cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Maternal Use of Specific Antidepressant Medications During Early Pregnancy and the Risk of Selected Birth Defects.

Importance Antidepressants are commonly used during pregnancy, but limited information is available about individual antidepressants and specific birth defect risks. Objective To examine associations between individual antidepressants and specific birth defects with and without attempts to partially account for potential confounding by underlying conditions. Design, Setting, and Participants The population-based, multicenter case-control National Birth Defects Prevention Study (October 1997–December 2011) included cases with selected birth defects who were identified from surveillance systems; controls were randomly sampled live-born infants without major birth defects. Mothers of cases and controls participated in an interview after the expected delivery date. The data were analyzed after the completion of the National Birth Defects Prevent Study’s data collection. Exposures Self-reported antidepressant exposure was coded to indicate monotherapy exposure to antidepressants. Main Outcomes and Measures We used multivariable logistic regression to calculate adjusted odds ratios (aORs) and 95% confidence intervals for associations between maternal antidepressant use and birth defects. We compared early pregnancy antidepressant-exposed women with those without antidepressant exposure and, to partially account for confounding by underlying maternal conditions, those exposed to antidepressants outside of the birth defect development critical period. Results This study included 30 630 case mothers of infants with birth defects and 11 478 control mothers (aged 12–53 years). Early pregnancy antidepressant use was reported by 1562 case mothers (5.1%) and 467 control mothers (4.1%), for whom elevated aORs were observed for individual selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and selected congenital heart defects (CHD) (eg, fluoxetine and anomalous pulmonary venous return: aOR, 2.56; 95% CI, 1.10-5.93; this association was attenuated after partially accounting for underlying conditions: aOR, 1.89; 95% CI, 0.56-6.42). This pattern was observed for many SSRI-CHD combinations. Associations between SSRIs and non-CHD birth defects often persisted or strengthened after partially accounting for underlying conditions (eg, citalopram and diaphragmatic hernia: aOR, 5.11; 95% CI, 1.29-20.24). Venlafaxine had elevated associations with multiple defects that persisted after partially accounting for underlying conditions (eg, anencephaly and craniorachischisis: aOR, 9.14; 95% CI, 1.91-43.83). Conclusions and Relevance We found some associations between maternal antidepressant use and specific birth defects. Venlafaxine was associated with the highest number of defects, which needs confirmation given the limited literature on venlafaxine use during pregnancy and risk for birth defects. Our results suggest confounding by underlying conditions should be considered when assessing risk. Fully informed treatment decision-making requires balancing the risks and benefits of proposed interventions against those of untreated depression or anxiety.
Value Cards: An Educational Toolkit for Teaching Social Impacts of Machine Learning through Deliberation

Recently, there have been increasing calls for computer science curricula to complement existing technical training with topics related to Fairness, Accountability, Transparency and Ethics (FATE). In this paper, we present Value Cards, an educational toolkit to inform students and practitioners the social impacts of different machine learning models via deliberation. This paper presents an early use of our approach in a college-level computer science course. Through an in-class activity, we report empirical data for the initial effectiveness of our approach. Our results suggest that the use of the Value Cards toolkit can improve students' understanding of both the technical definitions and trade-offs of performance metrics and apply them in real-world contexts, help them recognize the significance of considering diverse social values in the development and deployment of algorithmic systems, and enable them to communicate, negotiate and synthesize the perspectives of diverse stakeholders. Our study also demonstrates a number of caveats we need to consider when using the different variants of the Value Cards toolkit. Finally, we discuss the challenges as well as future applications of our approach.
Natural language processing of implantable cardioverter-defibrillator reports in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy: A paradigm for longitudinal device follow-up

Background The follow-up of implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs) generates large amounts of valuable structured and unstructured data embedded in device interrogation reports. Objective We aimed to build a natural language processing (NLP) model for automated capture of ICD-recorded events from device interrogation reports using a single-center cohort of patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). Methods A total of 687 ICD interrogation reports from 247 HCM patients were included. Using a derivation set of 480 reports, we developed a rule-based NLP algorithm based on unstructured (free-text) data from the interpretation field of the ICD reports to identify sustained atrial and ventricular arrhythmias, and ICD therapies. A separate model based on structured numerical tabulated data was also developed. Both models were tested in a separate set of the 207 remaining ICD reports. Diagnostic performance was determined in reference to arrhythmia and ICD therapy annotations generated by expert manual review of the same reports. Results The NLP system achieved sensitivity 0.98 and 0.99, and F1-scores 0.98 and 0.92 for arrhythmia and ICD therapy events, respectively. In contrast, the performance of the structured data model was significantly lower with sensitivity 0.33 and 0.76, and F1-scores 0.45 and 0.78, for arrhythmia and ICD therapy events, respectively. Conclusion An automated NLP system can capture arrhythmia events and ICD therapies from unstructured device interrogation reports with high accuracy in HCM. These findings demonstrate the feasibility of an NLP paradigm for the extraction of data for clinical care and research from ICD reports embedded in the electronic health record.
Effect of insulator surface conditioning on the pinch dynamics and x-ray production of a Ne-filled dense plasma focus

