cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Using Dyson’s Probability Expression for Gerstsenshtein Coupling Between Photons and Graviton Interaction for Minimum B Field in Tokamak GW Detection Experiment, and Possible Developments if a Refinement on the Gertsenshtein Process is Confirmed Experimen

As of 2012, and put in a journal in 2013, Dyson came up with criteria as to the Gertsenshtein process in photon-graviton coupling, with criteria as to the likelihood as to if the Gertsenshtein process actually can occur. This methodology is applied to a small spatial geometry as to Tokamak’s with a 100% probability of Gertsenshtein coupling of gravitons and photons, if there is a magnetic field of magnitude 10 to the 9th power, Gauss. This coupled with a GW and graviton frequency of order 10 to the 9th power, Hertz. The high GW frequency is justified in a prior analysis done by the author, and the magnetic field of 10 to the 9th power Gauss is enough to insure that within a GW detector that there is the likelihood of the Gertsenshtein process occurring. This threshold magnetic field strength is tied into a probability of measurement of the Gertsenshtein process, allowing for GW measurements as a signature, in the Tokamak GW experiment. As a first finding, should these criteria be verified, the next focus will be on beginning to determine if higher dimensional versions of gravity have experimental signature, which will be the focus of the next paper. That and trying to determine if a graviton could have a small mass. The GW signatures are then finally discussed in terms of early space-time geometry alternations which is in terms of GW signatures if a refinement of the Gertsenshtein process is proved and finalized after the Tokamak GW experiment.
John Williamson and the terrifying results of the Medical Practice Information Demonstration Project

Here is how Avedis Donabedian described John Williamson’s contributions in a letter written in July 2000. “Many years ago, much before the assessment of outcomes became so fashionable a slogan, Williamson perceived that ‘outcomes’ should indeed be the focus of attention in assessing the quality of care . . .” Williamson’s concept of quality is “achievable benefit not achieved”. Donabedian said that Williamson’s 1978 book “ Assessing and improving health care outcomes ”1 “deserves to be one of the classics in our field”. “Williamson insisted that assessment of quality should involve not only physicians but a team of health workers cognizant of the issues at hand. I should add that Williamson can be considered the founder of a school of quality studies”, influencing the work of Robert Brook, Evert Reerink and Alison Kitson.* John is now retired and living in San Diego. He is ready to talk and laugh and seems more bemused than angry over the consequence of his 1976–9 study of the evidence in support of quality of care. How could such a person get into trouble in pursuit of better quality? In 1975 William Munier, MD was the national director of the Professional Standards Review Organizations (PSROs) working for Theodore Cooper, MD who was Assistant Secretary for Health in the US Department of Health Education and Welfare (HEW) from 1975 to 1977.2,3 The PSROs were created at the state level of government to review the use of services and quality of care related to the Federal Medicare program.4,5 PSRO staff did examine length of hospital stays, but were mostly mystified over how to set standards for quality of care evaluation. Williamson and his colleague Peter Goldschmidt, MD (publisher of “ Report on medical guidelines and outcomes research medical care management corporation …
Augmenting expiratory neuronal activity in sleep and wakefulness and in relation to duration of expiration

Augmenting expiratory cells (n = 23) were recorded in the rostral medulla of five cats in sleep and wakefulness. The objective was to determine the relationship of their activity to the duration of expiration (TE) and, particularly, to TE in rapid-eye-movement (REM) sleep, when expirations are short and may even cause fractionated breathing. Correlation analysis (Kendall's tau) showed no consistent relationship in any state between the breath-by-breath mean activity of augmenting expiratory cells and TE. This result contradicts predications of an inverse relationship between augmenting expiratory activity and TE. Some cells (11 of 23) were more active in REM than in non-REM sleep and were active during fractionated breathing. This suggests that fractionated breathing in REM sleep is caused by short expiratory phases and not by intermittent inhibition of an ongoing inspiration.
Imaging Learning: The Search for a Memory Trace:

Learning is associated with structural changes in the human brain that can be seen and studied by MRI. These changes are observed in gray matter and surprisingly also in white matter tissue. Learning a wide range of skills, from sports, computer games, music, and reading, to abstract intellectual learning, including classroom study, is associated with structural changes in appropriate cortical regions or fiber tracts. The cellular changes underlying modifications of brain tissue during learning include changes in neuronal and glial morphology as well as vascular changes. Both alterations in axon morphology and myelination are thought to contribute to white matter plasticity during learning but to varying degrees depending on age. Structural changes in white matter could promote learning by improving the speed or synchrony of impulse transmission between cortical regions mediating the behavior. Action potentials can stimulate oligodendrocyte development and myelination by at least three known mechanisms that involve signaling molecules between axons and oligodendrocytes, which do not require neurotransmitter release from synapses. Integrating information from cellular/molecular and systems-level research on normal cognitive function, development, and learning is providing new insights into the biological mechanisms of learning and the structural changes produced in the brain.
Isolation and characterization of the gene from a human genome encoding 17β-estradiol dehydrogenase: A comparison of Jar and BeWo choriocarcinoma cell lines

