inboard and the outboard portions of the wing is used to modify wing sweep. Macro fiber composites (MFCs) piezoelectric actuators in a bi-morph configuration are incorporated into the MAVs as control mechanism. Camber changes are implemented with tendon actuators. Finite element is used to model the wing section and perform a full-field deformation study and compared with experimental results. Digital image correlation is used to validate the wing deformations predicted by finite element method (FEA).
The Puzzle of the Constitutional Home

The home enjoys a special place in American constitutional law. A doctrinal thread runs across the first five amendments that demarcates the home as a realm in which rights enjoy elevated protection. That thread covers rights involving smut, guns, soldiers, searches, and self-incrimination, but inexplicably does not extend to takings. This stark dichotomy between the solicitude of the home for most rights and the opposite for takings produces a deep puzzle. This Article contends that the answer to this fundamental puzzle is that the Court’s takings doctrine, unlike the home-centric doctrines in the Bill of Rights, is infected with post-Lochner v. New York judicial deference to economic regulation. This has influenced the Court’s aversion to a special protections doctrine to homes under the Takings Clause. This Article argues that, as a matter of constitutional coherence theory, which prizes doctrinal symmetry and harmony, the Court should, in limited circumstances, extend the home-centric thread to protect homes in takings that expropriate title to or impact the economic value of homes. This Article also grapples with several broader methodological, doctrinal, and theoretical implications. First, the Court consistently applies atextual methods of interpretation of the home. Second, this atextual interpretive pattern of influence supports this Article’s proposition that the home-centric doctrinal thread should extend to takings. Finally, a congruent home-centric Bill of Rights that extends to takings aligns neatly with constitutional coherence theory.
Efficacy of fenugreek seed extract on men's psychological and physical health: a randomized placebo-controlled double-blind clinical trial.

Objectives Limited research has examined the effects of fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum L.) supplementation to improve healthy younger men's aging male symptoms. The study objective was to examine whether a fenugreek seed extract would improve healthy men's aging male symptoms, health-related quality of life (HRQoL), grip strength, and anxiety. Methods Randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial was employed, using a parallel design, with assessments at baseline, Day 30, and Day 60. Healthy male volunteers (n = 57, mean age = 26.1 years) were randomized to: fenugreek 400 mg/d (n = 19), fenugreek 500 mg/d (n = 19), or placebo group (n = 19). Results The fenugreek groups reported significant improvements in aging male symptoms, anxiety levels, grip strength, and indicators of HRQoL compared to the placebo group, p's < 0.05. No adverse events were reported. Conclusion Fenugreek supplementation is an effective nutritional intervention for improving aging male symptoms, anxiety levels, grip strength, and aspects of HRQoL in healthy recreationally active men. Future researchers are encouraged to examine the health and ergogenic effects of fenugreek supplementation in hypogonadal and older populations. Trial registration Clinicaltrials.gov identifier NCT03528538.
Exoenzyme Y Contributes to End-Organ Dysfunction Caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa Pneumonia in Critically Ill Patients: An Exploratory Study

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is an opportunistic pathogen that causes pneumonia in immunocompromised and intensive care unit (ICU) patients. During host infection, P. aeruginosa upregulates the type III secretion system (T3SS), which is used to intoxicate host cells with exoenzyme (Exo) virulence factors. Of the four known Exo virulence factors (U, S, T and Y), ExoU has been shown in prior studies to associate with high mortality rates. Preclinical studies have shown that ExoY is an important edema factor in lung infection caused by P. aeruginosa, although its importance in clinical isolates of P. aeruginosa is unknown. We hypothesized that expression of ExoY would be highly prevalent in clinical isolates and would significantly contribute to patient morbidity secondary to P. aeruginosa pneumonia. A single-center, prospective observational study was conducted at the University of Alabama at Birmingham Hospital. Mechanically ventilated ICU patients with a bronchoalveolar lavage fluid culture positive for P. aeruginosa were included. Enrolled patients were followed from ICU admission to discharge and clinical P. aeruginosa isolates were genotyped for the presence of exoenzyme genes. Ninety-nine patients were enrolled in the study. ExoY was present in 93% of P. aeruginosa clinical isolates. Moreover, ExoY alone (ExoY+/ExoU-) was present in 75% of P. aeruginosa isolates, compared to 2% ExoU alone (ExoY-/ExoU+). We found that bacteria isolated from human samples expressed active ExoY and ExoU, and the presence of ExoY in clinical isolates was associated with end-organ dysfunction. This is the first study we are aware of that demonstrates that ExoY is important in clinical outcomes secondary to nosocomial pneumonia.
Chemical, Biological, Radiological, or Nuclear Event (CBRNE): Prehospital and Hospital Management