The dense plasma focus (DPF) can be an intense source of x rays, wherein the insulator sleeve strongly dictates the electrical breakdown, which subsequently affects the formation of a plasma sheath and a collapse phase. Experiments on a 25 kJ DPF (operated at 4.4 kJ) are carried out to demonstrate the influence of insulator surface morphology on the pinch structure, dynamics, and x-ray yield using a Ne fill. Two borosilicate insulators are directly compared, one with a smooth finish and the other machined with four circumferential grooves traversing the perimeter of the exterior insulator surface. Comparisons are made through same-shot imaging diagnostics of the evolving plasma sheath during breakdown, rundown, and at the pinch in addition to the time-resolved measurements of emitted x rays via filtered photodiodes. The presence of structures on the insulator sleeve reduces x-ray production across all fill pressures by a factor of 2.8 ± 2.4 on average and reduces the highest x ray producing shots by a factor of 5.5 ± 1.8. Observations of sheath asymmetry and inhomogeneity at lift-off are observed and correlated with subsequent observations of off-axis radial collapse. Taken together, this suggests that local variations in the insulator surface decrease the spatial uniformity of the sheath, leading to an azimuthally asymmetric focus, reduced electron densities, and, ultimately, degraded x-ray production.
Gadget lovers

Marketers in firms that routinely produce high-tech innovations want rapid adoption of their products. Many believe the consumer segment that is targeted initially should consist of people who adopt innovative technology relatively early and are influential sources of information that others use as references for their own behavior. A set of adopters who might meet these requirements, but have not been the focus of prior scholarly research, are gadget lovers. This article provides insights into this segment, proposes a scale to measure its key characteristics, and reports the results of a group interview and four additional studies that support the validity of the scale (n1 = 1,655, n2 = 789, n3 = 1,366, and n4 = 188). The gadget lover scale explains adoption-related behaviors beyond the variance accounted for by technological innovativeness and key demographic variables.
A Comparison of Solid Electrolyte Interphase Formation and Evolution on Highly Oriented Pyrolytic and Disordered Graphite Negative Electrodes in Lithium-Ion Batteries

The presence and stability of solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) on graphitic electrodes is vital to the performance of lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). However, the formation and evolution of SEI remain the least understood area in LIBs due to its dynamic nature, complexity in chemical composition, heterogeneity in morphology, as well as lack of reliable in situ/operando techniques for accurate characterization. In addition, chemical composition and morphology of SEI are not only affected by the choice of electrolyte, but also by the nature of the electrode surface. While introduction of defects into graphitic electrodes has promoted their electrochemical properties, how such structural defects influence SEI formation and evolution remains an open question. Here, utilizing nondestructive operando electrochemical atomic force microscopy (EChem-AFM) the dynamic SEI formation and evolution on a pair of representative graphitic materials with and without defects, namely, highly oriented pyrolytic and disordered graphite electrodes, are systematically monitored and compared. Complementary to the characterization of SEI topographical and mechanical changes during electrochemical cycling by EChem-AFM, chemical analysis and theoretical calculations are conducted to provide mechanistic insights underlying SEI formation and evolution. The results provide guidance to engineer functional SEIs through design of carbon materials with defects for LIBs and beyond.
Impact of Micro- and Retrognathia on the Neonatal Airway

The human mandible is a unique structure that undergoes considerable anatomic changes during development. Hypoplasia of the mandible can lead to a sequence of events resulting in severe respiratory compromise in neonates. This chapter explores the background, epidemiology, history and classification, diagnosis, and management of tongue-based airway obstruction due to micrognathia, commonly known as Pierre Robin sequence.
THE INF‐T TEST FOR A UNIT ROOT AGAINST ASYMMETRIC EXPONENTIAL SMOOTH TRANSITION AUTOREGRESSIVE MODELS

This paper proposes a new test for a unit root against an alternative of asymmetric exponential smooth transition autoregressive models, by extending the infimum test developed by Park and Shintani. Simulation results suggest that the test performs reasonably well in finite samples. The proposed test is also applied to real exchange rates to examine their asymmetric and nonlinear mean-reverting properties.
Dissolved noble gas and isotopic tracers reveal vulnerability of groundwater in a small, high-elevation catchment to predicted climate changes