Abstract 17-β-Estradiol dehydrogenase is required for the enzymatic interconversion of estradiol and its weaker related sex steroid, estrone. We isolated and sequenced a complementary deoxyribonucleic acid clone for 17β-estradiol dehydrogenase from the BeWo choriocarcinoma cell line. Comparison of the BeWo complementary deoxyribonucleic acid sequence to a previously derived placental complementary deoxyribonucleic acid sequence yields >98% homology. We also isolated the gene for 17β-estradiol dehydrogenase from the Jar human choriocarcinoma cell line and elucidated its primary nucleic acid structure. Significant differences in the Jar-deduced complementary deoxyribonucleic acid sequence clearly differentiate it from both the human placental and BeWo forms of 17β-estradiol dehydrogenase, indicating the existence of two genes for 17β-estradiol dehydrogenase in the human genome. Evaluation of 17β-estradiol dehydrogenase gene expression in BeWo and Jar cells was compared with expression in luteinized granulosa cells. Messenger ribonucleic acid for human placental 17β-estradiol dehydrogenase was identified in all three cell types as a 1.3 kilobase band on Northern blot analysis. A second messenger ribonucleic acid species measuring 2.1 kilobase was abundantly present in the granulosa cells. Whether these two species of messenger ribonucleic acid are involved in the regulation of the estradiol dehydrogenase genes is yet to be determined.
Adaptive cosine transform image coding with constant block distortion

An adaptive block discrete-cosine transform (DCT) coding scheme is implemented with the same average distortion designated for each block. This constant distortion designation not only has perceptual advantages, but also allows the rate to vary, adjusting to the changing spectral characteristics among the blocks. The successful execution of this scheme requires a different spectral estimate for each block. To keep overhead and computation within limits, a novel technique is introduced by which a two-dimensional block spectrum is characterized by a one-dimensional autoregressive model. Simulations with images of natural scenes and medical radiology provide reconstructions with nearly uniform block distortion and very high visual and measurable quality at low rates. >
Continuous peripheral resistance measurement during hemorrhagic hypotension.

We tested the hypotheses that continuous total peripheral resistance (TPR) measurements are superior to intermittent data collection and that variables related to TPR can be used to distinguish bet...
Contemporary Perioperative Results of Isolated Aortic Valve Replacement for Aortic Stenosis

Background Transcatheter aortic valve implantation may become a potential treatment for high-risk patients with aortic stenosis (AS). We analyzed our contemporary series of isolated aortic valve replacement (AVR) for AS to determine implications for patients referred for AVR. Methods From April 2004 through December 2008, 190 patients (mean age, 68 years; 68% men) underwent isolated AVR for AS. Mean ejection fraction was 0.58. Sixty-one percent underwent minimally invasive AVR and 18% were reoperations. Twenty-one percent were aged 80 years or older, and 34% were in New York Heart Association functional class III-IV. Estimated operative mortality was 3.6%. Results Thirty-day mortality was 0%. One in-hospital death (0.5%) occurred from complications of an esophageal perforation. Reoperation for bleeding occurred in 4.7%. Acute renal failure developed in 2.1%. Actuarial survival was 97% at 1 year and 94% at 3 years. Hospital length of stay was 7.0 days for patients aged 80 and older vs 5.0 days (p Conclusions Contemporary results show that AVR for AS can be performed with low operative mortality and morbidity, although patients aged 80 years and older are at increased risk of prolonged recovery. Transcatheter aortic valve implantation may be an alternative for high-risk patients, but AVR is still appropriate for low-risk patients. The low risk of AVR supports the argument that asymptomatic patients who have a high likelihood of progression of AS may be considered for earlier surgical referral.
Watching the Annealing Process One Polymer Chain at a Time

By using single-molecule spectroscopy (SMS) several effects of solvent vapor induced annealing (SVA) were studied directly on single conjugated polymers, e.g.: SVA-induced translocations, folding/unfolding dynamics, and changes in the morphological order. It is shown that single chains can be trapped by spin-coating in a disordered conformation and subsequent SVA leads to an equilibrated, highly ordered conformation.
The impact of a faculty development seminar on the quality of multiple-choice questions

Abstract Introduction Multiple-choice questions (MCQ) are almost ubiquitous in higher education. The composition of quality MCQ is an art that takes practice and multiple revisions. Internal evaluations within other health profession disciplines indicate that the quality of faculty developed MCQ are relatively poor. Materials and methods A 1.5 hour faculty development seminar was developed regarding the construction and the assessment of MCQ. Faculty submitted MCQ both pre-seminar and post-seminar and these were assessed against a quality checklist and scoring system. Faculty were surveyed pre-session and post-session electronically regarding their confidence in constructing MCQ. Results The mean pre-session MCQ quality score was 16.2 (SD = 2.4), which after revision improved to 18.1 (SD = 1.5, p Conclusion Faculty development seminars can improve the quality of in-house MCQ and improve faculty confidence in constructing new MCQ.
Routine erythrocyte measurements in diagnosis of iron-deficiency anemia and thalassemia minor.

