cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Interfacial Roughness in GaAs/A1GaAs Multilayers: Influence of Controlled Impurity Addition

Impurities at heterointerfaces can alter the interfacial structure resulting in changes in physical, electrical and optical properties. We present a study of the interfacial roughness of GaAs/A1xGa1-xAs superlattices which were grown using controlled addition of oxygen at the interface. The interfacial properties were characterized by x-ray diffraction. The morphology of the surface was determined by Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM). X-ray diffraction measurements, both θ-2θ and rocking curves, were used to analyze the correlated and uncorrelated component of the interfacial roughness. A strong difference in the interfacial roughness was observed depending on whether the intentional oxygen incorporation occurred at the GaAs-to-A1GaAs interface or at both interfaces. When oxygen is incorporated at both interfaces, the x- ray reflectivity of the superlattice is decreased considerably resulting from a much higher interfacial roughness. The substrate miscut has a significant effect on RMS roughness, correlated roughness and its correlation length when oxygen is incorporated at the GaAs-to-A1xGa1-xAs interface.
COMPARING THE AERODYNAMIC CHARACTERISTICS OF WIND TUNNEL MODELS PRODUCED BY RAPID PROTOTYPING AND CONVENTIONAL METHODS

Initial studies of the aerodynamic characteristics of proposed launch vehicles can be made more accurately if lower cost, high-fidelity aerodynamic models are available for wind tunnel testing early in the design phase. This paper discusses the results of a study undertaken at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center to determine if four rapid prototyping methods, using a variety of materials, are suitable for the design and manufacturing of highspeed wind tunnel models in direct testing applications. It also gives an analysis of whether these materials and processes are of sufficient strength and fidelity to withstand the testing environment. In addition to test data, costs and turnaround times for the various models are given. Based on the results of this study, it can be concluded that rapid prototyping models show promise in limited direct application for preliminary aerodynamic development studies at subsonic, transonic, and supersonic speeds.
How do we know when to celebrate

This editorial presents a brief historical overview of emerging knowledge since the 1970s that led to the birth of a new discipline, Family Practice (now Family Medicine). Family Medicine residencies were required to include training on mental health, family dynamics, communication skills, and other behavioral science topics. The next two decades witnessed an explosion of clinical research. High users of general medical services were found to have a two- to threefold higher prevalence of mental illness. These patients consumed disproportionate amounts of health care dollars, suggesting that cost containment may require mental health treatment. Over the last 30 years researchers have demonstrated that combining biomedical and psychosocial expertise in collaborative treatment models produces better outcomes for patients with mental illness, with physical illness, and for the majority who have a complicated mixture of biopsychosocial ailments. The advent of collaboration between disciplines and the integration of service designs is something to celebrate. In this issue of Families, Systems and Health, representatives of eight organizations, spanning behavioral health, nursing, medicine, and interdisciplinary practice, all endorse behavioral health integration in the health home. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2014 APA, all rights reserved).
Reliability Improvement of Thermal Protection System for Zhejiang Thermal Power Units in 2009

This paper describes the improvement of thermal protection system in Technical Requirements for Reliability Improvement of TSI Operation and Key Technical Measures for Reliability Improvement of Thermal Automation System and the reliability improvement of thermal protection system in thermal power plants in Zhejiang in 2009. The basic approach to improve the single-point signal protection is to increase test points to achieve overall independent sampling of signal protection. And the problem still exists that the redundant system is degraded into thermal single-point signal protection due to the use of the same sampling tube. In addition, there are still defects in the design of ETS System and DCS power supply. These problems should be attached great importance.
Determination of Basal Dose Rates in Paris System of Interstitial Implants

The isodose distributions are related to the source configurations in the Paris system of interstitial implants. In this system, the basal dose rates are determined at those points identified relative to the implant. Once these points have been located, the basal dose rates are merely the summation of the dose rate contributions from all the sources. By applying the symmetry properties of the implant, the number of basal dose rate computations and the number of dose rate summations are reduced. The reduction in both the number of computations and the number of summations has facilitated the determination of the average basal dose rate. After the average basal dose rate has been determined, the reference dose rate that is used clinically is calculated. Examples of determining the basal dose rates for a few interstitial implants are presented.
Separation of photosynthetic systems I and II.

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the process of photosynthesis in green algae through a mutational analysis of photosynthesis. The method of mutant induction used in the process described in the chapter is the same as those used by classical microbiological studies. The mutagenic agents commonly utilized, such as X ray, ultraviolet irradiation, and various chemical mutagens, are equally effective in producing altered photosynthetic phenotypes. Two broad groups of mutations are found to exist: the first group in which the photosynthetic apparatus, including structural and biochemical entities, remains intact except for an individual component that gets deleted because of mutation of one gene, and the second group that is typified by a gross alteration of chloroplast structure and often a decreased chlorophyll content and is most often observed in the plastome mutants. Studies on algal mutants reveal that the production of chlorophyll and the formation of structure are closely interrelated phenomena. The failure of mutants to synthesize appropriate chloroplast membranes is manifested not only by an altered chloroplast ultrastructure but also by diminished amounts of chlorophyll and other components of the chloroplast, which are normally considered to be chloroplast-membrane bound. The copper-containing acidic protein plastocyanin is seemingly ubiquitously distributed in the chloroplast of all higher plants and apparently also in most algae; it plays an essential role in the electron transport system of photosynthesis.
Competition between Fibrillation and Induction of Vesicle Fusion for the Membrane-Associated 40-Residue β-Amyloid Peptides.