[1] Noble gas concentrations and multiple isotopic tracers in groundwater and stream water at a small, high-elevation catchment of the Sierra Nevada Mountains constrain recharge conditions and subsurface residence times of different groundwater components. We identify three sources that contribute to groundwater flow: (1) seasonal groundwater recharge with short travel times, (2) water with elevated radiogenic 4He that has experienced longer flow paths, and (3) upwelling of deep fluids that have “magmatic” helium and carbon isotope signatures. Results from our study illuminate two important aspects of the hydrological system that will have a direct impact on how this system responds to climate change: (1) recharge to the alluvial aquifer occurs primarily on the lower slopes of the catchment and is therefore sensitive to changes in snowline elevation and (2) deep groundwater in the western part of the aquifer is very young and provides very little buffering capacity. Although apparent groundwater ages indicate residence times range from less than a year to several decades, the water that recharges seasonally dominates the alluvial aquifer. Noble gas recharge temperatures are close to mean annual air temperature, and are 5°–11° higher than would be expected for direct influx of snowmelt. Excess air concentrations, indicating entrapment of air bubbles during recharge, are lower than would be expected for recharge through bedrock fractures. Instead, recharge likely occurs over vegetated areas on the lower slopes, as indicated by δ13C-dissolved inorganic carbon values that are consistent with incorporation of CO2 from soil respiration.
Trimethoprim–sulfamethoxazole was linked to sudden death in older patients using spironolactone

Source Citation Antoniou T, Hollands S, Macdonald EM, et al; Canadian Drug Safety and Effectiveness Research Network. Trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole and risk of sudden death among patients taking sp...
Searching patterns in digital image databases

We present a method for the multiple two-dimensional pattern matching problem and its application in image database systems. In this problem, we are given a set S = {T1, T2,. . ., TN} of two-dimensional matrices and another two-dimensional matrix P, called the pattern, and we want to find all occurrences of the pattern P in the set S. The main idea behind our method is to represent two-dimensional matrices with one-dimensional strings (called fingerprint strings or simply fingerprints) thus reducing the two-dimensional matrix matching problem into a onedimensional string matching problem. We use a data structure, called the generalized suffix array, as our index structure to organize the fingerprints of the set S. The construction of the index (including converting the matrices in the set S into fingerprint strings) takes O(M log n) time and the index occupies O(M) space, where M denotes the total number of elements in all matrices in S and n the width of the widest matrix in S. Once the index is available, a query for the occurrences of an m×m pattern in the set S can be answered in O(m2 + logM) time. The reduction of the two-dimensional matrix problem into a one-dimensional string problem, however, can introduce errors, called false matches. A false match occurs if the algorithm claims a "match" between the pattern P and some submatrix of some matrix in the set S while they are actually not equal. But as will be seen, the probability that a false match can occur is negligible. For instance, suppose our patterns are 512 × 512 images. Then the probability that a "match" that is claimed by our algorithm is a false one is less than 2.39 × 10-7.
Towards a Neuroprosthetic Arm

Evidence indicates that user acceptance of modern artificial limbs by amputees would be significantly enhanced by a system that provides appropriate, graded, distally referred sensations of touch and joint movement, and that the functionality of limb prostheses would be improved by a more natural control mechanism. We have recently demonstrated that it is possible to implant electrodes within individual fascicles of peripheral nerve stumps in amputees, that stimulation through these electrodes can produce graded, discrete sensations of touch or movement referred to the amputee's phantom hand, and that recordings of motor neuron activity associated with attempted movements of the phantom limb through these electrodes can be used as graded control signals. We report here that this approach allows amputees to both judge and set grip force and joint position in an artificial arm, in the absence of visual input, thus providing a substrate for better integration of the artificial limb into the amputee's body image. We believe this to be the first demonstration of direct neural feedback from and direct neural control of an artificial arm in amputees
Book review: The Art of Computer Systems Performance Analysis - by Raj Jain (ISBN 0471-50336-3, 1991, 685 pages, Price: $ 52.95 John Wiley & Sons Inc., New York)

Dr. Raj Jain's new book, The Art of Computer Systems Performance Analysis (ISBN: 0471-50336-3, 1991, 685 pages, Price: $52.95 John Wiley & Sons Inc., New York) is definitely the most comprehensive textbook in the field of Computer systems performance evaluation. As far as my knowledge goes there is no other competitive text that offers a cohesive collection of such a wide range of topics without compromising on the quality and depth of the exposition. The topics covered include -- measurement techniques and tools, experimental design and analysis, simulation, queueing models and a section on probability theory and statistics.
Allele frequencies of hemojuvelin gene (HJV) I222N and G320V missense mutations in white and African American subjects from the general Alabama population

Background Homozygosity or compound heterozygosity for coding region mutations of the hemojuvelin gene (HJV) in whites is a cause of early age-of-onset iron overload (juvenile hemochromatosis), and of hemochromatosis phenotypes in some young or middle-aged adults. HJV coding region mutations have also been identified recently in African American primary iron overload and control subjects. Primary iron overload unexplained by typical hemochromatosis-associated HFE genotypes is common in white and black adults in Alabama, and HJV I222N and G320V were detected in a white Alabama juvenile hemochromatosis index patient. Thus, we estimated the frequency of the HJV missense mutations I222N and G320V in adult whites and African Americans from Alabama general population convenience samples.
Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibition attenuates hypofibrinolysis and reduces cardiac perivascular fibrosis in genetically obese diabetic mice.