Medical responders should assume that all blast incidents, whether intentional or unintentional, carry the potential for exposure to hazardous materials. Hazardous materials (HAZMAT) are generally considered to include chemical, biological, radiological agents and nuclear waste (CBRN), each with distinct characteristics. If there are concerns for provider health and safety at an incident, the area must be secured and access restricted. On-scene priorities include discovery of survivors, performing lifesaving interventions, decontamination and extrication, and triage and evacuation. Hospital providers also face challenges including the safety and security of the facility and those on-site, and a surge of patients with severe and unusual illness and injury patterns. Staff, medication, and supplies can be rapidly depleted by the increased demand. Considering these challenges in advance facilitates appropriate planning and minimizes disruption of care.
A seawater-sulfate origin for early Earth’s volcanic sulfur

Mass-independent fractionation of sulfur isotopes (MIF-S)—as recorded primarily in pre-2.5 billion years ago (Ga) sedimentary rocks—has been interpreted as evidence of photolysis of volcanic SO2 in an anoxic troposphere. Here, I present thermodynamic and kinetic calculations, combined with data on the geology, mineralogy and chemical and isotopic compositions of modern and Archaean (3.8–2.5 Ga) aged volcanic samples from different tectonic settings, to examine early Earth’s sulfur cycle. Based partly on the similarities between submarine hydrothermal deposits and arc volcanic rocks in pyrite (FeS2) abundances and sulfur isotopic compositions (for example, the presence of both positive and negative δ34S values), I conclude that degassing of sulfur (mostly as SO2) into the atmosphere has been carried out primarily by subaerial eruptions of oxidized, arc-like magmas since at least 3.5 Ga. The generation of volcanic SO2 requires plate tectonics and the involvement of sulfate-rich seawater, which requires large exposed lands and an oxygenated atmosphere. I propose that the MIF-S signatures in sedimentary rocks were created by ultraviolet photochemical reactions between SO2 from explosive volcanic eruptions and O2 in the stratosphere, above an oxygen-rich troposphere, or by high-temperature reactions between organic compounds and sulfate in the oceans. Formation of mass-independent isotope fractionation of sulfur signatures recorded in Archaean sedimentary rocks could have occurred in an oxygen-rich atmosphere, according to thermodynamic and kinetic calculations and analysis of Earth’s early sulfur cycle.
Encapsulation technology to improve biological resource recovery: recent advancements and research opportunities

Encapsulation technology has been extensively investigated for various microbiological applications for decades. Combined with biological processes, encapsulated bacteria have great potential to efficiently and cost-effectively recover resources (e.g., hydrogen, methane, metals) from various waste streams, such as wastewater, metal wastes, and sludge. This review focuses on recent advances in four areas: encapsulation of specific bacteria or biocatalysts, effectiveness in separating the solids retention time from the hydraulic retention time, control of the encapsulant internal environment, and improved reusability and storability of encapsulated bacteria. In most cases, encapsulation technology enhanced biological resource recovery by facilitating stable high-rate operation; nevertheless, challenges remain that limit application. Consequently, this review points to three major research opportunities that, if addressed, could enable broader application of encapsulated bacteria for resource recovery: (1) encapsulant impacts on bacterial growth, leakage, and community changes with time, (2) use of encapsulant chemistry to control the encapsulant internal environment, and (3) modifications of the encapsulant matrix to improve the reusability and storage of bacteria. With the better control and predictability that should result, the use of encapsulation technology in biological processes could be further advanced as a reliable and efficient option for resource recovery.
Simulations and testing of the mechanical properties of small core optical fibers for ureteroscopy

Thulium fiber laser (TFL) lithotripsy has recently been introduced for clinical use. Previous TFL laboratory studies demonstrated high-power delivery through small (50- to 150-μm core) optical fibers. This preliminary study simulates forces on fibers during insertion into a flexible ureteroscope and determines mechanical feasibility of small fibers for a clinical setting. Simulations were conducted with commercially available fiber (core/cladding) sizes of 50/70, 72/108, 100/140, 150/165, 150/180, and 200 / 240 μm. Solidworks software integrating Euler’s buckling equation was used to calculate fiber buckling thresholds as a function of typical manual forces (0.15 to 2.0 N) applied near the proximal end of a ureteroscope. Forces on fibers were modeled assuming support from saline flow and resistance by the working channel wall. Simulation results were categorized based on force values previously reported in the literature, with smaller forces ( 1.6 to 2.0 N) at risk of damaging the ureteroscope working channel. Fiber sizes were simulated with two different types of holdings on each end to find a range of possible values that most closely simulate clinical behavior. Simulation results were confirmed using a force meter and a benchtop experimental setup. Numerical simulations predicted that optical fibers for TFL lithotripsy should be equal to or larger than 150 / 190 μm (core/cladding), for effective manual manipulation within flexible ureteroscopes.
Teachers as redesigners of curriculum to teach mathematics through problem posing: conceptualization and initial findings of a problem‑posing project

