cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Vacuum energy and repulsive Casimir forces in quantum star graphs

Casimir pistons are models in which finite Casimir forces can be calculated without any suspect renormalizations. It has been suggested that such forces are always attractive, but we present several counterexamples, notably a simple type of quantum graph in which the sign of the force depends upon the number of edges. We also show that Casimir forces in quantum graphs can be reliably computed by summing over the classical orbits, and study the rate of convergence of the periodic orbit expansion. In generic situations where no analytic expression is available, the sign and approximate magnitude of Casimir forces can often be obtained using only the shortest classical orbits.
Creating a collimated ultrasound beam in highly attenuating fluids

We have devised a method, based on a parametric array concept, to create a low-frequency (300-500 kHz) collimated ultrasound beam in fluids highly attenuating to sound. This collimated beam serves as the basis for designing an ultrasound visualization system that can be used in the oil exploration industry for down-hole imaging in drilling fluids. We present the results of two different approaches to generating a collimated beam in three types of highly attenuating drilling mud. In the first approach, the drilling mud itself was used as a nonlinear mixing medium to create a parametric array. However, the short absorption length in mud limits the mixing length and, consequently, the resulting beam is weak and broad. In the second improved approach, the beam generation process was confined to a separate "frequency mixing tube" that contained an acoustically non-linear, low attenuation medium (e.g., water) that allowed establishing a usable parametric array in the mixing tube. A low-frequency collimated beam was thus created prior to its propagation into the drilling fluid. Using the latter technique, the penetration depth of the low frequency ultrasound beam in the drilling fluid was significantly extended. We also present measurements of acoustic nonlinearity in various types of drilling mud.
Network Science Enabled Cost Estimation in Support of MBSE

Abstract As Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) continues to mature, additional analyses can be performed to understand the relationships between a system's cost, schedule, and performance. The DoD Architecture Framework (DoDAF) is one of many approaches for representing the relationship between system components. If DoDAF diagrams - such as those provided in the Systems View - are treated as networks, they can be mathematically analyzed, providing additional summary metrics that might yield valuable insight into the degree of effort (i.e., cost) required to bring a system to fruition. For instance, if we view the addition of a new subsystem to the system's architecture abstractly as the addition of a vertex to a network, we can apply contemporary methods from network science to grow the network and estimate its cost. Unlike rules of thumb, this approach provides us with an objective way to quantify and assess change. The objective of this work is to turn MBSE knowledge into computational knowledge in order to support tradeoffs, change impact analysis, and related approaches early in the life cycle.
Pathological anatomy of the hands in Apert's syndrome.

The hands of a 3-week-old infant with Apert's syndrome who died of cardiac abnormalities were dissected and examined histologically. Some of the reasons for the stiff fingers and poor hand function noted in the syndactyly of this syndrome included the failure of joint development and the presence of osseocartilaginous and osseous interdigital bridges.
Insights into modulation of calcium signaling by magnesium in calmodulin, troponin C and related EF-hand proteins

The Ca(2+)-binding helix-loop-helix structural motif called "EF-hand" is a common building block of a large family of proteins that function as intracellular Ca(2+)-receptors. These proteins respond specifically to micromolar concentrations of Ca(2+) in the presence of ~1000-fold excess of the chemically similar divalent cation Mg(2+). The intracellular free Mg(2+) concentration is tightly controlled in a narrow range of 0.5-1.0mM, which at the resting Ca(2+) levels is sufficient to fully or partially saturate the Ca(2+)-binding sites of many EF-hand proteins. Thus, to convey Ca(2+) signals, EF-hand proteins must respond differently to Ca(2+) than to Mg(2+). In this review the structural aspects of Mg(2+) binding to EF-hand proteins are considered and interpreted in light of the recently proposed two-step Ca(2+)-binding mechanism (Grabarek, Z., J. Mol. Biol., 2005, 346, 1351). It is proposed that, due to stereochemical constraints imposed by the two-EF-hand domain structure, the smaller Mg(2+) ion cannot engage the ligands of an EF-hand in the same way as Ca(2+) and defaults to stabilizing the apo-like conformation of the EF-hand. It is proposed that Mg(2+) plays an active role in the Ca(2+)-dependent regulation of cellular processes by stabilizing the "off state" of some EF-hand proteins, thereby facilitating switching off their respective target enzymes at the resting Ca(2+) levels. Therefore, some pathological conditions attributed to Mg(2+) deficiency might be related to excessive activation of underlying Ca(2+)-regulated cellular processes. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: 11th European Symposium on Calcium.
Multipath fading measurements for multi-antenna backscatter RFID at 5.8 GHz