Background —Obesity and insulin resistance are associated with accelerated macrovascular and microvascular coronary disease, cardiomyopathic phenomena, and increased concentrations and activity in blood of plasminogen activator inhibitor type 1 (PAI-1), the primary physiological inhibitor of fibrinolysis. Methods and Results —To determine whether hypofibrinolysis in blood and tissues and its potential sequelae could be attenuated pharmacologically, we studied genetically modified obese mice. By 10 weeks of age, obese mice exhibited increases in left ventricular weight and glucose and immunoreactive insulin in blood. PAI-1 activity in blood measured spectrophotometrically was significantly elevated as well. The difference compared with values in lean controls widened by 20 weeks of age. Perivascular fibrosis in coronary arterioles and small coronary arteries was evident in obese mice 10 and 20 weeks of age, paralleling increases in PAI-1 and tissue factor expression evident by immunohistochemical image analysis, in situ hybridization, and reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction. Inhibition of ACE activity initiated in obese mice 10 weeks of age and continued for 20 weeks arrested the increase in PAI-1 activity in blood and in cardiac PAI-1 and tissue factor mRNA as well as coronary perivascular fibrosis. Conclusions —Thus, inhibition of proteo(fibrino)lysis and augmented tissue factor expression in the heart precede and may contribute to the coronary perivascular fibrosis seen with obesity and insulin resistance. Furthermore, inhibition of ACE activity can attenuate all 3 phenomena.
Conjugate Interface Heat and Mass Transfer Simulation With the Lattice Boltzmann Equation Method

An interface treatment for conjugate heat and mass transfer in the lattice Boltzmann equation (LBE) method is proposed based on our previously proposed second-order accurate Dirichlet and Neumann boundary schemes. The continuity of temperature (concentration) and its flux at the interface for heat (mass) transfer is intrinsically satisfied without iterative computations, and the interfacial temperature (concentration) and their fluxes are conveniently obtained from the microscopic distribution functions without finite-difference calculations. The present treatment takes into account the local geometry of the interface so that it can be directly applied to curved interface problems such as conjugate heat and mass transfer in porous media. For straight interfaces or curved interfaces with no tangential gradient, the coupling between the interfacial fluxes along the discrete lattice velocity directions is eliminated and thus the proposed interface schemes can be greatly simplified. Several numerical tests are conducted to verify the applicability and accuracy of the proposed conjugate interface treatment, including: (i) steady convection-diffusion in a channel containing two different fluids, (ii) unsteady convection-diffusion in the channel, and (iii) steady heat conduction inside a circular domain with two different solid materials. The accuracy and order-of-convergence of the simulated interior temperature (concentration) field, the interfacial temperature (concentration) and heat (mass) flux are examined in detail and compared with those obtained from the “half lattice division” treatment in the literature. The present analysis and numerical results show that the half lattice division scheme is second-order accurate only when the interface is fixed at the center of the lattice links while the present treatment preserves second-order accuracy for arbitrary link fractions. For curved interfaces, the present treatment yields second-order accurate interior and interfacial temperatures (concentrations) and first-order accurate interfacial heat (mass) flux. An increase of order-of-convergence by one degree is obtained for each of these three quantities compared with the half lattice division scheme.Copyright © 2014 by ASME
POSSIBLE TESTS FOR THE VIOLATION OF PARITY AND TIME-REVERSAL INVARIANCE IN NUCLEI.

Abstract Consequences of the assumption that time-reversal ( T ) invariance is weakly violated together with the weak parity ( P ) violation in the nucleus are investigated in connection with the observed K 2 0 →2 π decay. The odd- T terms in the nucleon-nucleon effective force are calculated and their contribution to the average nuclear potential are estimated. Various possible electromagnetic nuclear transitions are considered that can be used as tests for the simultaneous violation of T - and P -invariance in the nucleus.
Seismic Vulnerability Evaluation of Essential Facilities in Memphis and Shelby County, Tennessee

Abstract This study is designed to assess potential seismic vulnerability of highly occupied or heavily used essential facilities, including 202 schools, 22 hospitals, and 74 fire stations, in Memp...
Posttranslational mechanisms of peripheral sensitization

The sensation of pain can be dramatically altered in response to injury or disease. This sensitization can occur at the level of the primary sensory neuron, and can be mediated by multiple biochemical mechanisms, including, but not limited to, changes in gene transcription, changes in translation, stability, or subcellular localization of translated proteins, and posttranslational modifications. This review focuses on posttranslational modifications to ion channels expressed in primary sensory neurons that form the machinery driving peripheral sensitization and pain hypersensitivity. Studies published to date show strong evidence for modulation of ion channels involved in transduction and transmission of nociceptive inputs coincident with biophysical and behavioral sensitization. The roles of phosphorylation and oxidation/reduction reactions of voltage-dependent sodium, potassium, and calcium channels are discussed, as well as phosphorylation-mediated modulation of sensory transduction channels.
Survivin expression induced by endothelin-1 promotes myofibroblast resistance to apoptosis