Problem posing, the process of formulating problems based on a given situation, is an essential practice in mathematics and other disciplines. Although this is acknowledged in policy documents, problem posing is neither substantively nor consistently included in the school mathematics curriculum. In this paper, we first comment on the state of problem posing in school mathematics and discuss three recommendations to improve its integration into curriculum materials and classroom practice. These recommendations present a low barrier to entry for teachers and students and require only minor changes to common mathematics classroom activities and curriculum materials. Based on the three recommendations, as well as the features of effective teacher professional development, a program was created to investigate longitudinally the impact of problem-posing professional development on teachers’ conceptions of problem posing and their design of lessons to teach mathematics using problem posing, as well as on students’ learning. Initial findings are presented, including the significant changes in teachers’ conceptions of problem posing and teachers’ design of lessons to teach mathematics using problem posing, as well as the impact on students’ learning.
Detection of pixels corrupted by impulse noise using random point patterns

This paper presents a novel method for the detection of binary- and random-valued impulsive noise in contaminated images. The noise detector has been developed to classify the certain intensity image pixels as corrupted or uncorrupted based on their relative position. To perform such classification, we regard noise as random points and propose to use the properties of random point patterns that are formed based on a noisy image. Pixels of each image intensity are checked by what type of point pattern they form based on the Clark–Evans test. In the case of random or regular type, pixels of this intensity are classified as noise. For intensity pixels designated as a cluster, the search of isolated points is performed. In case of a homogeneity test fail, they are also classified as noise. The proposed technique can be applied to color images. Extensive simulation experiments indicate that the proposed detection approach outperforms many well-known means.
Abstract 238: Exhaustive tumor specific antigen detection with RNAseq

Background: Tumor specific antigen (TSA) identification in human cancer predicts response to immunotherapy and provides vaccine targets for precision medicine. In addition to neoantigens from somatic coding mutations, numerous non-mutated TSAs can elicit T-cell responses but are often overlooked by current methods. We present a method that accurately and comprehensively predict TSAs from RNAseq data regardless of mutation status. Methods: HLA-I genotypes were predicted with seq2HLA. RNAseq fastq files were translated into all possible peptides of length 8-11, and peptides with high expression in the tumor and comparatively low expression in normal were tested for their MHC-I binding potential with netMHCpan-4.0. We defined our predicted TSA by i) high expression in tumor samples, ii) low expression in normal samples, and iii) high predicted patient-specific MHC-I binding affinity. Results: We developed a novel pipeline for TSA prediction from RNAseq that is not limited to mutation-derived TSAs. This pipeline was used to predict all possible unique peptides size 8-11 on previously published murine and human lung and lymphoma tumors then validated on matched tumor and control lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) samples. This pipeline is able to predict TSAs in MHC-I ligand-purified proteomics data with favorable performance to existing methods. Furthermore, neoantigens predicted by exomeSeq are typically poorly expressed at the RNA level, (28% of predicted neoantigens with >0 expression, mean of 15.6 reads/sample) and a fraction of them (47/6,928, 0.68%) are expressed in matched normal samples. Finally, a set of 6 TSAs are expressed in 22/39 (56%) of LUAD tumors and represent attractive vaccine targets. Conclusion: Direct quantification of RNAseq evidence of the potential peptidome in matched tumor and control RNAseq samples, via our novel pipeline, allows for exhaustive detection of TSAs. Citation Format: Michael Sharpnack, Travis Johnson, Robert Chalkley, Zhi Han, David Carbone, Kun Huang, Kai He. Exhaustive tumor specific antigen detection with RNAseq [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2021; 2021 Apr 10-15 and May 17-21. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2021;81(13_Suppl):Abstract nr 238.
Infants and Children Adopted Internationally