Disruption of the cell membrane by the β-amyloid (Aβ) peptides has been considered as a main mechanism of Alzheimer’s disease. The peptide-to-lipid molar ratio (P:L) varies over a broad range biologically. We report here that two of the previously observed Aβ evolution pathways, fibrillation and induction of vesicle fusion, compete with each other when P:L varies in model Aβ–liposome systems. Fibrillation is preferred at higher P:L values, and fusion is promoted at lower P:L values. Structural studies suggest that the same residues in Aβ may involve in both the initial fibrillation and membrane binding at the fusion sites.
Hyperkeratotic Plaques on Hands.

A 10-year-old boy presented with hyperkeratotic plaques on both hands and index fingers after extensive video game use.
The Relationship between Allostatic Load and Psychosocial Characteristics among Women Veterans.

Abstract Background Allostatic load (AL) is a novel perspective for examining the damaging effects of stress on health and disease. Women veterans represent an understudied yet vulnerable subgroup of women with increased reports of traumatic stressors across their lifespan. AL has not been examined in this group. This study hypothesized that reports of sexual assault in childhood, civilian life, or in the military by women veterans was associated with AL and selected psychosocial measures. We also hypothesized that AL scores are positively associated with psychosocial characteristics. Methods Using a cross-sectional design, psychosocial and physiological data were obtained from women veterans (n = 81; 24–70 years old). Findings The AL score was 3.03 ± 2.36 and positively associated with age (p = .001). There was a trend for higher pain scores for women with an AL score of 2 or greater compared with those with an AL score of less than 2. There were significant differences in the Somatic Subscale of the Center for Epidemiological Depression Scale among the sexual assault categories with increasing scores among women reporting sexual assault in childhood, military, and civilian life (p = .049). The scores of the Profile of Mood States Depression/Dejection Subscale (p = .015), the Post-Traumatic Checklist- Military (p = .002), and the Pain Outcome Questionnaire (p = .001) were associated with sexual assault categories in a dose–response fashion. Conclusions AL was associated positively with age, and sexual assault categories were associated with increased somatization, depressed mood, posttraumatic symptoms and pain. Assessing both AL and sexual trauma are critical for preventing and managing the subsequent negative health consequences among women veterans.
Energy distributions in a diesel engine using low heat rejection (LHR) concepts

Abstract The energy balance analysis is recognized as a useful method for aiding the characterization of the performance and efficiency of internal combustion (IC) engines. Approximately one-third of the total fuel energy is converted to useful work in a conventional IC engine, whereas the major part of the energy input is rejected to the exhaust gas and the cooling system. The idea of a low heat rejection (LHR) engine (also called “adiabatic engine”) was extensively developed in the 1980s due to its potential in improving engine thermal efficiency via reducing the heat losses. In this study, the LHR operating condition is implemented by increasing the engine coolant temperature (ECT). Experimentally, the engine is overcooled to low ECTs and then increased to 100 °C in an effort to get trend-wise behavior without exceeding safe ECTs. The study then uses an engine simulation of the conventional multi-cylinder, four-stroke, 1.9 L diesel engine operating at 1500 rpm to examine the five cases having different ECTs. A comparison between experimental and simulation results show the effects of ECT on fuel conversion efficiency. The results demonstrate that increasing ECT yields slight improvements in net indicated fuel conversion efficiency, with larger improvements observed in brake fuel conversion efficiency.
Incidence, morphology, and progression of bicuspid aortic valve in pediatric and young adult subjects with coexisting congenital heart defects

Background Bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) occurs both as an isolated cardiac lesion and in association with congenital heart defects (CHD). Their aim was to identify the incidence and morphology of BAV in patients with coexisting CHD and compare their disease progression to patients with isolated BAV. Methods The Mayo Clinic echocardiography database was retrospectively analyzed to identify pediatric and young adult patients (≤22 years) who were diagnosed with BAV from 1990 to 2015. The morphology of BAV was determined from the echocardiographic studies before any intervention. Results Overall, 1010 patients with BAV were identified, 619 (61%) with isolated BAV and 391 (39%) with BAV and coexisting CHD. The incidence of BAV was highest in patients with coarctation of the aorta (36%) and interrupted aortic arch (36%). In comparison to patients with isolated BAV, patients with BAV and left-sided obstructive lesions more frequently had right-left cusp fusion (P = .0001). BAV in patients with right-sided obstructive lesions was rare, but they more frequently had right-noncoronary or left-noncoronary cusp fusion (P = .01). No significant progression of aortic stenosis or regurgitation was observed in patients with BAV and coexisting CHD; however in patients with isolated BAV the severity of aortic regurgitation increased with age. In patients with isolated BAV, the ascending aorta diameter (z-score) increased with age, peaked around 8–9 years of age, and was larger in comparison to patients with BAV and coexisting CHD. The sinus of Valsalva diameter (z-score) in patients with BAV and ventricular septal defect was larger than isolated BAV patients after 18 years (P < .04). Conclusions The morphology of BAV, the pattern and progression of aortic dilatation, and the severity of aortic valve disease vary in pediatric and young adult patients with BAV and coexisting CHD. However, there was no significant BAV disease progression when associated with these CHD.
Herbert C. Kelman’s Selected Bibliography