Fibrosis of the lungs and other organs is characterized by the accumulation of myofibroblasts, effectors of wound-repair that are responsible for the deposition and organization of new extracellular matrix (ECM) in response to tissue injury. During the resolution phase of normal wound repair, myofibroblast apoptosis limits the continued deposition of ECM. Mounting evidence suggests that myofibroblasts from fibrotic wounds acquire resistance to apoptosis, but the mechanisms regulating this resistance have not been fully elucidated. Endothelin-1 (ET-1), a soluble peptide strongly associated with fibrogenesis, decreases myofibroblast susceptibility to apoptosis through activation of phosphatidylinositol 3′-OH kinase (PI3K)/AKT. Focal adhesion kinase (FAK) also promotes myofibroblast resistance to apoptosis through PI3K/AKT-dependent and – independent mechanisms, although the role of FAK in ET-1 mediated resistance to apoptosis has not been explored. The goal of this study was to investigate whether FAK contributes to ET-1 mediated myofibroblast resistance to apoptosis and to examine potential mechanisms downstream of FAK and PI3K/AKT by which ET-1 regulates myofibroblast survival. Here, we show that ET-1 regulates myofibroblast survival by Rho/ROCK-dependent activation of FAK. The anti-apoptotic actions of FAK are, in turn, dependent on activation of PI3K/AKT and the subsequent increased expression of Survivin, a member of the inhibitor of apoptosis protein (IAP) family. Collectively, these studies define a novel mechanism by which ET-1 promotes myofibroblast resistance to apoptosis through upregulation of Survivin.
Nano-Dispersed Organic Liquid and Liquid Crystals for All-Time-Scales Optical Switching and Tunable Negative-and Zero- Index Materials

We present an overview of recent results obtained in nano-dispersed nonlinear neat organic liquids and liquid crystals. Experimental observations confirm the enhancement of nonlinear absorption in gold nano-spheres doped neat nonlinear liquids and extension of the bandwidth of efficient all-optical switching operation for visible-near infrared lasers in time scales ranging from sub-picoseconds through nanoseconds and microseconds and longer. Similar nano-particulate doped liquid crystal films also exhibit efficient all-optical switching capabilities for microseconds – cw lasers. Meta-materials fabricated with core-shell nano-spheres dispersed nematic liquid crystals show effective refractive indices that are tunable from negative through zero to positive values.
Use of soluble recombinant TNF receptor to improve detection of TNF secretion in cultures of tumor infiltrating lymphocytes

Abstract The accurate quantitation of picogram amounts of TNF is possible by ELISA and is useful in many areas of biomedical research, including studies of TNF release in vitro by stimulated lymphocytes and macrophages, and of serum levels in patients with cancer and sepsis. However, we show in this report that the detection of recombinant TNF standards by ELISA falls over time with incubation at 37°C, and is further decreased when incubated with tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL), making accurate quantitation difficult. We demonstrate that the soluble dimeric form of the TNF receptor can prevent this decrease, both in the presence and absence of TIL. In contrast, the soluble monomeric TNF receptor was much less effective in preventing this decrease. In addition, the dimeric but not the monomeric TNF receptor was found to inhibit bioactivity of TNF as measured by L929 cytotoxicity. The dimeric TNF receptor does not interfere with the detection of recombinant TNF standards by ELISA, and entirely stabilizes TNF levels incubated over 48 h at 37°C in the presence and absence of TIL. This protection is specific, and the TNF receptor does not stabilize interferon-γ. The dimeric form of the soluble TNF receptor has proven useful in detecting TNF released by TIL transduced with the TNF cDNA that are currently being used in studies of the gene therapy of cancer with TIL. The dimeric TNF receptor may also prove useful in the accurate quantitation of TNF released by stimulated lymphocytes and macrophages in vitro, and in the quantitation of serum TNF levels in patients.
Analysis of Tumor Suppressor Genes Using Transgenic Mice

Abstract Identification and analysis of tumor suppressor genes has relied chiefly upon studies of human sporadic tumors and of tumors harvested from familial cancer syndrome patients. One methodology that is proving to be extremely useful both in analyzing the function of these genes and in identifying new tumor suppressor genes involves the creation of transgenic mice that contain targeted mutations that functionally inactivate tumor suppressor genes. Studies using such mice have provided insight into the role of tumor suppressor genes in cell growth and in embryonic development. The creation of mice that harbor mutations in one or both alleles of a targeted gene has permitted an in vivo analysis of the tumor suppressing properties of the gene and facilitated investigation of cell cycle control and differentiation of multiple cell lineages within the organism. Sophistication of gene targeting techniques will likely result in the creation of more lines of mice bearing genetic modifications in tumor suppressor genes, permitting an even finer detailed analysis of tumor suppressor gene functions.
The Persistence of Highly Restrictive Special Education Placements for Students with Low-Incidence Disabilities.