Children adopted internationally (CAI) demonstrate different developmental outcomes and trajectories than children who do not experience international adoption. They are exposed to prenatal and postpartum risks including poor nutrition, limited medical care, and inappropriate developmental, cognitive, communicative, and social-emotional care prior to adoption. Due to the international nature of the process, these children also experience an interruption in their birth language acquisition, forcing them to start over in language learning of an adopted language. Because of these many different experiences, CAI perform differently than peers who are not adopted on measures of development and tend to score in the low average range compared to norms on standardized measures. This is also evident in the pragmatic and social communication skills of CAI which are at risk during development. In addition to these differences, CAI do not demonstrate sustained and consistent developmental progression like nonadopted peers which may place them at greater risk of academic problems as they mature. The purpose of this chapter is to describe the risk factors involved in international adoption, the current research on developmental outcomes, and clinical guidelines for assessing and treating CAI.
The Anxious Athlete: Mental Health and Sports’ Duty and Advantage to Protect

Individuals of all ages revere elite athletes as role models and heroes. Yet what most do not see is that many of the greatest athletes are dealing, or have dealt, with some form of mental illness or mental health challenge. These athletes and others have set in motion a global conversation across sports regarding the responsibilities that leagues, teams, and sport governing bodies have to address and to accommodate players with mental health issues. The emergence of this dialogue compels the inquiry into the legal, contractual, and moral obligations of sport governing bodies, as well as the practical competitive benefits to addressing athlete mental health concerns. This paper focuses on athlete mental health and submits that all constituents in the sport network (i.e., governing bodies, teams, coaches, athletic support personnel, parents, peers, media, and fans) consider athletes’ full wellness, both physical and emotional. With the foregoing considerations in mind, the paper examines the issues concerning athlete mental health, along with sports’ role, potential complicity, and responsibility. Part II considers the scope and accounts of anxiety, depression, and overall mental health concerns among athletes in youth, elite, amateur, and professional sport. Part II also explores the prospect that competitive sport may foster increased risks to mental health, noting athlete accounts of mental distress and recognizing athletes who have come forward to raise awareness of and to destigmatize mental health needs. Part III examines legal issues raised regarding athlete mental health, including application of the Americans with Disabilities Act (“ADA”), duties to report, identify and accommodate athlete mental health, confidentiality in reporting and identifying athlete mental health concerns, impact on contractual obligations, player discipline and recruiting. Part IV surveys initiatives that major leagues and governing organizations have recently implemented in addressing player mental health and proposes areas where these programs can be improved. Part V concludes by emphasizing the rising call for sport leadership and stakeholders to attune to athlete mental health conscientiously and compassionately and to provide programs and access to resources that help athletes achieve their highest performance, proposing elements for a model player mental health protocol and stressing that awareness of athlete emotional health is as important as, if not more than, what it truly means to win.
Controlled Microwave Processing of IGZO Thin Films for Improved Optical and Electrical Properties

Amorphous indium gallium zinc oxides (IGZO) of 100 nm thickness were deposited onto glass substrates by sputtering at room temperature. The films were subsequently annealed in air, vacuum, forming gas and O2 environments by both conventional and microwave methods. The optical and electrical properties of the as-deposited and annealed samples were measured and compared. It was seen that microwave annealing had a dual advantage of reduced time and lower temperature compared to conventional annealing. The optical and electrical properties of the IGZO thin films were measured by UV–Visible spectrophotometry, Hall measurement and four-point probe analyses, respectively. On microwave anneals of 4 min at 200°C, the resistivity of IGZO thin films was lowered to 4.45 and 4.24 × 10−3 Ω-cm in vacuum and forming gas, respectively. However in conventional annealing at 400°C, it took 24 h to reach 4.5 and 4.2 × 10−3 Ω-cm in vacuum and forming gas, respectively. The average transmittance of IGZO improved from 80% to almost 86% for microwave annealing.
Serological Analysis of the Deoxyribonucleic Acid Polymerase of Avian Oncornaviruses I. Preparation and Characterization of Monospecific Antiserum with Purified Deoxyribonucleic Acid Polymerase

Monospecific antiserum was prepared against purified deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) polymerase from avian myeloblastosis virus (AMV). Immunodiffusion assay with purified DNA polymerase revealed that the anti-DNA polymerase serum formed one precipitation band, whereas no reaction with any of the seven major structural proteins of AMV was observed. The antiserum also demonstrated enzyme-neutralizing antibody activity that was associated with the immunoglobulin G fraction. There was no difference in the neutralization of DNA polymerase activity directed by ribonucleic acid (RNA), DNA, or RNA-DNA hybrid templates.
Patient‐reported cognitive functioning and daily functioning in chronic dialysis patients