Herbert Kelman’s CV and comprehensive bibliography, his scholarly publications and selected videos with him are available for download at the websites listed below.
Abstract 443: Inhibition of TGFβ Attenuates Angiotensin II Effects to Increase Vascular Biglycan and Atherosclerosis

Background: Proteoglycans, a major component of extracellular matrix in the vascular wall, play a critical role in the development of atherosclerosis due to their ability to bind and retain atherogenic lipoproteins. Of all the vascular proteoglycans, biglycan has been shown to be the one most closely associated with apolipoprotein B. Our previous studies showed that AngII increases vascular biglycan content and predisposes to diet-induced atherosclerosis in Ldlr null mice. Moreover, we demonstrated that TGFβ is required for AngII stimulation of vascular biglycan content in vitro . In this study, we determined whether TGFβ is required for AngII-induced biglycan accumulation and atherosclerosis predisposition in vivo . Methods and Results: Ldlr null mice fed a normal chow diet were infused with AngII or saline for 28 days. TGFβ1 levels in AngII-infused mice peaked at 24h then returned to baseline levels by day 5. A single injection of TGFβ neutralizing antibody 1D11 (2mg/kg) not only prevented the induction of TGFβ1 levels by AngII, but also attenuated AngII-induced accumulation of aortic biglycan content, whereas there was no attenuation of AngII-induced increase in TGFβ or biglycan by a control antibody. To study atherosclerosis, the experiment was repeated but after 28 days of AngII or saline infusions the pumps were removed and the mice were fed Western diet for 6 weeks. TGFβ neutralizing antibody injection had no effect on systolic blood pressure or plasma lipids (triglyceride and cholesterol). However, AngII-infused mice that received TGFβ neutralizing antibody injection showed reduced atherosclerotic lesion area (aorta root, en face and the brachiocephalic artery) compared to AngII-infused mice that received a control antibody injection. Therefore, our study showed that TGFβ inhibition attenuates AngII stimulation of vascular biglycan content in vivo and attenuates AngII-accelerated atherosclerosis.
Chapter 30 Selective Cultivation of Mammalian Epithelial Cells

Publisher Summary Epithelial cells are often recognizable in primary cell cultures, but are usually overgrown in later subcultures by the more rapidly dividing fibroblastic cells from connective tissue. Several studies in which cultures were attempted from 100 or more epithelial tumors reported success rates of only 5% or less. Normal human epithelial cells, capable of serial subculture through varying numbers of generations, have been cultured from brain, mesothelium, and endothelium. In recent years, a few reports have described methods for selective culture of epithelial cells from normal or neoplastic tissues of rats, mice, or hamsters. Some of these methods do not completely eliminate fibroblasts, while others employ complex technical procedures (e.g., organ perfusion, cloning, alternate tissue culture and animal passages, mechanical destruction of undesired cell types), which limit their general usefulness.
Oxidative activation of leinamycin E1 triggers alkylation of guanine residues in double-stranded DNA

It may be useful to develop prodrugs that are selectively activated by oxidative stress in cancer cells to release cell-killing reactive intermediates. However, relatively few chemical strategies exist for the activation of prodrugs under conditions of oxidative stress. Here we provide evidence for a novel process in which oxidation of a thiol residue in the natural product leinamycin E1 by H2O2 and other byproducts of cellular oxidative stress initiates generation of an episulfonium ion that selectively alkylates guanine residues in duplex DNA.
Probability in Quantum Mechanics and in Other Statistical Theories

In the ongoing investigation of the conceptual basis of quantum physics a certain tradition has developed concerning the use of probabilistic concepts. While the necessity for these concepts is generally recognized, the tradition in question holds that the actual probabilistic concepts employed in quantum physics differ in certain essential respects from the probabilistic notions used in other areas of physics and in ordinary statistical contexts. This line of thought apparently originates with BORN himself (see Jammer [5], p. 285). In some writings it seems that BOHR (for example, see [1], p. 4) has taken a similar point of view. And more recently the tradition has found a convincing spokesman in the work of Henry Margenau (see [8] and references there).
Advances in the diagnosis and treatment of neonatal hyperbilirubinemia.