UHF and microwave backscatter RF-tag systems, including radio frequency identification (RFID) and sensor systems, experience multipath fading that can be more severe than that found in a conventional transmitter-to-receiver channel. Previous work has shown that multipath fading can be reduced on the modulated-backscatter signal received from the RF tag in a non-line-of-sight (NLOS) channel if more than one RF-tag antenna is used to modulate backscatter. This paper presents the first multipath fading measurements for backscatter tags using multiple antennas at 5.79 GHz - the center of the 5.725–5.850 GHz, unlicensed industrial, scientific, and medical (ISM) frequency band that may offer reliable operation for future, miniature RF tags. NLOS measurement results are presented as cumulative density functions (CDF) and fade margins for use in backscatter radio link budget analysis and a detailed description of the custom backscatter testbed used to take the measurements is provided. The measurements show that gains are available for multiple-antenna RF tags and results match well with gains predicted using the analytic fading distributions derived previously.
Electronic Properties and Fragmentation Dynamics of Organic Species Deposited on Silicon Surfaces

This contribution summarizes recent progress in the computational treatment of organic species deposited on silicon surfaces, with emphasis on the Si(100) surface. Representative theoretical studies of various organic species in contact with Si surfaces are surveyed, involving unsaturated hydrocarbons, amines, phosphines, and alcohols as adsorbates. The connection of the presented computational results to spectroscopic measurement is outlined in each individual case. The strengths and the limitations of a finite cluster model for simulating the Si substrate are discussed. Further, a comprehensive investigation of one specific system is presented, namely 1-propanol adsorbed on Si(001) -(2× 1). It is shown by density functional theory within periodic boundary conditions that 1-propanol in contact with Si(001) -(2× 1) initially occupies a metastable physisorbed state which turns into a stable chemisorbed ground state by dissociative hydrogen transfer. This fragmentation effect is confirmed by ab initio molecular dynamics at room temperature. The adsorbed organic layer induces further surface reconstruction. For the first time, the band structure of the 1-propanole/Si(001) film is determined. The tendency of the energy gap as a function of 1-propanole coverage indicates that the surface becomes increasingly insulating as the areal density of the organic adsorbate is enhanced
Patterns of Oligodendrocyte Function Seen by Immunocytochemistry

The classification of cells into types and the functions assigned to each cell type have, in the past, been dependent primarily upon morphological criteria. The functions usually associated with oligodendrocytes are: (1) myelin formation by interfascicular oligodendrocytes and (2) nutrition of neurons by satellite oligodendrocytes in the gray matter, the satellite cells being presumed not to participate in myelination (for a review, see Raine, 1981). More recently, immuncytochemistry has become a useful tool for confirming and extending (or contradicting) conclusions based on morphological observations. In addition, immunocytochemical studies have led to the discovery of new functions associated with oligodendrocytes and have shown that oligodendrocytes can no longer be considered as being solely myelin-producing cells.
Incidence, risk factors and management of severe post-transsphenoidal epistaxis.

Among the major complications of transsphenoidal surgery, less attention has been given to severe postoperative epistaxis, which can lead to devastating consequences. In this study, we reviewed 551 consecutive patients treated over a 4 year period by the senior author to evaluate the incidence, risk factors, etiology and management of immediate and delayed post-transsphenoidal epistaxis. Eighteen patients (3.3%) developed significant postoperative epistaxis – six immediately and 12 delayed (mean postoperative day 10.8). Fourteen patients harbored macroadenomas (78%) and 11 of 18 (61.1%) had complex nasal/sphenoid anatomy. In the immediate epistaxis group, 33% had acute postoperative hypertension. In the delayed group, one had an anterior ethmoidal pseudoaneurysm, and one had restarted anticoagulation on postoperative day 3. We treated the immediate epistaxis group with bedside nasal packing followed by operative re-exploration if conservative measures were unsuccessful. The delayed group underwent bedside nasal hemostasis; if unsuccessful, angiographic embolization was performed. After definitive treatment, no patients had recurrent epistaxis.
Quantitative analysis of the efficiency and mutagenic spectra of abasic lesion bypass catalyzed by human Y-family DNA polymerases

Higher eukaryotes encode various Y-family DNA polymerases to perform global DNA lesion bypass. To provide complete mutation spectra for abasic lesion bypass, we employed short oligonucleotide sequencing assays to determine the sequences of abasic lesion bypass products synthesized by human Y-family DNA polymerases eta (hPolg), iota (hPoli) and kappa (hPoli). The fourth human Y-family DNA polymerase, Rev1, failed to generate full-length lesion bypass products after 3h. The results indicate that hPoli generates mutations with a frequency from 10 to 80% during each nucleotide incorporation event. In contrast, hPolg is the least error prone, generating the fewest mutations in the vicinity of the abasic lesion and inserting dAMP with a frequency of 67% opposite the abasic site. While the error frequency of hPoli is intermediate to those of hPolg and hPoli, hPoli has the highest potential to create frameshift mutations opposite the abasic site. Moreover, the time (t50 bypass ) required to bypass 50% of the abasic lesions encountered by hPolg, hPoli and hPoli was 4.6, 112 and 1823s, respectively. These t50 bypass values indicate that, among the enzymes, hPolg has the highest abasic lesion bypass efficiency. Together, our data suggest that hPolg is best suited to perform abasic lesion bypass in vivo.
tm_db: A Generic Debugging Library for Transactional Programs