A study was made of the routine electronic measurements of erythrocyte size and hemoglobin concentration in blood samples from 122 patients with decreased transferrin saturation and 66 patients with elevated levels of hemoglobin A2 or F. The medical histories of these patients were reviewed to identify 52 cases of uncomplicated iron-deficiency anemia and 39 cases of uncomplicated thalassemia minor. Four decision functions were compared for separating these two disorders. The functions evaluated were: D.F'. = MCV--[5 X Hb]-RBC; ratio MCV/RBC; ratio MCH/RBC, and RBC. The rules performed better in the uncomplicated cases than in the routine laboratory defined cases. Only minor differences in the performances of the various decision functions were observed. None was sufficiently accurate for final diagnosis, but they should have value in screening patients and in determining which additional test should be considered.
Development and validation of a method for determination of caffeine in diuretic tablets and capsules by high-performance thin-layer chromatography on silica gel plates with a concentration zone using manual spotting and ultraviolet absorption densitometry.

A new quantitative method using silica gel high-performance thin-layer chromatography plates with channels and a concentration zone, manual application of standards and samples, development with methanol-ethyl acetate (15+ 85) mobile phase, and ultraviolet absorption densitometry is reported for the determination of caffeine in diuretic pharmaceutical preparations. Tablet and capsule products containing potassium salicylate, acetaminophen, and salicylamide as active ingredients were analyzed to test the applicability of the new method, and precision, accuracy, linearity, limits of detection and quantitation, and selectivity were validated. The milligrams of caffeine in each tablet ranged from 48.0 to 51.0, and the milligrams in each capsule from 37.9 to 40.3. Within-day precision was 1.48 and 1.78% (n = 6), and interday precision 0.723 and 1.26% (n = 5) for analysis of 2 tablets and 2 capsules, respectively. Accuracy validation of the tablet and capsule results produced errors of 1.0 and 1.9% for spiked blank analyses and 2.6 and 3.5% for standard addition analyses, respectively. A comparative study using a caffeine standard solution and a multicomponent analgesic tablet solution containing caffeine, acetaminophen, and acetylsalicylic acid showed that manual application on the concentration zone, instrumental application on the concentration zone, and instrumental application on the silica gel gave quite similar results in terms of number of theoretical plates, resolution, limit of detection, and linearity.
Broadband Model for Impedance Boundary Condition in a Navier-Stokes Solver

A general aeroacoustic boundary condition in the time domain for the broadband frequency noise is crucial for solving aeroacoustic problems. An impedance boundary condition implemented in the commercial code ANSYS Fluent 15.0 Navier-Stokes solver allows specifying the aero-acoustic behavior at flow boundaries and soft walls. The input format is a reflection coefficient derived from specific impedance and is in the form of a complex polynomial function of frequency. This newly-implemented boundary condition in Fluent allows improved solutions of industrial applications in aeroacoustics where partial reflection is important. The liner impedance in turbo-machinery and mufflers is one of the applications. The present paper will discuss the numerical implementation of an impedance flow BC in Fluent and demonstrate the applicability of this boundary condition on two test cases. In the first test case, a comparison is carried out with a two parameters model for the real pole and the complex pole. For the second test case, a two dimensional CAA analysis is carried out for a NASA impedance flow Tube (GIT) and validated with experimental results.
Zinc paddlewheel dimers containing a strong π···π stacking supramolecular synthon: designed single-crystal to single-crystal phase changes and gas/solid guest exchange.

The ligand 4-(1,8-naphthalimido)benzoate, LC4–, containing a linear link between the strong π···π stacking 1,8-naphthalimide supramolecular synthon and the carboxylate donor group, reacts with Zn(O2CCH3)2(H2O)2 in the presence of dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) to yield [Zn2(LC4)4(DMSO)2]·2(CH2Cl2). This compound contains the “paddlewheel” Zn2(O2CR)4 secondary building unit (SBU) that organizes the rigid phenylene and naphthalimide rings of the carboxylate ligands in a square arrangement. The supramolecular architecture is dominated by π···π stacking interactions between naphthalimide rings of one dimer with four adjacent dimers, essentially at right angles, forming an open three-dimensional network structure. Two symmetry equivalent networks of this type interpenetrate generating overall a densely packed three-dimensional, 2-fold interpenetrated architecture in which the CH2Cl2 solvate molecules are trapped in isolated pockets. Upon cooling, single crystals of [Zn2(LC4)4(DMSO)2]·2(CH2Cl2) undergo two distinct c...
Abstract 1122: Insulin receptor expression and survival of patients with non-small cell lung cancer