Subjective cognitive impairment negatively affects daily functioning, health-related quality of life, and health care consumption, and is predictive of future cognitive decline in many patient populations. However, no subjective measures of multidimensional cognitive functioning have been evaluated for dialysis patients. Our purposes were to examine (1) the association between patient-reported (subjective) cognitive functioning and objective cognitive functioning and (2) the relationships between subjective and objective cognitive functioning and everyday functioning of dialysis patients. We used baseline data from an ongoing longitudinal observational study of trajectories in dialysis patients' multidimensional quality of life. One hundred thirty-five patients completed a telephone-based neuropsychological battery (Brief Test of Adult Cognition by Telephone, a measure of objective cognitive functioning), a measure of subjective cognitive functioning (Patient's Assessment of Own Functioning Inventory), and measures of everyday functioning (Activities of Daily Living [ADL] and Instrumental Activities of Daily Living [IADL] scales). After controlling for age and education, there was a modest correlation (r = 0.33, P > 0.001) between subjective and objective cognitive functioning. Multivariate logistic regression models showed subjective, but not objective, cognitive functioning was a significant predictor of both ADLs and IADLs. The findings suggest the potential clinical value of subjective measures of cognitive functioning, not to replace objective measures or diagnostic tests, but rather to optimize the meaningfulness of clinical assessment and management.
STUDIES OF THE DISTRIBUTIONS OF LIPIDS IN HYPERCHOLESTEREMIC RATS. 3. CHANGES IN HYPERCHOLESTEREMIA AND TISSUE FATTY ACIDS INDUCED BY DIETARY FATS AND MARINE OIL FRACTIONS.

Abstract The hypocholesteremic activities of dogfish liver oil and tuna and menhaden oils were duplicated by feeding rats proportionate amounts of the fatty acid components of the oils; neither selachyl alcohol nor the unsaponifiable components of the oils affected the hypercholesteremia of the rats. The relative hypocholesteremic activities of menhaden oil fatty acid ester fractions (I.V. of 48.6–353) were not predictable on the basis of such criteria as their total unsaturation, contents of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), or contents of more saturated acids. The hypocholesteremic activity of the fraction with an iodine value of 48.6 was similar to that of corn oil (I.V. = 124). Only minor amounts of the linolenate homologues were required to promote significant reductions in the cholesterol contents of the livers in these rats. Rats fed tallow-PUFA mixtures incorporated little of the available PUFA into the cholesterol esters of their tissues. However, a homeostatic mechanism appeared to regulate the incorporation of appreciable and uniform amounts of available PUFA into the plasma phospholipids and myocardia of the rats. The PUFA patterns in the plasma and liver suggested that the preconditioned animals had a partial depletion of the essential fatty acid (EFA) reserves for these tissues. However, a very adequate supply of EFA was apparently available for the myocardial tissues of these same rats. The fractionation of marine oils and some modified methods for lipid analyses are discussed.
FSH isoforms, radioimmunoassays, bioassays, and their significance.

: Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) plays a central role in steroidogenesis and gametogenesis. In recent years, a great deal has been learned about the microheterogeneity of FSH using newly developed assay techniques. This review article will attempt to discuss the advantages and the limitations of recently developed and commonly used assay systems.
Critical challenges in packaging MEMS devices

This paper reviews several current MEMS based products and highlights the critical packaging challenges for these devices. Several package configurations are shown, and issues around processing, material selection, and particle control are discussed. The package configurations are divided into three main groups: cavity packages, plastic molded packages, and wafer level packages. Several alternate process flows for these package types are reviewed, and the advantages and disadvantages of each flow are highlighted. Wafer bonding processes and anti-stiction measures are covered in some detail, since they are critical to many of the package configurations. The practice of silicone gel coating as a method of encapsulating MEMS devices is also discussed
Human and Machine Performance in an Inspection Task

Inspectors inspected a batch of 162 metal cylindrical items. These were later inspected by a prototype inspection device so that performance of human and machine could be compared. Receiver operati...
How Valid Are Self-Reports of Illness-Related Absence? Evidence from a University Employee Health Management Program