The production of bilirubin from heme degradation can be an important cause of neonatal hyperbilirubinemia in a certain subpopulation. Measurements of carbon monoxide production can be used as an index of heme catabolism and bilirubin production. This process can be inhibited by synthetic metalloporphyrin analogs of heme. This review focuses on approaches to identify those neonates who have increased total bilirubin production and to explore some of the new developments in therapeutic modalities.
Crowdsourcing Similarity Judgments for Agreement Analysis in End-User Elicitation Studies

End-user elicitation studies are a popular design method, but their data require substantial time and effort to analyze. In this paper, we present Crowdsensus, a crowd-powered tool that enables researchers to efficiently analyze the results of elicitation studies using subjective human judgment and automatic clustering algorithms. In addition to our own analysis, we asked six expert researchers with experience running and analyzing elicitation studies to analyze an end-user elicitation dataset of 10 functions for operating a web-browser, each with 43 voice commands elicited from end-users for a total of 430 voice commands. We used Crowdsensus to gather similarity judgments of these same 430 commands from 410 online crowd workers. The crowd outperformed the experts by arriving at the same results for seven of eight functions and resolving a function where the experts failed to agree. Also, using Crowdsensus was about four times faster than using experts.
Knowledge Gaps About End-of-Life Decision Making Among Mexican American Older Adults and Their Family Caregivers: An Integrative Review.

Introduction: Mexican Americans (MAs) are the largest, fastest growing Latino subgroup in the United States, yet their use of hospice is limited. To better understand this disparity, the authors co...
Management and pregnancy outcomes of women with GCK-MODY enrolled in the US Monogenic Diabetes Registry

GCK-MODY is characterized by mild hyperglycemia. Treatment is not required outside of pregnancy. During pregnancy, insulin treatment is recommended if second trimester fetal ultrasound monitoring shows macrosomia, suggesting the fetus has not inherited the GCK gene. There are limited data about GCK-MODY management in pregnancy. The aim of this study was to examine clinical management and pregnancy outcomes amongst women with a known diagnosis of GCK-MODY. In this observational, cross-sectional study, a survey was distributed via Redcap to women ≥ 18 years enrolled in the University of Chicago Monogenic Diabetes Registry (n = 94). All or part of the survey was completed by 54 women (128 pregnancies). There were 78 term births (61%), 15 pre-term births (12%), and 24 miscarriages (19%). Of the 39 pregnancies where insulin was given, 22 (56%) had occasional or frequent hypoglycemia including 9 with severe hypoglycemia. Average birth weight for full-term GCK-affected infants was significantly less in cases of maternal insulin treatment versus no treatment (2967 and 3725 g, p = 0.005). For GCK-unaffected infants, conclusions are limited by small sample size but large for gestational age (LGA) was common with maternal insulin treatment (56%) and no treatment (33%), p = 0.590. The observed miscarriage rate was comparable to the background US population rate (15–20%). Patients treated with insulin experienced a 23% incidence of severe hypoglycemia and lower birth weights were observed in the insulin-treated, GCK-affected neonates. These data support published guidelines of no treatment if the fetus is suspected to have inherited GCK-MODY and highlight the importance of additional studies to determine optimal pregnancy management for GCK-MODY, particularly among unaffected fetuses.
Biological Enhancers of Fusion

There are over 400,000 spinal fusions performed annually in the United States alone. The reported incidence of nonunion following spinal fusion operations varies widely (5–45%) and is dependent on multiple factors. For instance, Wang et al. found that the number of levels operated on for anterior cervical fusions greatly affected fusion rates (pseudoarthrosis was approximately 10% for single-level and 30% for three-level fusions). Given the large number of fusion operations performed each year, even a low rate of pseudoarthrosis can have profound effects on outcomes and overall costs. A lack of understanding with regard to the basic biology involved with arthrodesis certainly contributes.
A cognitive diagnostic analysis of the Social Issues Advocacy Scale (SIAS)

‘What would an ideal social justice advocate look like, and how do our graduates compare?’ is asked by training programs in the helping/health professions (e.g. counselling and psychology, nursing,...
Aligning Product Chemistry and Soil Context for Agronomic Reuse of Human-Derived Resources

Recovering human-derived nutrients from sanitation systems can offset inorganic fertilizer use and improve access to agricultural nutrients in resource-limited settings, but the agronomic value of ...
Understanding the micro-determinants of defensive behaviors against pollution

Abstract Air and water pollution impose substantial health costs on exposed populations. Individuals frequently engage in behaviors aimed at reducing this exposure, and these actions have associated costs. I use survey data to assess which types of individuals are most likely to engage in defensive behaviors and how this response varies over multiple types of environmental risk. Further, I assess the economic determinants of these defensive decisions. I find that education, age, hours spent on leisure activities, insurance status, and health status are significantly associated with defensive actions. In addition to providing information on which groups are responding to environmental degradation, this study investigates how underlying preferences and economic characteristics influence the type of defensive response.
Little Freudian Slippage: Coverage of the Psychodynamic Perspective in the Undergraduate Personality Course:

Debate about the merits of the psychodynamic perspective led us to wonder about the extent of its inclusion in personality textbooks and its coverage by teachers of the undergraduate personality ps...
“Gilbertville,” “Ilitchville,” and the Redevelopment of Detroit:

First, we examine Businessmen Daniel B. “Dan” Gilbert and Michael “Mike” Ilitch’s multibillion-dollar investments in Detroit’s office buildings and entertainment venues. Next, we set their entrepre...
The Psychophysiology of Attribution: Why Appreciative Respect Can Keep Us Safe

Questions about our potential to commit atrocities like those in the Nazis’ human subjects research may be unwelcome to medical professionals who are comfortable in today’s society. Our reliance on medical professionals’ advocacy for vulnerable people and vulnerable values, and on informed consent and institutional approval for research, may not necessarily prevent abuse of human subjects. For example, real research is being conducted under the guise of quality improvement, for which informed consent is not required, and patients may unknowingly suffer as a result.
Outcomes in Patients Receiving Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy Undergoing Immediate Breast Reconstruction: Effect of Timing, Postoperative Complications, and Delay to Radiation Therapy

Background:Neoadjuvant chemotherapy is offered to many patients with breast cancer. In patients undergoing mastectomy and immediate breast reconstruction, there is concern that this treatment could increase postoperative complications. The authors characterize which patients are at a higher risk of
Fitness Consequences of Innovation in Spotted Hyenas

Innovation is a well-studied cognitive ability related to general intelligence, brain size, and behavioral flexibility. Innovative ability varies considerably within species and it is widely assumed that this variation must have important fitness consequences. However, direct evidence for a link between innovation and fitness has rarely been shown. Previous research examined variation in innovation in wild spotted hyenas when confronting a novel puzzle box baited with meat. The earlier work revealed that variation in innovation in spotted hyenas was not related to age, sex, or social rank, but was predicted by neophobia, persistence, and diversity of motor responses to the puzzle. Here, we used the same dataset from wild spotted hyenas to investigate potential links between innovation and fitness. We found that innovative hyenas had lower offspring survivorship than non-innovators, but higher annual cub production (ACP). To test the hypothesis that high ACP can compensate for low offspring survival, we also measured annual cub survivorship (ACS) counting only offspring that survived at least 1 year. Here, there was no significant difference between innovators and non-innovators, which suggests that higher ACP does compensate for lower offspring survival, at least to one year of age. Overall, our data suggest that innovation may have both costs and benefits for fitness in wild spotted hyenas.
SAT-Hard Cyclic Logic Obfuscation for Protecting the IP in the Manufacturing Supply Chain

State-of-the-art attacks against cyclic logic obfuscation use satisfiability solvers that are equipped with a set of cycle-avoidance clauses. These cycle-avoidance clauses are generated in a preprocessing step and define various key combinations that could open or close cycles without making the circuit oscillating or stateful. In this article, we show that this preprocessing step has to generate cycle-avoidance conditions on all cycles in a netlist; otherwise, a missing cycle could trap the solver in an infinite loop or make it exit with an incorrect key. Then, we propose several techniques by which the number of cycles is exponentially increased as a function of the number of inserted feedback. We further illustrate that when the number of feedback is increased, the preprocessing step of the attack faces an exponential increase in complexity and runtime, preventing the correct composition of cycle-avoidance clauses in a reasonable time. On the other hand, if the preprocessing is not concluded, the attack formulated by the satisfiability solver will either get stuck or exit with an incorrect key. Hence, when the cyclic obfuscation under the conditions proposed in this article is implemented, it would impose an exponentially difficult problem for the satisfiability solver-based attacks.
Tracking the picoscale spatial motion of atomic columns during dynamic structural change.

Abstract In many materials systems, such as catalytic nanoparticles, the ability to characterize dynamic atomic structural changes is important for developing a more fundamental understanding of functionality. Recent developments in direct electron detection now allow image series to be acquired at frame rates on the order of 1000 frames per second in bright-field transmission electron microscopy (BF TEM), which could potentially allow dynamic changes in the atomic structure of individual nanoparticles to be characterized with millisecond temporal resolution in favorable cases. However, extracting such data from TEM image series requires the development of computational methods that can be applied to very large datasets and are robust in the presence of noise and in the non-ideal imaging conditions of some types of environmental TEM experiments. Here, we present a two-dimensional Gaussian fitting algorithm to track the position and intensities of atomic columns in temporally resolved BF TEM image series. We have tested our algorithm on experimental image series of Ce atomic columns near the surface of a ceria (CeO2) nanoparticle with electron beam doses of ~125–5000 e−A−2 per frame. The accuracy of the algorithm for locating atomic column positions is compared to that of the more traditional centroid fitting technique, and the accuracy of intensity measurements is evaluated as a function of dose per frame. The code developed here, and the methodology used to explore the errors and limitations of the measurements, could be applied more broadly to any temporally resolved TEM image series to track dynamic atomic column motion.
Reversibility of propionic acid inhibition to anaerobic digestion: Inhibition kinetics and microbial mechanism.