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to characterize insulin receptor (IR) and insulin-like growth factor-1 receptor (IGF-1R) expression in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Methods: A total of 459 patients who underwent curative resection of NSCLC were studied (median follow-up duration, 4.01 years). Expression of the IR and IGF-1R protein in tumor specimens was assessed immunohistochemically using tissue microarrays. Results: The cytoplasmic IR score was higher in patients with adenocarcinoma (ADC) than in those with squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) whereas cytoplasmic IGF-1R was higher in patients with SCC than those with ADC. Neither IR nor IGF-1R expression was associated with sex, smoking history, or clinical stage. Patients with positive IR or IGF-1R expression levels had poor recurrence-free (3.8 vs. 3.3 years; 3.8 vs. 2.0 years, respectively) but similar overall survival durations. Patients with high expression levels both IR and IGF-1R had shorter recurrence-free and overall survival compared to those with low levels of IR and/or IGF-1R expression. IGF-1R and IR expressions were negatively correlated with survival duration of patients with ADC and SCC, respectively. Finally, a multivariate analysis revealed the impact of IR, but not IGF-1R, as an independent prognostic predictor of survival: hazard ratio (HR) for OS, 1.005 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.001 – 1.010], HR for RFS, 0.608 (95% CI, 1.001 – 1.009) when tested as a continuous variable. Conclusions: Overexpression of IR, but not IGF-1R, appears to foretell a poor survival among patients with NSCLC, especially those with SCC. Thus, expression of IR has a negative prognostic value and future clinical trials with therapy interventions of IR regulation should be under the consideration for this patient population. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 102nd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2011 Apr 2-6; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2011;71(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 1122. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2011-1122
The Effects of Biasing on the Optical and Electrical Properties of RF Sputtered VO2

Vanadium dioxide was deposited on sapphire substrates by RF reactive sputtering. Biasing of substrates during deposition was used to alter both resistivity and infrared transmission of VO2 thin films. It has been found that as the negative dc bias potential is increased, films in the metallic state show an increased transmittance of IR wavelengths between 2.5 and 6 μm. Also, the resistivity ratio of the semiconductor to metal phase as a function of bias potential is found to reach a maximum value after which further increases in bias cause degradation of electrical properties. X-ray diffraction analysis was used to study film composition.
Influencing Factors of Process for Presulfiding Hydrogenation Catalyst

Presulfuration of hydrogenation catalyst is an essential technology, which can enhance the catalyst activeness and optimize operation of hydrogenation catalysis and obtain ideal economic efficiency. In order to obtain the ideal presulfiding effect,the conditions of various stages should be controled strictly. It introduced the principal of presulfuration of hydrogenation catalyst and discussed the factors that affected the effect of presulfuration in presulfiding process. During the presulfiding operation, the temperature is one of the most sensitive factors .
Epigenetic effects of environment and diet

Epigenetic mechanisms are emerging as a key element in a eukaryote's response to its environment. These mechanisms, such as DNA methylation, histone modification, chromatin remodeling, noncoding RNAs, etc., stably alter patterns of gene expression to facilitate maximal fitness and survival as environmental conditions for a cell, tissue, and organism change. However, stable epigenetic changes and adaptation to conditions at early stages of development, particularly in utero, may have effects on disease risk and susceptibility later in life. In addition, the epigenetic effects of the environment in adulthood may also contribute to disease susceptibility later in life. Thus, understanding epigenetic alterations and mechanisms in response to environmental conditions may provide insight into underlying mechanisms of adult onset diseases. Of particular recent interest is the effect of environment and diet on DNA methylation patterns and the potential for transgenerational transmission of epigenetic response to environment and diet. Here we review studies that examine the epigenetic effects of various environmental and dietary conditions on DNA methylation patterns in humans and in animal models. This includes the effects of endocrine disruptors, air pollution, alcohol exposure, smoking, dietary restriction, folic acid, maternal nurturing, and stress.
Improving Performance of Blood Service Organizations Through Targeted Applications of Operations Research

To date, the application of Operations Research (OR) to blood service delivery has been more theoretical than applied (1); in part, because blood service delivery organizations lacked the information necessary to plan and conduct OR in an optimal manner (2). The American Red Cross Blood Services (ARCBS) has begun to develop information systems intended to facilitate targeting of efficiency enhancement efforts to achieve a greater return on resources invested. This paper provides descriptions of the first phase of the ARCBS Regional Operations Review Information Systems (RORIS), current applications of this system and future development plans.
What's the best approach to hyperprolactinemia?

The dopamine agonists cabergoline and bromocriptine have replaced surgery for prolactinomas, a key cause of infertility. Two experts share their protocols for treating these benign tumors and explain which drug to choose when pregnancy is the goal--and which better restores menses.
LIBRARY SECURITY: BETTER COMMUNICATION, SAFER FACILITIES by Steve Albrecht

Column description. Books reviewed in the Professional Reading column will fit one or more of the following topics: reference and research services, user education, information literacy, personnel ...
Managed Care and American Psychotherapy

Managed care has produced sweeping changes in American health and mental health delivery in the course of a very few years. It has turned medicine into a business. With fiscal constraint rather than medical need at its bottom line, managed-care organizations (MCOs) have tended to deny reimbursement of care at all levels, more particularly to deny reimbursement of psychotherapy, and most particularly psychotherapy by psychiatrists. Managed care now faces growing dissatisfaction from “consumers” (patients) and “providers” (doctors and mental health professionals), and for the first time managed-care organizations are also incurring financial setbacks. Nonetheless, the era of long-term psychotherapy by psychiatrists has probably forever changed.
Surgical treatment of pelvic sarcoma in children: outcomes for twenty six patients