Transactional Memory (TM) has received a lot of attention as a programming API for concurrent programs on emerging multicore architectures. If the transactional programming model is to realize its promise of simplifying the problem of writing correct and scalable concurrent programs, debuggers will have to change. In this paper, we introduce tm db, an open-source library to provide debuggers with a general debugging support for transactional programs. The library helps debuggers provide programmers with generic transactional debugging features, independent of the particular TM’s runtime internals. In addition, it provides TM designers with a well defined interface for transactional debugging support. We discuss the basic debugging features we believe are essential to debug transactional programs, how they are provided by the library, and how they integrate into a general debugging infrastructure.
Coronary MR angiography during peak‐systole: Work in Progress

The purpose of this study is to compare the quality of images of coronary arteries obtained with two-dimensional breath-hold coronary MR angiography during peak systole and mid diastole. Two-dimensional coronary MR angiography was performed in eight normal volunteers at peak systole and in mid diastole with a commercial 1.5-T MR imager. An ultrafast gradient-echo sequence with incremented flip angle series and k-space segmentation was used. The image quality grade, length, and proximal diameter of each visualized coronary artery were measured. The highest quality images in systole and diastole were compared. Coronary MR angiography provided high quality images in systole and diastole in 14 of 16 coronary vessels (87.5%). In 8 of 14 vessels (57%), there was no visible coronary MR angiogram image degradation when comparing peak systolic with mid-diastolic images. In 4 of 14 vessels (29%), there was mild MR image degradation. There was significant MR image degradation in only one case (7%). And in one case (7%), there was mild image improvement during systole. The width and length of the visualized coronary vessels did not change significantly from diastole to systole. Existing two-dimensional breath-hold coronary MR angiography provides MR images during peak systole and mid-diastole with little or no perceptible difference in quality.
Controls of ventricular contractility assessed by pressure-volume ratio, Emax

The present study on canine left ventricles showed that Emax which we previously proposed as a good index of both ventricular contractility and its pumping capability, decreased from 2.06 to 1.38kPa/ml (15.5 to 10.4 mmHg/ml) via the sino-aortic baroreceptor reflex. Cerebral ischaemic response increased Emax to 3.83 kPa/ml (28.8 mmHg/ml). Emax decreased to 1.17kPa/ml (8.8 mmHg/ml) after cardiac denervation.
Dynamic logical structures: a position statement for managing replicated data

The authors discuss extensions to the grid protocol to improve the fault-tolerance of write operations by using the notions of structured read and write grid quorums. As is the case in the standard quorum protocols, the increased fault-tolerance for write operations is at the increased cost of executing read operations. In order to let users continue using the analogues of the read-one-write-all protocol in the context of a logical structure, they develop reconfiguration protocols for dynamically adapting to failures and recovery. This results in the following dichotomy. Users accesses are through the simple analogues of the read-one-write-all protocol with respect to a logical structure and therefore have low communication cost for read operations. On the other hand, the reconfiguration protocol uses the notion of quorums in the context of a logical structure to ensure high data availability. A similar approach can be applied to the tree protocol. >
Analysis of circular bordered pit function II. Gymnosperm tracheids with torus-margo pit membranes

A model of xylem conduit function was applied to gymnosperm tracheids with torus-margo pit membranes for comparison with angiosperm vessels. Tracheids from 17 gymnosperm tree species with circular bordered pits and air-seed pressures from 0.8 to 11.8 MPa were analyzed. Tracheids were more reinforced against implosion than vessels, consistent with their double function in transport and support. Tracheid pits were 3.3 to 44 times higher in hydraulic conductivity than vessel pits because of greater membrane conductivity of the torus-margo configuration. Tight scaling between torus and pit size maximized pit conductivity. Higher pit conductivity allowed tracheids to be 1.7‐3.4 times shorter than vessels and still achieve 95% of their lumen-limited maximum conductivity. Predicted tracheid lengths were consistent with measured lengths. The torus-margo structure is important for maximizing the conductivity of the inherently length-limited tracheid: replacing the torus-margo membrane with a vessel membrane caused stem tracheid conductivity to drop by 41%. Tracheids were no less hydraulically efficient than vessels if they were long enough to reach their lumenlimiting conductivity. However, this may only be possible for lumen diameters below approximately 60‐70 mm.
Variability in net primary production and carbon storage in biomass across Oregon forests—an assessment integrating data from forest inventories, intensive sites, and remote sensing