Abstract Anaerobic digestion is a technology that simultaneously treats waste and generates energy in the form of biogas. Unfortunately, when a high organic loading rate is applied, anaerobic digestion can suffer from volatile fatty acid accumulation that results in pH drop and decreased biogas production. In particular, propionic acid has shown to inhibit biogas production even at a very low concentration. Therefore, the kinetics of biogas production in relation to propionic acid concentration needs to be investigated. In batch experiments on anaerobic co-digestion of food waste and dairy manure in the present study, cumulative biogas production showed little inhibition by propionic acid in the concentration range of 6.5–14.6 mM, but a lag phase of 9.4, 16.3 and 60.8 d was detected in the digesters with initial propionic acid concentrations of 22.7, 36.2, and 56.4 mM, respectively. After the lag phase, these digesters accelerated to specific biogas yields of 0.59–0.70 L g-VS−1. The similar specific biogas yields across all of the digesters at initial propionic acid concentrations of 6.5–56.4 mM indicated reversibility of the inhibition. The reversibility was made possible by microbial acclimation and the shift to hydrogenotrophic methanogenesis in syntrophy with acetogenic bacteria. Evidently, an increase of hydrogenotrophic Methanobacterium and Methanoculleus abundances was found at 36.2 and 56.4 mM. Batch digestion experiments must be extended beyond the lag phase in order to fully reveal the inhibition kinetics. This paper highlights the need for a standard protocol that experimentally evaluates inhibition in anaerobic digestion.
The Pineal Gland and Sexual Function in Man

The pineal gland has potent effects on the pituitary — gonadal system in many different species (1). In some situations it seems clear that these effects are mediated by melatonin secreted by the pineal gland (2).
A Call to Arms: Emergency Hand and Upper-Extremity Operations During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Author(s): Diamond, Shawn; Lundy, Jonathan B; Weber, Erin L; Lalezari, Shadi; Rafijah, Gregory; Leis, Amber; Gray, Benjamin L; Lin, Ines C; Gupta, Ranjan | Abstract: PurposeLimited data exist regarding volumetric trends and management of upper-extremity emergencies during periods of social restriction and duress, such as the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic. We sought to study the effect of shelter-in-place orders on emergent operative upper-extremity surgery.MethodsAll patients undergoing emergent and time-sensitive operations to the finger(s), hand, wrist, and forearm were tracked over an equal number of days before and after shelter-in-place orders at 2 geographically distinct Level I trauma centers. Surgical volume and resources, patient demographics, and injury patterns were compared before and after official shelter-in-place orders.ResultsA total of 58 patients underwent time-sensitive or emergent operations. Mean patient age was 42 years; mean injury severity score was 9 and median American Society of Anesthesiologist score was 2. There was a 40% increase in volume after shelter-in-place orders, averaging 1.4 cases/d. Indications for surgery included high-energy closed fracture (60%), traumatic nerve injury (19%), severe soft tissue infection (15%), and revascularization of the arm, hand, or digit(s) (15%). High-risk behavior, defined as lawlessness, assault, and high-speed auto accidents, was associated with a significantly greater proportion of operations after shelter-in-place orders (40% vs 12.5%; P l .05). Each institution dedicated an average of 3 inpatient beds and one intensive care unit-capable bed to upper-extremity care daily. Resources used included an average of 115 minutes of daily operating room time and 8 operating room staff or personnel per case.ConclusionsHand and upper-extremity operative volume increased after shelter-in-place orders at 2 major Level I trauma centers across the country, demanding considerable hospital resources. The rise in volume was associated with an increase in high-risk behavior.Type of study/level of evidenceTherapeutic IV.
Assessment of the impact of implementation of a zero blood alcohol concentration law in Uruguay on moderate/severe injury and fatal crashes: a quasi-experimental study

Background and aims Debates regarding lowering the blood alcohol concentration (BAC) limit for drivers are intensifying in the United States and other countries, and the World Health Organization recommends that the limit for adults should be 0.05%. In January 2016, Uruguay implemented a law setting a zero BAC limit for all drivers. This study aimed to assess the effect of this policy on the frequency of moderate/severe injury and fatal traffic crashes. Design A quasi-experimental study in which a synthetic control model was used with controls consisting of local areas in Chile as the counterfactual for outcomes in Uruguay, matched across population counts and pre-intervention period outcomes. Sensitivity analyses were also conducted. Setting Uruguay and Chile. Cases Panel data with crash counts by outcome per locality-month (2013-2017). Intervention and comparator A zero blood alcohol concentration law implemented on 9 January 2016 in Uruguay, alongside a continued 0.03 g/dl BAC threshold in Chile. Measurements Per-capita moderate/severe injury (i.e. moderate or severe), severe injury and fatal crashes (2013-2017). Findings Our base synthetic control model results suggested a reduction in fatal crashes at 12 months [20.9%; P-value = 0.018, 95% confidence interval (CI) = -0.340, -0.061]. Moderate/severe injury crashes did not decrease significantly (10.2%, P = 0.312, 95% CI = -0.282, 0.075). The estimated effect at 24 months was smaller and with larger confidence intervals for fatal crashes (14%; P = 0.048, 95% CI = -0.246, -0.026) and largely unchanged for moderate/severe injury crashes (-9.4%, P = 0.302, 95% CI = -0.248, 0.058). Difference-in-differences analyses yielded similar results. As a sensitivity test, a synthetic control model relying on an inferior treatment-control match pre-intervention (measured by mean squared error) yielded similar-sized differences that were not statistically significant. Conclusions Implementation of a law setting a zero blood alcohol concentration threshold for all drivers in Uruguay appears to have resulted in a reduction in fatal crashes during the following 12 and 24 months.
Neural sources of letter and Vernier acuity.