Pelvic sarcoma is uncommon in children and challenging to treat. This study examined different surgical approaches to treat pelvic sarcoma with the aim of assessing the oncologic, and functional outcomes. We retrospectively examined the medical records of patients younger than 21 years of age who underwent surgery for pelvic sarcoma at our institution from 1992 to 2010. The functional status of the patients was examined after a minimum follow-up of two years. Twenty-six patients were included in the analysis. Nineteen (73%) patients were male and seven (27%) were female. Mean age at presentation was 12.0 ± 3.9 years. Nineteen patients had Ewing sarcoma (73%), five had osteosarcoma (19%), one had chondrosarcoma (4%) and one had rhabdomyosarcoma (4%). Iliac wing resection with no reconstruction was done in three patients. Reconstruction with free fibular graft A-frame was performed in four patients, saddle endoproshtesis in five patients, iliac autoclave in one patient, and internal hemipelvectomy in nine patients. Hindquarter amputation was performed in five patients. Median follow-up was 4.6 years (range, 2.6–16 years). Nineteen patients were alive (73%); of those, 13 were known to be without disease, three were with disease and three did not have known tumor status. Six patients were reported deceased, three had osteosarcoma and three had Ewing sarcoma. Function was assessed in 17 patients; 64% were asymptomatic and ambulatory and 36% were symptomatic and ambulatory. Salvage reconstruction for pelvic sarcoma can be performed through various procedures on the extent of necessary bony resection. Survival rate and functional outcomes were promising in the performed study.
Ginkgo biloba and its potential role in glaucoma.

Purpose of reviewThis study will review the research on the effect of ginkgo biloba extract (GBE) on patients with glaucoma.Recent findingsGBE appears to increase ocular blood flow in those with glaucoma. However, data on visual field outcomes are inconclusive.SummaryGBE has been shown to have antio
Phylogenomic analyses reveal extensive gene flow within the magic flowers (Achimenes).

PREMISE OF THE STUDY The Neotropical Gesneriaceae is a lineage known for its colorful and diverse flowers, as well as an extensive history of intra- and intergeneric hybridization, particularly among Achimenes (the magic flowers) and other members of subtribe Gloxiniinae. Despite numerous studies seeking to elucidate the evolutionary relationships of these lineages, relatively few have sought to infer specific patterns of gene flow despite evidence of widespread hybridization. METHODS To explore the utility of phylogenomic data for reassessing phylogenetic relationships and inferring patterns of gene flow among species of Achimenes, we sequenced 12 transcriptomes. We used a variety of methods to infer the species tree, examine gene tree discordance, and infer patterns of gene flow. KEY RESULTS Phylogenomic analyses resolve clade relationships at the crown of the lineage with strong support. In contrast to previous analyses, we recovered strong support for several new relationships despite a significant amount of gene tree discordance. We present evidence for at least two introgression events between two species pairs that share pollinators, and suggest that the species status of Achimenes admirabilis be reexamined. CONCLUSIONS Our study demonstrates the utility of transcriptome data for phylogenomic analyses, and inferring patterns of gene flow despite gene tree discordance. Moreover, these data provide another example of prevalent interspecific gene flow among Neotropical plants that share pollinators.
Home oxygen therapy: Why, when, and how to write a proper prescription

Long-term oxygen therapy can be a lifeline for patients with chronic lung disease. Recent changes in Medicare reimbursement criteria have made it imperative that physicians understand all aspects of the treatment. In this article, Dr O'Donohue describes the indications for and benefits of home oxygen therapy and discusses prescribing problems and physician responsibility.
Minimum cost inspection intervals for a two-state process

Any automated process can be said to be in state 0 (operating properly) or, if a malfunction occurs, to be in state 1 (not operating properly). Periodic inspection is necessary to make sure that the process is in state 0. We derive the minimum cost insp..
Topographic Maps for Construction Planning

In the overall process of construction planning, topographic maps of different scales, accuracies, and content are needed for different phases of the planning. General-purpose maps published by the U.S. Geological Survey usually meet the need in the reconnaissance and preliminary design phases. About 75% of the area of the United States has topographic map coverage at scales of 1:24,000 or 1:62,500; complete coverage is available only at 1:250,000. Many existing maps, however, are obsolete because the rate of change of mapworthy detail far outstrips the availability of resources for an adequate revision program. The USGS is producing about 2,000 new 7-1/2-min 1:24,000-scale maps per year, but about 30,000 quadrangles have never been mapped in that format. The current map-production rate is about three times that of the late 1940's, due mainly to the application of new techniques. Further improvements in mapping technology offer the best hope for meeting the growing demand for topographic maps.
Submonolayer Island Formation and Subsequent Multilayer Kinetic Roughening During Metal(100) Homoepitaxy: Fe, Ag & Cu