The purpose of this study is to analyze the Least Restrictive Environment (LRE) data that states and U.S. territories report from the Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) and discuss the status of the most restrictive special education placement settings for students with disabilities. In this analysis, we found that (a) states do not set rigorous improvement goals to reduce restrictive placements, (b) the percentage of students with disabilities placed in restrictive placements have remained essentially unchanged over the past decade, and (c) students with low-incidence (severe) disabilities are disproportionally placed in restrictive placements. These results suggest that segregated educational experiences continue for thousands of students with disabilities in spite of evidence that shows that opportunities to learn and develop are enhanced in more inclusive educational settings.
Fatigue Crack Growth of β-21S Titanium Alloy Under Constant Amplitude and miniTWIST Flight Spectra at 25°C and 175°C

{beta}-21S titanium alloy sheet fatigue crack growth behavior was investigated at 25 C and 175 C under constant amplitude (R = 0.1 and 0.5) and miniTWIST flight spectra. Based upon nominal {Delta}K values, constant amplitude fatigue crack growth behavior at 175 C was either similar to (R = 0.1), or slightly better than (R = 0.5) 25 C. With crack closure taken into account, the fatigue crack growth curves at 175 C, plotted as a function of K{sub eff}, were shifted to the left of the fatigue crack growth curves at 25 C at near threshold values. Under flight spectra conditions, fatigue crack growth life at 175 C was 40 to 90% longer than at 25 C. Flight spectra life calculations using NASA/FLAGRO based upon constant amplitude fatigue crack growth data, were primarily conservative but in good agreement with experimental data. Fatigue crack growth was transgranular with crystalline facets and striations that were evident at higher constant amplitude fatigue crack growth rates and with the miniTWIST spectra. Striations were observed to a limited extent at threshold and near threshold conditions at 25 C, but not at 175 C. Based upon desirable constant and variable amplitude fatigue crack growth and fatigue/fracturemore » crack morphology, this {beta}-21S sheet alloy appears to be an acceptable material for damage tolerant aerospace situations between 25 C and 175 C.« less
Does Suture Technique Affect Re-Rupture in Arthroscopic Rotator Cuff Repair? A Meta-analysis

Purpose To evaluate the effects of suture configuration, repair method, and tear size on rotator cuff (RC) repair healing. Methods We conducted a literature search of articles that examined surgical treatment of RC tears published between January 2003 and September 2014. For single-row (SR) repairs, we calculated rerupture rates for simple, mattress, and modified Mason-Allen sutures while stratifying by tear size. All double-row repairs—those using 2 rows of suture anchors (DA) and those using a suture bridge (SB)—were performed using mattress sutures, and we compared rerupture rates by repair method while stratifying by tear size. A random-effects model with pooled estimates for between-study variance was used to estimate the overall rerupture proportion and corresponding 95% confidence interval for each group. Statistical significance was defined as P Results A total of 682 RC repairs from 13 studies were included. For SR repairs of tears measuring less than 3 cm, there was no significant difference in rerupture rates for modified Mason-Allen sutures versus simple sutures ( P = .18). For SR repairs of tears measuring 3 cm or more, there was no significant difference in rerupture rates for mattress sutures versus simple sutures ( P = .23). The rates of rerupture did not differ between SB and DA repairs for tears measuring less than 3 cm ( P = .29) and 3 cm or more ( P = .50). Conclusions For SR repairs, there were no significant differences in rerupture rates between suture techniques for any repair method or tear size. All DA and SB repairs were secured with mattress sutures, and there were no differences in the rates of rerupture between these methods for either size category. These findings suggest that suture technique may not affect rerupture rates after RC repair. Level of Evidence Level IV, systematic review of Level I through IV studies.
Some factors influencing the effect of depressed mood on anger and overt hostility toward another.

Abstract According to Berkowitz's (1983, American Psychologist , 38, 1135–1144) analysis of aversively stimulated aggression, negative affect produces a rudimentary experience of anger along with an instigation to aggression, while higher order cognitive processing activated by deliberate thought can then intervene to influence the specific nature of the emotional experience as well as the overt behavior exhibited. Following this reasoning, it was assumed that (a) depressed mood generates angry feelings and hostile inclinations, (b) awareness of one's feelings leads to the regulation of the expression of these feelings and inclinations, and (c) people classified as repressors by the Byrne R-S scale would tend to avoid awareness of their negative affect in comparison to sensitizers. Supporting this argument, it was found that the subjects, university women, expressed the greatest hostility toward a target person when (1) they had been placed in a depressed mood, (2) were identified as repressors, and (3) were required to indicate their opinions of the target quickly and with little thought. At least some of the impulsive hostility displayed by depressives might thus be due to the unpleasantness of their feelings.
Dissolution testing of artemisinin solid oral dosage forms

Abstract Dissolution can best be described as a tool that can provide valuable information about the bioavailability of a drug product. But to obtain a good overall correlation with in vivo data, the presence of sink conditions is an essential requirement in the dissolution tests. The flow-through cell method has been recommended to be a dissolution method that most satisfactorily fulfils this requirement for poorly water soluble drugs. The present article demonstrates that in case of artemisinin, a hydrophobic compound used in high dose per tablet or capsule, even the flow-through cell method does not guarantee the presence of sink conditions during the total duration of the experiments.
Percolation simulation of the network degradation during ultrasonic devulcanization