Visual acuity can be measured in many different ways, including with letters and Vernier offsets. Prior psychophysical work has suggested that the two acuities are strongly linked given that they both depend strongly on retinal eccentricity and both are similarly affected in amblyopia. Here we used high-density EEG recordings to ask whether the underlying neural sources are common as suggested by the psychophysics or distinct. To measure visual acuity for letters, we recorded evoked potentials to 3 Hz alternations between intact and scrambled text comprised of letters of varying size. To measure visual acuity for Vernier offsets, we recorded evoked potentials to 3 Hz alternations between bar gratings with and without a set of Vernier offsets. Both alternation types elicited robust activity at the 3 Hz stimulus frequency that scaled in amplitude with both letter and offset size, starting near threshold. Letter and Vernier offset responses differed in both their scalp topography and temporal dynamics. The earliest evoked responses to letters occurred on lateral occipital visual areas, predominantly over the left hemisphere. Later responses were measured at electrodes over early visual cortex, suggesting that letter structure is first extracted in second-tier extra-striate areas and that responses over early visual areas are due to feedback. Responses to Vernier offsets, by contrast, occurred first at medial occipital electrodes, with responses at later time-points being more broadly distributed—consistent with feedforward pathway mediation. The previously observed commonalities between letter and Vernier acuity may be due to common bottlenecks in early visual cortex but not because the two tasks are subserved by a common network of visual areas.
Safety of Cumulative Dose Anti-Thymocyte Globulin in Lung Transplant

Purpose The optimal dose of anti-thymocyte globulin (ATG) in kidney transplant is well established, however, dosing of ATG in lung transplant (LTx) is not well defined. LTx patients have a more delicate balance between infection and rejection given higher immunosuppression goals and constant exposure of the graft to the external environment. We sought to evaluate the optimal dose (mg/kg) of ATG in LTx patients. Methods LTx patients who received ≥1 dose of ATG between 6/2016 and 9/2019 were categorized based on indication (induction, treatment of rejection, or treatment of chronic allograft dysfunction (CLAD)). Cumulative dose (mg/kg) was calculated using actual weight at time of ATG. Safety endpoints following the last ATG dose included infection ≤1 year and malignancy until last follow-up. Results ATG indications were induction (n=11, 24%), rejection (n=21, 47%), and CLAD (n=13, 29%). Median doses (mg/kg) were: 3.2 for induction, 4.9 for rejection, and 4.2 for CLAD. Bacterial infections occurred in 23 patients (51%) (1 clinically significant urinary tract infection requiring intravenous antibiotics, 12 blood stream, and 19 respiratory) at a median of 38 days (d) after last ATG dose; viral infections occurred in 11 patients (24%) with cytomegalovirus viremia being the most common; fungal infections occurred in 27 patients (60%). The most common organisms identified were Pseudomonas and Aspergillus species. Four patients (9%) developed malignancy at a median of 339d, including 3 cases of cutaneous malignancy and 1 case of small cell lung cancer. Conclusion Safety concerns with ATG in LTx include infection and malignancy with a possible dose-correlated risk. We found a >50% incidence of both bacterial and fungal infections following ATG; those who received ATG for induction experienced the highest rates (64% bacterial, 73% fungal). The high incidence of infections supports using lower cumulative doses, however, further evaluation into the ideal dosing threshold to balance safety and efficacy within each ATG indication is warranted.
Needs and Experiences of Users of Digital Navigation Tools for Mental Health Treatment and Supportive Services: Survey Study.