Initial island formation and multilayer kinetic roughening observed during Fe/Fe(100), Ag/Ag(100) and Cu/Cu(100) homoepitaxy are analyzed utilizing an appropriate lattice-gas model. The model includes nucleation and growth of two-dimensional near-square islands in each layer, downward funneling of deposited atoms to four-fold hollow adsorption sites, and an additional step-edge barrier for interlayer transport. Key energies are predicted.
Carotid Sinus Nerve Inhibition Mediated by Atrial Natriuretic Peptide

DeB old first described the correlative relationship between the incidence of distinct storage granules in atrial cardiocytes and body water/electrolyte balance5. In later studies, DeBold and colleagues6 showed that the injection of atrial granular extracts initiated a rapid and extensive diuresis and natriuresis, and they identified the active substituent as the 28 amino acid peptide, atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP), which is released from the atria by distension or local hypoxiasee2,8,10. Receptors for ANP have been localized in the renal glomerular vasculature, suggesting that the circulating peptide directly modulates kidney function3. The unique physiologic role of ANP as a regulator of volume and electrolyte levels in the periphery led others to postulate parallel functions for this peptide in the central nervous system (CNS). In fact, later studies revealed the presence of ANP15,25 and ANP receptors19.20 in specific CNS sites associated with cardiovascular control. In addition, central administration of ANP was shown to decrease the release of arginine vasopressin (AVP) in dehydrated animals21,22 and to decrease salt-water intake following salt deprivation. Thus, ANP appears to act globally at specific targets both in the CNS and periphery to initiate coordinated adjustments in response to changes in systemic hydration and electrolyte balance.
PAvessel: Practical 3D Vessel Structure Sensing through Photoacoustic Effects with Its Applications in Palm Biometrics

The blood vessels are the most critical part of the human circulatory system. Information acquired on the structure and status of blood vessels drives the development of numerous medical and biometric applications. Therefore, it is of paramount importance to find an effective way to sense vessel structures. Traditional methods, including infrared and Doppler sensing modalities, are limited by optical diffusion and ultrasonic scattering that are not good at vessel sensing with high performance. In comparison, we argue photoacoustic (PA) sensing is an emerging technique that can image 3D vessel structure deep in tissue with high-resolution visualization, maintaining the advantages of both optical and ultrasound methods. In this work, we propose and develop PAvessel, a practical 3D vessel structure sensing system based on PA effects. The entire sensing system comprises two key components, PA sensing hardware and PA sensing software. Specifically, the hardware mainly consists of a linear ultrasound transducer array, an ultrasound data acquisition system, and a neodymium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet (Nd:YAG) laser. After receiving the PA raw data, we use the advanced image reconstruction and 3D photoacoustic vein model to establish the 3D vessel structure model. We validated its effectiveness, cost-effectiveness and high resolution of PAvessel in the evaluation. The system achieves 52% higher signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) compared to the other methods. Furthermore, considering the 3D palm vein contains high dimensional human features and is almost impossible to forge, we also explored its applications in palm biometrics. In a pilot study with 10 participants, PAvessel, combined with a 3D vessel structure matching algorithm (EMD-VT), has proven to possess high accuracy and robustness as a biometric. PAvessel achieves the precision and recall of 98.33% and 97.37%, respectively.
Epilogue: Homecoming Kings, Queens, Jesters, and Nobodies

This epilogue unpacks the return of convicted war criminals as homecomings, with all the attendant rites, rituals, and expectations. Knotting together the various papers in this edited collection, ...
Religious-Based Sexual Stigma and Psychological Health: Roles of Internalization, Religious Struggle, and Religiosity.

The current study examined potential mediators (i.e., internalized heterosexism and religious struggle), moderators (i.e., religiosity), and moderated mediation of the links between experiences of ...
Provider perceptions of system-level opioid prescribing and addiction treatment policies

Stakeholders have implemented a multitude of system-level policies to address the U.S. opioid overdose epidemic. Because opioid prescribing partly fueled the crisis and because prescribing of medications for opioid addiction treatment is a key prevention strategy, it is critical to understand prescriber perceptions of policies in these domains. This article reviews prescriber awareness and opinions of the following system-level policies: opioid prescribing guidelines, prescription drug monitoring programs (PDMPs), medications for addiction treatment, and naloxone distribution programs. Most providers are aware of these policies, especially PDMPs, albeit a smaller proportion actively participate in their implementation. Low engagement in certain system-level policies is concerning and deserves attention, given that prescribers play an integral role in achieving optimal impact and mitigating the crisis.
Duodenal Infusions of Starch with Casein or Glutamic Acid Influence Pancreatic and Small Intestinal Carbohydrase Activities in Cattle.