The percolation model of network degradation during rubber devulcanization is presented. The model is based on a random crosslink scission and molecular chain breakup. The obtained results indicate that the primary model parameter characterizing the network degradation is the ratio of the probabilities of backbone breakup to crosslink scission. The predicted dependences of the gel fraction of devulcanized rubber on crosslink density are in excellent agreement with experimental data for styrene-butadiene rubber and ground rubber tire. The estimated critical exponents indicate that the process of devulcanization for the vulcanizate without filler appears to belong to the universality class of standard 3D bond percolation while devulcanization for the vulcanizate with filler appears to belong to its own new universality class. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
An Adaptive Physical Activity Intervention for Overweight Adults: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Background Physical activity (PA) interventions typically include components or doses that are static across participants. Adaptive interventions are dynamic; components or doses change in response to short-term variations in participant's performance. Emerging theory and technologies make adaptive goal setting and feedback interventions feasible. Objective To test an adaptive intervention for PA based on Operant and Behavior Economic principles and a percentile-based algorithm. The adaptive intervention was hypothesized to result in greater increases in steps per day than the static intervention. Methods Participants (N = 20) were randomized to one of two 6-month treatments: 1) static intervention (SI) or 2) adaptive intervention (AI). Inactive overweight adults (85% women, M = 36.9±9.2 years, 35% non-white) in both groups received a pedometer, email and text message communication, brief health information, and biweekly motivational prompts. The AI group received daily step goals that adjusted up and down based on the percentile-rank algorithm and micro-incentives for goal attainment. This algorithm adjusted goals based on a moving window; an approach that responded to each individual's performance and ensured goals were always challenging but within participants' abilities. The SI group received a static 10,000 steps/day goal with incentives linked to uploading the pedometer's data. Results A random-effects repeated-measures model accounted for 180 repeated measures and autocorrelation. After adjusting for covariates, the treatment phase showed greater steps/day relative to the baseline phase (p<.001) and a group by study phase interaction was observed (p = .017). The SI group increased by 1,598 steps/day on average between baseline and treatment while the AI group increased by 2,728 steps/day on average between baseline and treatment; a significant between-group difference of 1,130 steps/day (Cohen's d = .74). Conclusions The adaptive intervention outperformed the static intervention for increasing PA. The adaptive goal and feedback algorithm is a “behavior change technology” that could be incorporated into mHealth technologies and scaled to reach large populations. Trial Registration ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01793064
The nature of the primary photochemical events in rhodopsin and isorhodopsin

The nature of the primary photochemical events in rhodopsin and isorhodopsin is studied by using low temperature actinometry, low temperature absorption spectroscopy, and intermediate neglect of differential overlap including partial single and double configuration interaction (INDO-PSDCI) molecular orbital theory. The principal goal is a better understanding of how the protein binding site influences the energetic, photochemical, and spectroscopic properties of the bound chromophore. Absolute quantum yields for the isorhodopsin (I) to bathorhodopsin (B) phototransformation are assigned at 77 K by using the rhodopsin (R) to bathorhodopsin phototransformation as an internal standard (phi R----B = 0.67). In contrast to rhodopsin photochemistry, isorhodopsin displays a wavelength dependent quantum yield for photochemical generation of bathorhodopsin at 77 K. Measurements at seven wavelengths yielded values ranging from a low of 0.089 +/- 0.021 at 565 nm to a high of 0.168 +/- 0.012 at 440 nm. An analysis of these data based on a variety of kinetic models suggests that the I----B phototransformation encounters a small activation barrier (approximately 0.2 kcal mol-1) associated with the 9-cis----9-trans excited-state torsional-potential surface. The 9-cis retinal chromophore in solution (EPA, 77 K) has the smallest oscillator strength relative to the other isomers: 1.17 (all-trans), 0.98 (9-cis), 1.04 (11-cis), and 1.06 (13-cis). The effect of conformation is quite different for the opsin-bound chromophores. The oscillator strength of the lambda max absorption band of I is observed to be anomalously large (1.11) relative to the lambda max absorption bands of R (0.98) and B (1.07). The wavelength-dependent photoisomerization quantum yields and the anomalous oscillator strength associated with isorhodopsin provide important information on the nature of the opsin binding site. Various models of the binding site were tested by using INDO-PSDCI molecular orbital theory to predict the oscillator strengths of R, B, and I and to calculate the barriers and energy storage associated with the photochemistry of R and I for each model. Our experimental and theoretical investigation leads to the following conclusions: (a) The counterion (abbreviated as CTN) is not intimately associated with the imine proton in R, B, or I. The counterion lies underneath the plane of the chromophore in R and I, and the primary chromophore-counterion electrostatic interactions involve C15-CTN and C13-CTN. These interactions are responsible for the anomalous oscillator strength of I relative to R and B.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
PINEALECTOMY IN SUCCESSIVE GENERATIONS OF RATS

STUDIES on the effect of pinealectomy over successive generations of animals have been the natural outgrowth of the positive results of Rowntree, Clark, Stein' berg, and Hanson (i, 2,), obtained by the administration of pineal extract to successive generations of rats. These investigators reported that the administration of a picric acid extract of beef pineal bodies to successive generations of rats resulted in retardation in growth and acceleration in development which became more marked with each succeeding generation. This experiment was repeated with a hydrochloric acid extract of beef pineal bodies (3) with qualitatively the same results as in the first experiment, though the results were this time less marked. The positive results obtained by the administration of pineal extracts to succes' sivegenerations of rats brought up the question of whether or not opposite results would be obtained by the pinealectomy of successive generations.
Jail management of arrestees/inmates enrolled in community methadone maintenance programs.