The present study uses a focused approach to compare self-reported versus administratively recorded measures of absences related to health or illness. To date, the few studies that focus on this topic produced mixed results. To help shed light on this issue, the present research has 2 related objectives: (1) examine how highly correlated self-reported and administratively recorded measures of absences related to health or illness might be, and (2) how each measure predicts various aspects of health. Using data from the 2012 StayWell® Health Management health risk appraisal (HRA) and 1 year (2011) of administratively recorded timekeeping data, bivariate analyses for continuous variables and generalized linear modeling for variables with greater than 2 response categories were used. For the multivariate analyses, linear regression models controlling for sex, age, race, income, job status, and campus location were calculated for the continuous outcomes (ie, self-rated health and chronic conditions). Results indicate that self-reported and administratively recorded absences related to health or illness were moderately correlated (correlation coefficient of 0.47). In addition, each measure functioned similarly (in direction and magnitude) to predict health outcomes. Both greater self-reported and recorded illness-related absenteeism was associated with poorer self-rated health and greater numbers of chronic conditions. These results suggest that self-rated illness-related absenteeism may be a reasonable way to assess various program outcomes meaningful to employers, particularly if administratively recorded measures are unavailable or too time consuming or expensive to analyze.
TreeHouse: JavaScript sandboxes to helpWeb developers help themselves

Many Web applications (meaning sites that employ JavaScript) incorporate third-party code and, for reasons rooted in today's Web ecosystem, are vulnerable to bugs or malice in that code. Our goal is to give Web developers a mechanism that (a) contains included code, limiting (or eliminating) its influence as appropriate; and (b) is deployable today, or very shortly. While the goal of containment is far from new, the requirement of deployability leads us to a new design point, one that applies the OS ideas of sandboxing and virtualization to the JavaScript context. Our approach, called TreeHouse, sandboxes JavaScript code by repurposing a feature of current browsers (namely Web Workers). TreeHouse virtualizes the browser's API to the sandboxed code (allowing the code to run with few or no modifications) and gives the application author fine-grained control over that code. Our implementation and evaluation of Tree-House show that its overhead is modest enough to handle performance-sensitive applications and that sandboxing existing code is not difficult.
Cystic fibrosis in the American Indian.

Cystic fibrosis is a generalized, familial disorder exhibiting a marked ethnic variation. This paper presents the first two cases of this disorder reported in the American Indian population. The family pedigrees of these patients are described and certain genetic aspects of this disease are discussed briefly. Possible anthropological reasons for the occurrence of this disease in this racial group are mentioned.
InP MESFET with high breakdown voltage

The authors report the fabrication of an InP n-channel MESFET with high breakdown voltage. Using buried p/sup +/ planar doping, they have obtained enhanced Schottky gate barrier greater than 1.0 eV and gate-drain breakdown voltage in excess of 30 V. RF measurement gave a maximum frequency of oscillation, f/sub max/, =15 GHz for the 1- mu m gate length device and 9 GHz for the 2- mu m device. The high gate-drain breakdown voltage allows these devices to pinch-off at high drain-source bias. Currently the thermal breakdown at the mesa edges limits these devices from operating at high drain current, and the RF performance is basically limited by the ohmic contacts resistivity. With optimizations in these areas, InP MESFET operating at higher power and frequency is very possible. >
Seeded Fault Testing of Military Ground Vehicles as a Pathway to Condition Based Maintenance

The performance of military ground vehicle systems is being degraded due to high operation tempo and exposure to extreme environments while performing in-theater service. To address this issue, the US Army is implementing a policy of Condition Based Maintenance which is supported by the Army Material System Analysis Activity (AMSAA). The vision of this policy is to base the maintenance of systems upon the actual condition of the system and not upon time- or distance-based schedules. This capability will be enabled by the application of usage, diagnostic and prognostic processes executed on a Health and Usage Monitoring System (HUMS) installed on these vehicle systems. A thorough understanding of the ways in which the system condition is degenerated and the ability of the HUMS to detect, identify, and communicate all conditions that require maintenance in a timely manner are key requirements of these processes. Seeded Fault Testing is the critical means of fulfilling these requirements. A joint Seeded Fault Testing project between AMSAA and the US Army Aberdeen Test Center (ATC) has been initiated to gain a thorough understanding of ground vehicle system condition degeneration and HUMS implementation of products and processes that can accurately identify and communicate it. A military vehicle underwent exhaustive testing in support of this project. The vehicle was subjected to specific use scenarios while carefully controlled faults are induced in engine, transmission, and other key mechanical subsystems that would degrade vehicle performance and degenerate system condition. The vehicle’s induced faults included lowered coolant levels to simulate leakage, restriction of air flow across radiators and filters to simulate dust and debris accumulation, and lowered transmission and engine oil levels to simulate leakage and usage. The objective of this project was to use the results from the seeded fault tests to establish critical thresholds, trends, and patterns that will be the basis of the creation and implementation of real-time HUMS-based algorithms that predict faults, warn operators and maintainers of imminent failures, and provide a sound foundation for Condition Based Maintenance.
Electron-beam-induced structural changes in crystalline C60 and C70