BACKGROUND Small intestinal starch digestion in ruminants is potentially limited by inadequate production of carbohydrases. Previous research has demonstrated that small intestinal starch digestion can be improved by postruminal supply of casein or glutamic acid. However, the mechanisms by which casein and glutamic acid increase starch digestion are not well understood. OBJECTIVES The objective of this experiment was to evaluate the effects of duodenal infusions of starch with casein or glutamic acid on postruminal carbohydrase activities in cattle. METHODS Twenty-two steers [mean body weight (BW) = 179 ± 4.23 kg] were surgically fitted with duodenal and ileal cannulas and limit-fed a soybean hull-based diet containing small amounts of starch. Raw cornstarch (1.61 ± 0.0869 kg/d) was infused into the duodenum alone (control), or with 118 ± 7.21 g glutamic acid/d, or 428 ± 19.4 g casein/d. Treatments were infused continuously for 58 d and then steers were killed for tissue collection. Activities of pancreatic (α-amylase) and intestinal (maltase, isomaltase, glucoamylase, sucrase) carbohydrases were determined. Data were analyzed as a randomized complete block (replicate group) design using the GLM procedure of SAS to determine effects of infusion treatment. RESULTS Duodenal casein infusion increased (P < 0.05) pancreatic α-amylase activity by 290%. Duodenal glutamic acid infusion increased (P < 0.03) duodenal maltase activity by 233%. Duodenal casein infusion increased jejunal maltase (P = 0.02) and glucoamylase (P = 0.03) activity per gram protein by 62.9% and 97.4%, respectively. Duodenal casein infusion tended to increase (P = 0.10) isomaltase activity per gram jejunum by 38.5% in the jejunum. Sucrase activity was not detected in any segment of the small intestine. CONCLUSIONS These results suggest that small intestinal starch digestion can be improved in cattle with increased small intestinal flow of casein through increases in postruminal carbohydrase activities.
‘Faith Then Cometh by Hearing’: Latin Orality and the Typological Framework of the Milagros de Nuestra Señora

This study examines Latin phrases that are inserted throughout the Milagros de Nuestra Senora, and work in conjunction with vernacular formulations that critics have often identified as examples of orality. My investigation draws on recent approaches to medieval culture like that of John Miles Foley and Peter Ramey who understand orality and literacy as categories that are simultaneous rather than contrary. In some cases, I find that Berceo’s Latin interjections are elliptical, insofar as missing words and phrases from inserted fragments appear to be meaningful in new vernacularized contexts. In other cases, however, these insertions are more completely recontextualized, and can take on very distinct, even paradoxical senses in their new settings. In this way, this essay not only sheds light on the Latin orality that Berceo expected his audience to possess or be familiar with, but also considers how this evidence might relate to the efforts of ecclesiastical reformers as well as the experiences of pilgrims on the road to Santiago.
Single-Chain Nanoparticle Delivers a Partner Enzyme for Concurrent and Tandem Catalysis in Cells

Combining synthetic chemistry and biocatalysis is a promising but underexplored approach to intracellular catalysis. We report a strategy to codeliver a single-chain nanoparticle (SCNP) catalyst and an exogenous enzyme into cells for performing bioorthogonal reactions. The nanoparticle and enzyme reside in endosomes, creating engineered artificial organelles that manufacture organic compounds intracellularly. This system operates in both concurrent and tandem reaction modes to generate fluorophores or bioactive agents. The combination of SCNP and enzymatic catalysts provides a versatile tool for intracellular organic synthesis with applications in chemical biology.
System-level seismic resilience assessment of reinforced masonry shear wall buildings with masonry boundary elements

Abstract The concept of seismic resilience plays an important role in seismic assessment of structures as it assesses the capability of a system to withstand an unwanted event, such as earthquakes, by estimating the losses and determining the system’s functionality and sustainability during and after such event. In this study, a framework was utilized to assess the seismic resilience of Reinforced Masonry Shear Wall (RMSW) buildings as well as studying the impact of incorporating Masonry Boundary Elements (MBEs) at the ends of RMSW. To achieve this goal, a ten-story RMSW building was numerically modelled in OpenSees to assess the seismic performance and resilience of the system when adding confined MBEs. The selected building is located in Montreal, Canada, and initially designed to be built having rectangular walls. Subsequently, the walls were redesigned to integrate MBEs at their outermost fibre to help increase the ductility and strength of the RMSWs. A full 3D wide-column macro-modelling approach was used to simulate the dynamic response of the archetype building. Validation of the modelling approach was done against available experimental tests as an initial step to ensure the robustness of the model in predicting the inelastic response of the building. Subsequently, the models were analyzed against multiple ground motion records using Incremental Dynamic Analysis to identify the initiation of collapse alongside developing the fragility curves of the building. The system-level seismic performance of the building was assessed after incorporating MBEs. The resilience of the building was assessed using the developed fragility functions, and a comparison was made to highlight the effect of using MBEs on the response of the studied RMSW building. The results showed a significant enhancement in the seismic resilience of the building by using confined MBEs at the shear walls’ extreme.
Monitoring of Photovoltaic System Performance Using Outdoor Suns-VOC

Summary In-field characterization of photovoltaics is crucial to understand performance and degradation mechanisms, subsequently improving overall reliability and lifespans. Current outdoor characterization is limited by logistical difficulties, variable weather, and requirements to measure during peak production hours. We capitalize on Suns-VOC, which is widely used for laboratory measurements of single solar cells and discuss the barriers in extending the technique to outdoor systems. We demonstrate the normalization of measurements using both backsheet temperature sensors and on-site weather stations. Despite weather variation, VOC, ideality factor, and pseudo fill factor all fall within 1% of the laboratory measurements. It is also demonstrated that monitoring the system VOC at 0.05 to 0.1 suns, during minimal power production, provides a figure of merit that can indicate early degradation of the system. Extensive simulations show that shading portions of a system has minimal effect on measurements, allowing the technique to be used in all weather conditions.
Panoramic Vision: Consolidating the Early Mormon Gaze