We used a combination of data from USDA Forest Service inventories, intensive chronosequences, extensive sites, and satellite remote sensing, to estimate biomass and net primary production (NPP) for the forested region of western Oregon. The study area was divided into four ecoregions differing widely in climatic conditions and management regime. The forest age distributions (as derived from inventory data) differed by ecozone with fewer old stands in the Coast Range and the East Cascades, and a relatively uniform distribution of ages from 0 to 815 in the Cascade Mountains. Age distributions also differed by land ownership, with fewer old stands on non-federal lands than on national forest lands. Estimated biomass increased rapidly in early stand development and tended to stabilize after about 200 years. Peak biomass in the semi-arid East Cascades was about one-third that of the other ecoregions (median biomass at asymptote � 9 and � 25 kg C m � 2 , respectively). The timing and magnitude of maximum net primary production also varied by ecoregion, with the high productivity Coast Range forests reaching a maximum NPP before 30 years of age (median � 1k g Cm � 2 y � 1 ), and the low productivity East Cascades reaching a maximum NPP between 80 and 100 years (median � 0.3 kg C m � 2 y � 1 ). Productivity was generally lower in older stands with the exception of the East Cascades ecoregion where, contrary to the paradigm of age-related decline in forest growth, the oldest stands had the highest NPP. The East Cascades also differed from the other ecoregions in that the proportion of NPP allocated belowground decreased rather than increased with stand age. This study demonstrates the value of combining data from intensive and extensive measurement sites for improved estimates of carbon stocks and fluxes as well as improved parameterization of process models used in scaling carbon flux over broad regions. # 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Evaluating System of Systems resilience using interdependency analysis

A System-of-Systems (SoS) is a collection of distributed independent individual systems that interact with one another to achieve an SoS capability requirement that cannot be achieved by individual systems alone (in contrast, in a monolithic system, hardware or software components are integrated to form a single entity). Interdependency between SoS systems, while enabling new capability, also means that failures can cascade throughout the SoS, creating development delays or additional system failures. Here we develop a method based on Bayesian networks to evaluate the resilience of SoS design alternatives to failures during operations. We propose a conditional resilience metric that measures each constituent system's contribution to overall SoS resilience, and a resilience pattern that shows how SoS performance degrades as systems fail. SoS resilience is determined by both the SoS architecture and the constituent system reliability. In a simple example based on the Littoral Combat Ship SoS, we determine the two most critical systems using the conditional resilience metric. Adding a communications link between these two systems increases the resilience, resulting in higher expected performance and slower expected performance degradation as a result of system failure. The conditional resilience and resilience pattern can be used by designers and other decision makers to identify SoS architectures and systems that increase SoS resilience to failure.
Technology foresight: types and methods

This paper posits nine dimensions to distinguish the types of foresight studies. It arrays a rich repertoire of 13 families of foresight methods. It then suggests considerations in deciding which of those methods suit the various types of foresight endeavours. There is no one way to conduct effective foresight studies.
Exploring drug-target interaction networks of illicit drugs

Drug addiction is a complex and chronic mental disease, which places a large burden on the American healthcare system due to its negative effects on patients and their families. Recently, network pharmacology is emerging as a promising approach to drug discovery by integrating network biology and polypharmacology, allowing for a deeper understanding of molecular mechanisms of drug actions at the systems level. This study seeks to apply this approach for investigation of illicit drugs and their targets in order to elucidate their interaction patterns and potential secondary drugs that can aid future research and clinical care. In this study, we extracted 188 illicit substances and their related information from the DrugBank database. The data process revealed 86 illicit drugs targeting a total of 73 unique human genes, which forms an illicit drug-target network. Compared to the full drug-target network from DrugBank, illicit drugs and their target genes tend to cluster together and form four subnetworks, corresponding to four major medication categories: depressants, stimulants, analgesics, and steroids. External analysis of Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical (ATC) second sublevel classifications confirmed that the illicit drugs have neurological functions or act via mechanisms of stimulants, opioids, and steroids. To further explore other drugs potentially having associations with illicit drugs, we constructed an illicit-extended drug-target network by adding the drugs that have the same target(s) as illicit drugs to the illicit drug-target network. After analyzing the degree and betweenness of the network, we identified hubs and bridge nodes, which might play important roles in the development and treatment of drug addiction. Among them, 49 non-illicit drugs might have potential to be used to treat addiction or have addictive effects, including some results that are supported by previous studies. This study presents the first systematic review of the network characteristics of illicit drugs, their targets, and other drugs that share the targets of these illicit drugs. The results, though preliminary, provide some novel insights into the molecular mechanisms of drug addiction. The observation of illicit-related drugs, with partial verification from previous studies, demonstrated that the network-assisted approach is promising for the identification of drug repositioning.
Aortic Body Tumor in a White Rat