Anecdotal evidence suggests that many jails fail to adequately detoxify arrestees/inmates who are enrolled in methadone programs, but there are few empirical data. The objective of this study was to assess how jails manage arrestees/inmates enrolled in methadone programs. A national survey of 500 jails in the United States was conducted. Surveys were mailed to the 200 largest jails in the country in addition to a random sample of 300 of the remaining jails (10% sample). Jails were specifically asked about management of opiate dependency among arrestees/inmates enrolled in methadone programs. Weighted logistic regression analyses were conducted to assess predictors of continuing methadone during incarceration and use of recommended detoxification protocols. Among the 245 (49%) jails that responded, only 1 in 4 (27%) reported they contacted the methadone programs regarding dose, and only 1 in 8 (12%) continued methadone during the incarceration. Very few (2%) jails used methadone or other opiates for detoxification. Most used clonidine. However, half (48%) of jails failed to use clonidine, methadone, or other opiates to detoxify inmates from methadone. Weighted logistic regression models showed that moderately large jails and those located in the South and Midwest were significantly more likely to continue methadone. Very large jails, those with an estimated prevalence of opiate dependence of 6%–10% among arrestees/inmates, and those located in the Northeast were significantly more likely to use recommended detoxification protocols. Very few jails provided continuous treatment to arrested persons on methadone, and half failed to detoxify arrestees/ inmates using recommended protocols. These practices jeopardize the health and wellbeing of persons enrolled in methadone programs and underscore the need for uniform national policies within jails.
Attachment Theory and Mindfulness

We initiate a dialog between two central areas in the field of psychology today: attachment theory/research and mindfulness studies. The impact of the early mother-infant relationship on child development has been well established in the literature, with attachment theorists having focused on the correlation between a mother’s capacity for self-regulation and connection (e.g., attunement) with children’s health and developmental outcomes. Because the transition to parenthood is often a stressful one, research has also focused on the importance of the mother’s external and internal support (e.g., self-awareness, recognition of needs) in promoting healthy mother-infant relationships. One promising field in relation to increased internal support is mindfulness, a practice shown to increase emotional regulation while decreasing stress and anxiety. Described as non-judgmental, present-moment awareness, mindfulness has received significant empirical attention over the past three decades and has recently been theorized as an important contributing factor in healthy mother–child relationships. Recognizing the potentially beneficial effects of mindfulness training on healthy attachment, this article reviews relevant literature in presenting a case for exploratory and empirical research into the dynamic relationship between mindfulness, attachment style, maternal health, and children’s development. Grounds for this convergence, as well as suggestions for future research, are presented.
Streaks in pigmented squamous cell carcinoma in situ

DERMOSCOPIC APPEARANCE Dermoscopy revealed focal streaks at the periphery and within the borders of the lesion (Fig 2). The streaklike projections did not converge toward the geometric center of the lesion as seen inmelanocytic lesions, nor did they connect to a common base to form a leaflike structure as is seen in pigmented basal cell carcinoma (BCC). Scattered brown dots, some aligned linearly, were also present.
A simple convenient synthesis of trans-1,2,3,4,4a,5,6,10b-octahydrophenanthridines

trans-1,2,3,4,4a,5,6,10b-Octahydrophenanthridine, the 9-methoxy analog, and 5-methyl derivatives (6a,6b) of each have been synthesized from trans-phenylcyclohexylamines (2a,2b) and ethyl chloroformate followed by cyclization and reduction or by cyclization, N-methylation and reduction. The oximes (la,1b) of 2-phenylcyclohexanone and the m-methoxy relative, a mixture of the syn and anti isomers, were reduced to 2a and 2b with sodium and ethanol. Hydrogenation (platinum oxide-acetic acid) of 1a gave in addition to 2a, a small yield of 2-cyclohexylcyclohexyl-amine. Similar hydrogenation of 1b gave only this fully reduced compound.
Physical Principles of Remote Sensing, second edition by W. G. Rees

Book Review: P. E. Jansma: Physical Principles of Remote Sensing, second edition by W. G. Rees
Effects of an artificial pupil in visual perception

The role of an artificial pupil in perception studies using backlighted stimuli is neither obvious nor has it been thoroughly explored. This study finds an effect which increases the signal/noise ratio of the stimulus. The artificial pupil increases the signal/noise ratio by increasing depth of field, increasing figure/ground contrast, and sharpening figure contours. The use of an artificial pupil is recommended in visual perception experiments.