High-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), electron diffraction, and electron energy-loss spectroscopy (EELS) were used to characterize electron-beam-induced structural transformations in crystalline samples of C60 and C70. During these transformations, the electron-diffraction patterns became progressively more diffuse, with the outer diffraction spots disappearing first, followed in succession by the disappearance of the inner spots. We interpret this course of evolution in the diffraction patterns as evidence of degradation of the crystalline structure via the destruction of individual molecules, as opposed to electron-beam-induced motion of intact fullerene molecules. EELS analyses of the data indicate that the final state of these transformations was amorphous carbon.
Circadian activity rhythms in cockroaches. III. The role of endocrine and neural factors

The control of circadian activity rhythms (diurnal rhythms) in insects has been suggested to result by periodic neuroendocrine secretions. More specifically, Harker ('56) claimed that the locomotor rhythm in the cockroach, Periplaneta americana, is timed by a secretory “clock” located in the subesophageal ganglion. Later experiments by Harker indicated that this “clock” function failed unless the retrocerebral organs were left intact; allatectomy was said (no evidence given) to abolish a rhythm. The procedure for demonstrating a “clock” function in the ganglion involved transplanting it from a rhythmic donor into the hemocoel of an arrhythmic host and observing that the host subsequently became rhythmic. This result (without explicit information about the phase of the rhythm) does not warrant the conclusion that the ganglion acts as a clock. Therefore, I have attempted to confirm and extend these important results. Employing techniques essentially identical to Harker's, and using the same species of roach, I have been unable to find any evidence to support the original claim: (1) in 20 test animals, implantation of ganglia from rhythmic donors failed to re-instate a rhythm, and (2) allatectomy (22 cases) or removal of the entire retrocerebral complex (20 cases) did not interfere with the rhythm. The results of another series of experiments show that the cockroach brain is involved in the control of the activity rhythm. When the brain is surgically bisected (mid-sagittal) through the pars intercerebralis, arrhythmic activity patterns are immediately evoked. These continue for many weeks, but in a few cases rhythms ultimately “regenerate”.
Miniemulsion polymerization of styrene: Evolution of the particle size distribution

The mechanism of the miniemulsion polymerization of styrene was investigated through a combination of calorimetry to monitor the polymerization rate and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) to follow the evolution of the particle size distribution. These techniques proved to be a powerful combination for gaining detailed mechanistic information regarding these polymerizations. Particle size analysis of the latexes withdrawn during the course of the reaction revealed that most of the polymer particles were formed by a relatively low conversion (i.e., 10% conversion). However, nucleation continued well past this point (to 40-60% conversion). In fact, it was observed that nucleation in miniemulsion polymerizations using cetyl alcohol continued past the maximum in the rate of polymerization. As a result of these long nucleation periods, the latex particle size distributions produced from these miniemulsion polymerizations were broader than their conventional emulsion polymerization counterparts, and were negatively skewed with a tail of small particles. The amount of negative skewing of the particle size distributions was found to decrease with increasing initiator (potassium persulfate) concentration. Finally, a correlation was observed between the length of time to the maximum polymerization rate and the breadth of the particle size distribution as reflected in the standard deviation
Flor, H., & Turk, D. C. (2011)Chronic Pain: An Integrated Biobehavioral Approach Seattle: IASP Press

Abstract Chronic pain is a significant health-care problem that impacts millions of Americans and costs our economy billions of dollars each year. Research indicates that cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) can be an effective approach for teaching individuals with chronic pain ways of managing their pain more effectively. In Chronic Pain: An Integrated Biobehavioral Approach , Drs. Dennis Turk and Herta Flor (2011) provide a well-written and clear product that skillfully integrates pain-relevant science and research with information that is directly relevant for clinical practice. This book is highly recommended for any clinician interested in working with patients who have chronic pain.
Assessing reproductive profiles in female brown mouse lemurs (Microcebus rufus) from Ranomafana National Park, southeast Madagascar, using fecal hormone analysis.