Abs/ruc/. An aortic body tiinior was found in a 3-year-old male albino rat. Among 2,552 tumors reported by other authors in 2,152 rats, no mention of aortic body tumor was found in the literature surveyed. Cytologic and histogenetic features of cheniodectonias in general. and of this tumor in particular, are presented. Neoplasms originating from cells composing chemoreceptors are well known in nian and dogs [I, 7-91, In the last decade, their occurrence has been documented in other animals, namely, a cat [2], a cow [lo] and a heifer [14]. In nian the chemoreceptor organs are the carotid body, aortic bodies, various aggregates of the glomus jugulare, cellular clusters associated with the ganglion nodosum, and similar groups of cells in other locations [9]. Tumors of these organs have variously been termed paragaiigliomas, nonchroniaffin paragangliornas, chemodectomas, carotid body tumors, and aortic body tumors. The nomenclatural discord is attributed to the divergence of opinions regarding the histogenesis of the cells composing these tumors. Some authors believe that the main cellular component of the chemoreceptors is derived from the ectoderm whereas others consider them to be of mesodermal or mixed origin 191. The chemoreceptors respond to changes in oxygen tension, carbon dioxide concentration, and pH of the blood, and thus function in respiratory and circulatory regulation [9, 161. This report describes the occurrence of a single aortic body tumor in a white rat. The literature survey represented a composite of 39,925 albino rats of various strains with a total of 2,552 tumors among 2, I52 tumor bearers [3-6, I I, 13, 151. Aortic body tumors were not reported in any of these; however, one reference [6] noted the occurrence of paraganglioma, not otherwise described, in the abdominal aorta of two different rats.
Negative Emotionality and Cortisol during Adolescent Pregnancy and Its Effects on Infant Health and Autonomic Nervous System Reactivity

This research examined the relations among maternal emotionality, biology, and infant outcome and autonomic nervous system reactivity (cardiac vagal tone). The sample consisted of 27 pregnant adolescents and their 3-week-old infants. Measures of anxiety, de- pression, anger, and saliva cortisol were obtained from the adolescents both pre- and post- natally. Infant outcome measures consisted of gestational age at delivery, birth weight, number of risk factors at birth and at 24 hr, Apgar score at 1 and 5 min, abnormalities on newborn physical exam, number of resuscitation measures used on the infant, and cardiac vagal tone. Significant relations were found among the adolescent's emotionality, infant physical outcomes, and cardiac vagal tone. Higher concentrations of adolescent cortisol were associated with lower infant Apgar scores and an increased need for resuscitation measures performed on the infant. The positive association between negative emotions and better infant outcomes also was found and may reflect the sensitivity of the adolescents to their feelings and needs during pregnancy. Social support during pregnancy mediated the effects of maternal negative emo- tionality and infant cardiac vagal tone. q 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.Dev Psychobiol 33: 163- 174, 1998
Sonographic Evaluation of the Greater Occipital Nerve in Unilateral Occipital Neuralgia

OBJECTIVES Occipital neuralgia is a headache that may result from greater occipital nerve entrapment. Entrapped peripheral nerves typically have an increase in cross-sectional area. The purpose of this study was to measure the cross-sectional area and circumference of symptomatic and asymptomatic greater occipital nerves in patients with unilateral occipital neuralgia and to correlate the greater occipital nerve cross-sectional area with headache severity, sex, and body mass index. METHODS Both symptomatic and contralateral asymptomatic greater occipital nerve cross-sectional areas and circumferences were measured by a single examiner using sonography in 17 patients. The Wilcoxon signed rank test and Spearman rank order correlation coefficient were used to analyze the data. RESULTS Significant differences between the cross-sectional areas and circumferences of the symptomatic and asymptomatic greater occipital nerves were noted (P < .001). No difference existed in cross-sectional area (P = .40) or circumference (P = .10) measurements of the nerves between male and female patients. A significant correlation existed between the body mass index and symptomatic (r = 0.424; P = .045) and asymptomatic (r = 0.443; P = .037) cross-sectional areas. There was no correlation shown between the cross-sectional area of the symptomatic nerve and the severity of Headache Impact Test 6 scores (r = -0.342; P = .179). CONCLUSIONS We report sonographic evidence showing an increased cross-sectional area and circumference of the symptomatic greater occipital nerve in patients with unilateral occipital neuralgia.
${\rm Nb}_{3}{\rm Sn}$ Accelerator Magnet Technology Scale Up Based on Cos-Theta Coils

After successful testing of a 1 m long dipole mirror magnet and three dipole models based on two-layer Nb3Sn coils, Fermilab has started a Nb3Sn technology scale-up program using the dipole mirror design and the developed Nb3Sn coil fabrication technology based on the wind-and-react method. The scale-up will be performed in several steps starting from a 2 m long coil made of powder-in-tube (PIT) strand. This will be followed by 4 m long Nb3Sn coils made of PIT and RRP strands that will be fabricated into dipole mirror magnets and tested. This paper presents a summary of Fermilab's wind-and-react short model program. It includes details on the 2 m and 4 m long, 2 layer Nb3Sn dipole mirror magnet design, mechanical structure, and fabrication infrastructure.
Genetic Manipulation of Brown Fat Via Oral Administration of an Engineered Recombinant Adeno-associated Viral Serotype Vector.