Large painted panorama displays offered Latter-day Saints ways of capturing the spirit of Joseph Smith, who was appearing to church members immediately following his assassination in 1844. Although...
90. Serous borderline paraovarian tumor: a rare presentation in an adolescent girl

Background Borderline serous ovarian tumors represent less than 1% of all ovarian tumors in children and adolescents. Even more rare are serous borderline paratubal tumors. There are a few case reports of this rare tumor in the adult literature, but to our knowledge we report the youngest patient with a serous borderline paratubal tumor. Case A 17 year-old girl presented with progressive weight gain and lower abdominal distension over a three month period. She also reported intermittent crampy suprapubic abdominal pain as well as irregular menses and increasing fatigue. Workup revealed a 19 × 15 × 10 cm mass adjacent to the left ovary. Laboratory evaluation was remarkable only for a mild elevation in LDH (641). She underwent laparoscopic, ovarian sparing resection of a paratubal cyst. Final pathology was consisted with a serous borderline tumor without invasion or microinvasion. Cytology from the cyst fluid also showed “atypical cells with serous morphology.” She had an uneventful post operative course, her LDH levels normalized, and she is currently being followed with serial ultrasounds and LDH levels. Comments Serous borderline paratubal tumors are extremely rare tumors, usually occurring in young women. There are only scant case reports in the adult literature and this is the first reported case in an adolescent to our knowledge. These tumors generally present as early stage and have good clinical outcomes. Continued reporting is essential to ensure a better understanding of these tumors.
Autoimmune Disease and Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma, A Systematic Review

BACKGROUND Oral cancer is typically related to environmental carcinogen exposure including tobacco and alcohol. Other less investigated risk factors may be related to a suppressed or dysregulated immune state, and in oral cancer, various levels of immune dysregulation have been found to affect survival and recurrence rates. The rationale for this systematic review was to investigate the possible role that a growing chronic host condition like an autoimmune disease may play in this disease. METHODS A systematic search of the literature was carried out using four electronic databases in order to identify original research of any analytic study design type that investigated the relationship between autoimmune disease and oral cancer. Out of 1,947 identified records, 24 observational studies were included for qualitative synthesis. RESULTS The studies varied in end points ranging from overall survival (OS), standardized incidence ratio (SIR), and hazard ratio (HR). Due to the heterogenous sampling of studies even within the same study design group, a meta-analysis was not employed. The current state of the literature is varied and heterogenous in both study design and endpoints. CONCLUSION Major limitations existed introducing significant bias especially in determining cancer risk such as lack of information surrounding known etiologic risk factors such as alcohol and tobacco consumption. Despite these limitations, a signal was seen between autoimmune disease and oral cancer outcomes and risk. Future studies investigating the relationship between autoimmune disease and oral cancer in a more focused and quantitative manner are therefore needed.
Which adults with sickle cell disease need an evaluation for pulmonary embolism

Individuals living with sickle cell disease (SCD) are at an increased risk of venous thrombo-embolism (VTE) including pulmonary embolisms (PEs). There is a high mortality associated with PE in individuals with SCD. It can be difficult to diagnose PE since presenting symptoms of PE often mimic those of other forms of vaso-occlusive crisis in SCD. Currently, there are no validated models for predicting PEs in patients with sickle cell disease, which often leads to frequent CT scans and exposure to harmful radiation and intravenous contrast. The aim of this study was to evaluate different host variables and potential clinical biomarkers of patients with SCD including those used in the Wells score to assess predictability for PE in order to create a more accurate diagnostic algorithm to predict PE. A retrospective chart review was performed on 349 patients with SCD who underwent testing for a PE with a CT scan of the chest. Forward and backward stepwise model selection was performed to obtain a parsimonious model of the predictors of PEs. The incidence of PE in this population was 9·7%. Of the factors evaluated for this study, the Wells score was the only one with clinical significance. A Wells score greater than 4 had a sensitivity and specificity of 72·5% and 70·1%, respectively, and a score greater than 6 had a sensitivity and specificity of 50% and 87%, respectively. The Wells score is an acceptable clinical tool which may prove useful in individuals with SCD to predict who is most likely to have a PE and therefore should undergo a CT scan. A prospective study is needed to further confirm these findings.
Assessing the mental health of college students by leveraging social media data

The mental health of college students is a growing concern and gauging the mental health needs of this group is difficult to assess in real-time and in scale. The ubiquity and widespread use of social media, particularly among young adults, provides opportunities for various stakeholders to proactively assess the mental health of college students and provide timely and tailored support.
Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT): An Interview with Scott Caldwell, MA, and Darla Spence Coffey, PhD2

Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT) is an integrated, public health approach to the identification, early intervention, and as needed, facilitation of treatment service...