Studies on reproductive endocrinology in wild primate populations have greatly increased in the last decades owing to the development of noninvasive techniques that can be applied under field conditions. However, small-bodied nocturnal species are not well represented on the long list of primates surveyed in the wild, and reproductive inferences regarding these animals in their natural habitats have not benefited from direct observations of hormonal changes. We collected fecal samples from female brown mouse lemurs (Microcebus rufus) in a southeastern rainforest of Madagascar in order to determine whether or not fecally excreted steroid levels show a consistent pattern of change during the reproductive season and are a useful complement to reproductive observations in wild-trapped individuals. Initial data show variation in reproductive hormone levels before and after estrus and estimated day of parturition. Elevated levels of excreted estradiol (E2) were observed around the time of estrus, whereas high levels of fecal progesterone (P) were seen during later stages of pregnancy and around parturition. A more complete picture of reproductive profiles in female mouse lemurs, and how they may change over the life span, can be obtained if hormone analyses are used to supplement field observations. Am. J. Primatol. 71:439–446, 2009. © 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
A new observation - chronic villitis in untreated neonatal alloimmune thrombocytopenia (NAIT): An etiology for severe early intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) and the effect of intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) therapy

ALLOIMMUNE THROMBOCYTOPENIA (NAIT): AN ETIOLOGY FOR SEVERE EARLY INTRAUTERINE GROWTH RESTRICTION (IUGR) AND THE EFFECT OF INTRAVENOUS IMMUNOGLOBULIN (IVIG) THERAPY JANYNE ALTHAUS, EDWARD WEIR, FREDERIC ASKIN, THOMAS KICKLER, KARIN BLAKEMORE, Johns Hopkins University, OB/GYN, Baltimore, Maryland, Johns Hopkins University, Pathology, Baltimore, Maryland OBJECTIVE: To examine placental histopathology in IVIG-treated and untreated NAIT pregnancies and correlate pathological findings with clinical outcomes. STUDY DESIGN: Placentas of 14 NAIT-affected pregnancies were identified from 8 women. Data concerning maternal antepartum treatment with IVIG (1 g/kg weekly) vs no treatment, and fetal/neonatal outcomes including IUGR, intrauterine fetal demise (IUFD), and intracranial hemorrhage (ICH) were abstracted from the medical records. Placental H&E sections were read and graded (mild, moderate, severe) by two pathologists blinded to the clinical data. Histopathology and clinical outcomes were compared between IVIG and no IVIG treatment groups using c. One subject, not treated until after an ICH was diagnosed at 21 weeks, was excluded from the analysis. P ! .05 was considered significant. RESULTS: Five of 6 untreated pregnancies demonstrated pathological changes in the placenta including chronic villitis, advanced villus maturation, and increased syncytial knots (Table). IUGR and IUFD occurred as frequently as ICH in this group, with one subject presenting with her 3rd pregnancy affected by severe early IUGR. Seven pregnancies were treated with IVIG beginning at 12 ( n = 6) or 17 (n = 1) weeks. None of the 7 IVIG-treated pregnancies showed chronic villitis or any histologic findings described as severe. IUGR, IUFD or ICH did not occur in the IVIG-treated group. CONCLUSION: Chronic villitis is frequently manifest in NAIT, with IVIG alleviating this inflammatory immunologic response. NAIT should be reconsidered as a multifaceted disease process with adverse consequences that extend beyond thrombocytopenia and include IUGR and IUFD. We suspect a more universal role for the maternal antibody in NAIT, such as fetal endothelial cell damage.
Insights Gained From 50 Years of Studying the Evolution of Self-Compatibility in Leavenworthia (Brassicaceae)

The shift from outcrossing to selfing is one of the most common evolutionary trends in plants, and there is intense interest in why this is so. The genus Leavenworthia has been the focus of research on this question for half of a century, with particular attention paid to the evolution of self-compatibility from self-incompatibility. In this review, we discuss the last 50 years of research concerning this evolutionary transition in Leavenworthia. Selfing appears to have evolved independently at minimum three times within this genus of eight species. Work on the ecological basis of mating system evolution in Leavenworthia has clarified that selection among individuals is likely a major force behind the recurrent evolution of selfing. Although inadequate pollination is appreciated as a factor favoring selfing, definitive ecological mechanisms that act to favor selfing are still not known and future work on the efficacy of pollinating bees and the effects of climate change is needed. Recent research has likely identified the SRK ortholog at the S-locus controlling self-incompatibility in Leavenworthia alabamica. Analyses of S-locus variation have revealed substantial S-allele diversity in outcrossing populations, with the recurrent fixation of mutations at the S-locus permitting the parallel evolution of selfing in this species. Although we appreciate some of the factors that may explain the evolution of selfing in this group, there is less known about the mechanisms underlying the widespread maintenance of outcrossing at the population and species levels. Studies in Leavenworthia have revealed that genetic diversity is lost over the long-term within selfing populations and leads to elevated population subdivision, but work is needed to determine why these genetic consequences of selfing cause lineages to become evolutionary dead ends.