Recombinant adeno-associated virus (rAAV) vectors are attractive vehicles for gene therapy. Gene delivery to the adipose tissue using naturally occurring AAV serotypes is less successful compared to liver and muscle. Here, we demonstrate that oral administration of an engineered serotype Rec2 led to preferential transduction of brown fat with absence of transduction in the gastrointestinal track. Among the six natural and engineered serotypes being compared, Rec2 was the most efficient serotype achieving high level transduction at a dose 1~2 orders lower than reported doses for systemic administration. Overexpressing vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in brown fat via oral administration of Rec2-VEGF vector increased the brown fat mass and enhanced thermogenesis. In contrast, knockdown VEGF in brown fat of VEGF loxP mice via Rec2-Cre vector hampered cold response and decreased brown fat mass. Oral administration of Rec2 vector provides a novel tool to genetically manipulate brown fat for research and therapeutic applications.
Optical Measurements on Tissue Layers

Optical measurements on tissue are involved in many aspects of photobiology, e.g., identification of weak chromophores, evaluation of action spectra, and dosimetry calculations in phototherapies. Tissues are turbid materials that require different spectroscopic and analytical methods than non-scattering media. The Kubelka-Munk analysis has been employed for many years in the pigment and paper industries and to a limited extent in photobiology. It is based on the assumption that the radiant flux in a uniformly illuminated slab is uniformly diffuse and can be separated into a forward and a backward component, each subject to absorption and back-scattering (Kortum, 1969). Radiative transfer theory treats the transport of photons in terms of microscopic scattering and absorption events (Chandrasekhar, 1950). The diffusion approximation is a simplification of radiative transfer, applicable when scattering dominates over absorption (Ishimaru, 1978). In the present paper, the Kubelka-Munk and diffusion models are applied to transmission and diffuse reflection measurements on a potato layer, which was found to be a reproducible and easily handled tissue. The data were obtained with a laboratory-built spectrophotometer utilizing an integrating sphere.
Clinical application of near-infrared spectroscopy in patients with traumatic brain injury: a review of the progress of the field

Near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) is a technique by which the interaction between light in the near-infrared spectrum and matter can be quantitatively measured to provide information about the particular chromophore. Study into the clinical application of NIRS for traumatic brain injury (TBI) began in the 1990s with early reports of the ability to detect intracranial hematomas using NIRS. We highlight the advances in clinical applications of NIRS over the past two decades as they relate to TBI. We discuss recent studies evaluating NIRS techniques for intracranial hematoma detection, followed by the clinical application of NIRS in intracranial pressure and brain oxygenation measurement, and conclude with a summary of potential future uses of NIRS in TBI patient management.
Review of Planetary Electrical Models — Analogies to Earth

The earth is discussed in the context of planetary electrical systems. Planetary systems can be classified in order of increasing complexity, with bodies such as the moon having a rare atmosphere and no solar wind-bow shock being simplest, planetary bodies such as Mars having a modest atmosphere and low intrinsic magnetic field being an intermediate case, while planets such as Earth with a dense convecting atmosphere and significant magnetosphere being the most complex. In these papers we discuss the basic physics of global systems and then make applications to special planetary and primitive atmospheres.
Gravity-Wave-Generated Turbulence and Diffusion in the Stable Planetary Boundary Layer

It is known, both from theory and experience, that the release of toxic gases into the stable planetary boundary layer (PBL) is a worst-case-scenario, yet it is under these conditions that conventional diffusion theory and modeling are most uncertain. The primary cause of this uncertainty is the tendency for turbulence in the stable PBL to be both sporadic and intermittent. The stability of the PBL often breaks down, resulting in bursts of heat, momentum, and pollutants at the ground surface. Nappo (1991) studied these breakdowns over simple and complex surfaces and concluded that most of the nighttime exchanges between the ground surface and the free atmosphere occur during these breakdown events. If short-term dispersion models are to be advanced to account for these turbulence episodes, then the physical mechanisms of these events must be understood.
Pseudotheory proliferation is damaging the organizational sciences

Summary In recent years, there has been an increasing emphasis on the role of theory in organizational behavior (OB) research. Authors are strongly encouraged to develop “theory” in their manuscripts and to make “theoretical contributions.” This trend is in stark contrast to the process used in other fields of science. Our counterparts in those fields follow the scientific method and define theory as a concise and elegant hypothesis that has survived extensive empirical testing. Rather than being based on extensive empirical research, many of OB's theories are based on a limited number of primary studies (at best) or speculation and conjecture (at worst). OB researchers are discouraged from testing other researchers' theories or replicating previously published work. Consequently, many OB theories do not meet the criteria for a true scientific theory. We propose that OB researchers should re-embrace the scientific method and focus on creating a body of empirical research that could be used in the future to establish true scientific theories (through extensive hypothesis testing, empirical research, and conceptual replications) rather than concocting pseudotheories. Research in the personnel selection subfield of OB provides a reasonable exemplar of this model, yet it has been derided of late for being too atheoretical. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Reconstruction Capabilities of Down-Looking Airborne GPRs: The Single Frequency Case