Background: Despite a recent proliferation in web-based and digital resources that are designed to assist users in finding appropriate mental health treatment and supportive services, it can be overwhelming, confusing, and difficult for an individual or family member to access and use an appropriate navigation tool. As digital resources are increasingly sought after, there is an urgent need for a clearer understanding of digital navigation tools in order to help link individuals with the tool that is best suited to their needs. Objective: The objective of this study was to determine the needs of individuals seeking mental health treatment and supportive services and to quantify their experiences and satisfaction with available digital navigation tools. Methods: A survey was offered via an email newsletter and social media posting throughout the extended membership of the National Alliance on Mental Illness, which includes both individuals with a mental health condition and their family members and support networks. A 13-item anonymous survey, which consisted of multiple-choice and open response options, was developed to measure participants’ past use of and experiences with web-based, mobile, and phone-based navigation tools. The survey was available from April 9 through May 21, 2020. Results: A total of 478 respondents completed the survey; the majority of respondents were female (397/478, 83.1%) and aged ≥35 years (411/478, 86%). Younger respondents were more likely to report seeking mental health services for themselves, while older respondents were more likely to be searching for such services on behalf of a family member. The majority of respondents seeking such services on behalf of a family member (113/194, 58.2%) required a combination of mental health treatment and supportive services. Furthermore, two-thirds of respondents (322/478, 67.4%) used a navigation tool to find treatment or services. The majority of respondents who provided feedback about their experiences with navigation tools (224/280, 80%) reported difficulties, with data availability and accuracy being the most commonly reported issues. Conclusions: The survey results suggest that issues with data availability and accuracy in available navigation tools remain a major barrier for locating timely and appropriate mental health treatment and supportive services within the population of individuals seeking such services. Particularly for individuals seeking care on behalf of a family member, improving the accuracy of and users’ experiences with navigation tools could have a major impact on effectively connecting people to treatment and support services.
Simulating price responsive distributed resources

Distributed energy resources (DER) include distributed generation, storage, and responsive demand. The integration of DER into the power system control framework is part of the evolutionary advances that allow these resources to actively participate in the energy balance equation. Price can provide a powerful signal for independent decision-making in distributed control strategies. To study the impact of price responsive DER on the electric power system requires generation and load models that can capture the dynamic coupling between the energy market and the physical operation of the power system in appropriate time frames. This paper presents modeling approaches for simulating electricity market price responsive DER, and introduces a statistical mechanics approach to modeling the aggregated response of a transformed electric system of pervasive, transacting DER.
Overview: Plethysmographic Techniques in the Diagnosis of Venous Disease

Color-flow duplex scanning of the deep and superficial veins has largely replaced most other diagnostic testing. However, prior to the introduction of duplex scanning, plethysmography was the most widely used noninvasive method for the objective diagnosis of deep venous thrombosis (DVT). No other technique has been so thoroughly examined by so many distinguished investigators in the field. Its accuracy has been rigorously defined and documented by many carefully performed studies. Much valuable information concerning the prevalence, natural history, and clinical presentation of venous thrombosis has been acquired through the use of plethysmography. 1,2
Connected Causes: Online Marketing Strategies for Nonprofit Organizations, by Wymer, W., & Grau, S.

Marketing used to be dirty work in the Human Services. It suggested everything that was disliked and feared in the business sector. It implied unnecessary consumption and corporate greed. Marketing...
Multiple time-varying dynamic analysis using multiple sets of basis functions

We extend recently developed algorithm that expand the time-varying parameters onto a single set of basis functions to multiple sets of basis functions. Computer simulation examples do indeed show the benefit of using multiple sets of basis functions over the single set of basis functions for cases with many switching dynamics. Furthermore, comparative simulation results of the method proposed with that of the recursive least squares (RLS) show that the method proposed achieves far superior tracking capability than the RLS. Moreover, the proposed method remains accurate even under significant noise contamination.
Teaching design through design competition

The use of competition both inside and outside the classroom, but particularly the use of an external design competition is examined. Although there are a number of difficulties in integrating this type of experience into an engineering curriculum, design competitions remain an extremely motivational and useful tool in the hands of engineering faculty members. This paper details some of the benefits and difficulties associated with various design competitions and experiments with in-class competition.
Entropic Insights from Millisecond Protein Simulations

The configurational landscape of proteins and other macromolecules contains distinct and possibly long lived states that differ minimally in their total free energy. However, the similarity in the respective total free energy of these long lived states can mask drastic differences in their free energy profile, i.e. alternative balances of entropy and enthalpy. An accurate investigation of these differences requires an exhaustive search of the configurational space coupled with tools capable of elucidating the key interactions and correlations that govern the states and their associated transitions. Here we use the recently published Anton 1ms molecular dynamics (MD) trajectory of bovine pancreatic trypsin inhibitor (BPTI) coupled with the mutual information expansion (MIE) of the configurational entropy to develop an in depth analysis of a major conformational divide controlled by a single disulfide bridge. The disulfide bridge flips the system between two states that are similar in free energy but different in entropy and enthalpy. Due to the unprecedented level of configurational sampling from the 1ms MD trajectory, we are able to account for 3rd order correlation terms of the coordinates in the MIE formalism, which yield a non-negligible addition to the total configurational entropy. These novel calculations provide insight regarding the fundamental mechanisms of entropy-enthalpy compensation.
Why do People Avoid Medical Care? A Qualitative Study Using National Data

Background Many studies have examined barriers to health care utilization, with the majority conducted in the context of specific populations and diseases. Less research has focused on why people avoid seeking medical care, even when they suspect they should go.