This paper addresses the problem of imaging shallow buried targets via ground penetrating radar surveys carried out by an airborne platform. The radar system is monostatic and collects scattered field data at a single frequency in down-looking mode and along parallel lines. The data are processed by means of an image formation algorithm based on a microwave tomographic approach valid under Born and start–stop approximations. The goal of the present study is to derive analytical results for the spatial resolution depending on the measurement configuration parameters. The achieved results highlight the peculiar features of the imaging configuration providing useful indications for setting a proper acquisition strategy. Numerical results based on synthetic data are shown to support the analysis of resolution limits.
Racialization as a Way of Seeing: The Limits of Counter-Surveillance and Police Reform

This paper considers the role of video footage in recent high-profile cases of anti-black police brutality in the United States. I illuminate the limits of the counter-surveillance impetus to film the police by contextualizing this strain of social media utopianism within the larger history of what I call “racialization as a way of seeing.” Racialization as a way of seeing is a historical formation that brings together the history of policing, the development of visual epistemologies, and the history of the naturalization of the criminality of blackness. I then track how the optimism of the counter-surveillance discourse has been recuperated by the state into consent for police worn cameras – reforms which threaten to strengthen a system built on structural racism, rather than ameliorate its injustices. I conclude by suggesting an emergent model for how video evidence may be paradoxically working to re-legitimize the police and the state in the newest era of “21st-century policing.”
Blood Transfusion in Adult Patients with Sickle Cell Disease: Incidence of Alloimmunization

Background: Chronic red blood cell transfusion has been proven to be effective in prevention of strokes, silent cerebral infarcts, acute chest syndrome, recurrent priapism and in pregnancy. The use of regular transfusions to mitigate other morbidities of sickle cell disease (SCD) is evolving. In the silent infarct transfusion (SIT) trial in children, chronic transfusion lead to a significant improvement in quality of life. Some of the common reasons patient with SCD do not get chronic transfusion is fear of alloimmunization, iron over load and risk of viral infections. We did a retrospective analysis of adult patients with SCD who need chronic blood transfusion to determine the incidence of alloimmunization. At our institute all pediatric sickle cell patients needing chronic transfusion are placed on protocol, receive C, E, and K matched blood, and remain on the protocol until they become adults. Methods: We electronically collected data from 180 adult SCD patients who need chronic transfusions and analyzed the data for the number of transfusions received, incidence of allo- immunization and most common antibodies identified. Results: A total of 3967 red blood cell transfusions were administered on 180 adult sickle cell disease patients. Twenty five patients developed antibodies (13.8 %). Fifteen out of the 25 had multiple antibodies (60%). The alloantibodies identified were : anti- K(11), anti- E(12), anti- Fya(5), anti-C (4), anti-V (4), anti- S (3), anti-D (2), anti- Jkb (1), anti-Jsa(1) , and anti- Lutherana (3). Two patients had cold and 5 patients had warm autoantibodies. Conclusion: The policy to place patients with SCD needing chronic transfusion on protocol to receive C, E, and K matched red blood cells has decreased the alloimmunization rate to 13.8 %. We conclude that, fear of alloimmunization should not preclude physicians from using chronic red cell transfusions to prevent complications in sickle cell disease. Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.
Prenatal counseling on type 2 diabetes risk, exercise, and nutrition affects the likelihood of postpartum diabetes screening after gestational diabetes.

Screening rates for type 2 diabetes after a pregnancy with gestational diabetes are inadequate. We aimed to determine how prenatal counseling on exercise, nutrition, and type 2 diabetes risk affects postpartum screening for diabetes. Using Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System data from Colorado (2009–2011) and Massachusetts (2012–2013), we performed multivariable logistic regression to examine the relationship between prenatal counseling and postpartum screening. Among 556 women, prenatal counseling was associated with increased postpartum diabetes screening, after adjusting for age; parity; and receipt of Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) benefits (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) 3.0 [95% CI 1.4–6.5]). This effect was modified by race/ethnicity. Primiparity (AOR 2.2 [95% CI 1.2–4.1]) and advanced maternal age (AOR 2.2 [95% CI 1.2–3.8]) were associated with increased screening, and receiving WIC benefits was associated with decreased screening (AOR 0.5 [95% CI 0.3–0.9]). In women with gestational diabetes, culturally appropriate counseling on future diabetes risk, nutrition, and exercise may enhance postpartum diabetes screening.
A Multicenter comparative trial of a novel EUS-guided core biopsy needle (SharkCore™) with the 22-gauge needle in patients with solid pancreatic mass lesions

Background and Objectives: The ability to obtain adequate tissue of solid pancreatic lesions by EUS-guided remains a challenge. The aim of this study was to compare the performance characteristics and safety of EUS-FNA for evaluating solid pancreatic lesions using the standard 22-gauge needle versus a novel EUS biopsy needle. Methods: This was a multicenter retrospective study of EUS-guided sampling of solid pancreatic lesions between 2009 and 2015. Patients underwent EUS-guided sampling with a 22-gauge SharkCore (SC) needle or a standard 22-gauge FNA needle. Technical success, performance characteristics of EUS-FNA, the number of needle passes required to obtain a diagnosis, diagnostic accuracy, and complications were compared. Results: A total of 1088 patients (mean age = 66 years; 49% female) with pancreatic masses underwent EUS-guided sampling with a 22-gauge SC needle (n = 115) or a standard 22-gauge FNA needle (n = 973). Technical success was 100%. The frequency of obtaining an adequate cytology by EUS-FNA was similar when using the SC and the standard needle (94.1% vs. 92.7%, respectively). The sensitivity, specificity, and diagnostic accuracy of EUS-FNA for tissue diagnosis were not significantly different between two needles. Adequate sample collection leading to a definite diagnosis was achieved by the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd pass in 73%, 92%, and 98% of procedures using the SC needle and 20%, 37%, and 94% procedures using the standard needle (P
HaloTag Assay Suggests Common Mechanism of E. coli Membrane Permeabilization Induced by Cationic Peptides.

Permeabilization of the Gram-negative bacterial outer membrane (OM) by antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) is the initial step enabling access of the AMP to the cytoplasmic membrane. We present a new single-cell, time-resolved fluorescence microscopy assay that reports on the permeabilization of the E. coli OM to small molecules with a time resolution of 3 s or better. When profluorophore JF646 (702 Da) crosses the outer membrane (OM) and gains access to the periplasm, it binds to the localized HaloTag protein (34 kDa) and fluoresces in a characteristic hollow spatial pattern. Previous work used the much larger periplasmic GFP (27 kDa) probe, which reports on OM permeabilization to globular proteins. We test the assay on three cationic agents: Gellman random β–peptide copolymer MM63:CHx37, human AMP LL-37, and synthetic hybrid AMP CM15. These results combined with the previous work suggest a unifying sequence of OM and cytoplasmic membrane (CM) events that may prove commonplace in the attack of cationic peptide...
Effects of Allocating Livers for Transplantation Based on Model for End-Stage Liver Disease–Sodium Scores on Patient Outcomes

Background & Aims The Model for End-stage Liver Disease and Sodium (MELD-Na) score was introduced for liver allocation in January 2016. We evaluated the effects of liver allocation, based on MELD-Na score, on waitlist and post-transplantation outcomes. Methods We examined 2 patient groups from the United Network for Organ Sharing registry; the MELD-period group was composed of patients who were registered as transplant candidates from June 18, 2013 through January 10, 2016 (n = 18,850) and the MELD-Na period group was composed of patients who were registered from January 11, 2016 through September 30, 2017 (n = 14,512). We compared waitlist and post-transplantation outcomes and association with serum sodium concentrations between groups. Results Mortality within 90 days on the liver waitlist decreased (hazard ratio [HR] 0.738, P Conclusions Liver allocation based on MELD-Na score successfully improved waitlist outcomes and provided significant benefit to hyponatremic patients. Given the discrepancy in transplantation survival benefit, the current rules for liver allocation might require revision.
The Notch Family Transcription Factor, RBPJκ, Modulates Glucose Transporter and Ovarian Steroid Hormone Receptor Expression During Decidualization:

During decidualization, endometrial stromal cells differentiate into a secretory phenotype to modulate the uterine microenvironment and promote embryo implantation. This highly metabolic process relies on ovarian steroid receptors and glucose transporters. Canonical Notch signaling is mediated by the transcription factor Recombination Signal Binding Protein for Immunoglobulin Kappa J Region (RBPJ). Loss of RBPJ in the mouse uterus (Pgrcre/+Rbpjflox/flox; Rbpj c-KO) results in subfertility in part due to an abnormal uterine-embryonic axis during implantation and, as described herein, decidualization failure. Induced in vivo decidualization in Rbpj c-KO mice was impaired with the downregulation of decidual markers and decreased progesterone receptor (Pgr) signaling. Consistent with in vivo mouse data, RBPJ knockdown during in vitro Human uterine fibroblast (HuF) cell decidualization results in the reduced expression of decidual marker genes along with PGR. Expression of the glucose transporter, SLC2A1, was decreased in the RBPJ-silenced HuF cells, which corresponded to decreased Slc2a1 in the secondary decidual zone of Rbpj c-KO mouse uteri. Exogenous administration of pyruvate, which bypasses the need for glucose, rescues PRL expression in RBPJ-deficient HuF cells. In summary, Notch signaling through RBPJ controls both ovarian steroid receptor PGR and glucose transporter SLC2A1 expression during decidualization, and this dysregulation likely contributes to embryo implantation failure.