cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Passive parity-time-symmetry-breaking transitions without exceptional points in dissipative photonic systems [Invited]

Over the past decade, parity-time (PT)-symmetric Hamiltonians have been experimentally realized in classical, optical settings with balanced gain and loss, or in quantum systems with localized loss. In both realizations, the PT-symmetry-breaking transition occurs at the exceptional point of the non-Hermitian Hamiltonian, where its eigenvalues and the corresponding eigenvectors both coincide. Here, we show that in lossy systems, the PT transition is a phenomenon that broadly occurs without an attendant exceptional point, and is driven by the potential asymmetry between the neutral and the lossy regions. With experimentally realizable quantum models in mind, we investigate dimer and trimer waveguide configurations with one lossy waveguide. We validate the tight-binding model results by using the beam-propagation-method analysis. Our results pave a robust way toward studying the interplay between passive PT transitions and quantum effects in dissipative photonic configurations.
The American Academy of Neurology's quality improvement efforts: A fine work in progress.

The American Academy of Neurology (AAN) has a long history of leadership in using principles of evidence-based medicine (EBM) to improve outcomes for our neurologic patients. Starting in 1990, concomitant with the publication of an Institute of Medicine call for development of evidence-based clinical practice guidelines (CPGs),1 the AAN began developing CPGs. This body of work has resulted in the publication of 90 CPGs. The second stage of evolution in EBM to practice efforts led, beginning in 2010, to the AAN’s development of tools to help us measure processes and outcomes associated with high-quality care: clinical quality measures. Many quality measures are derived from high-quality CPGs. This body of work now encompasses 15 diseases and 139 quality measures.2 The third stage of the AAN EBM/quality effort led to the rollout in 2016 of the Axon Registry®,3 a prospective data collection tool that systematically collects and aggregates data for review and analysis. The data, largely reflective of the quality measures, are captured in an automated procedure by the electronic health record (EHR) system of the clinic/institution. The essential function of the reporting function of the registry is “to inform neurologists regarding the quality of their care and provide them with a tool to establish not only performance baselines but progress toward improved quality of care.”3 Patel et al.4 recently reported 2 case studies regarding the influence of the Axon Registry on actual practice. These types of studies will be critical in determining the practicalities of this rapidly evolving field for neurologic practices. Additional uses of the Axon Registry will be to contribute to Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services requirements for payment linked to practice improvement and to satisfy Maintenance of Certification requirements by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology.
Effect of rotating secondary principal axes in scattered-light photoelasticity

A set of equations is presented and the effect of rotation of the secondary principal stress axes is discussed. The equations, general and relatively simple, adequately describe observed results. In studying the equations, a better understanding of the rotational effect can be achieved, and a technique is suggested which can eliminate any error resulting from rotation. This technique and the concepts involved are substantiated with experimental evidence and reported in this paper.
Structural, electronic and adsorption properties of monolayer 2H-MoS2 on graphene substrates: A computational study

Abstract Two-dimensional molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) is a prospective material for gas sensing applications. Charge transfer between adsorbed gas and monolayer MoS2 is known to be a central mechanism responsible for the gas detection. This paper seeks to address the influence of underlying substrate, which is relatively less studied. The atomic and electronic structures and adsorption properties of monolayer 2H-MoS2 in MoS2/graphene heterostructures, with comparisons to the case of freestanding MoS2, are investigated using first-principles density functional theory calculations. The effect of the underlying graphene layer on the adsorption of NH3 and NO2 on monolayer 2H-MoS2 is found to be insignificant. However, our simulations demonstrate that monolayer MoS2 can be significantly corrugated when it adheres to a rippled graphene substrate. This may result in a substantial modification of the MoS2 electronic structure and thus exert influence on its gas sensing performance.
Pseudogout: Uncommon and Under-Recognized

Pseudogout or calcium pyrophosphate deposition (CPPD) disease is an uncommon and often under-recognized resentation in primary care. Patients may initially develop asymptomatic crystal deposition, but these changes can evolve to synovitis, arthritis, and cartilage calcification. An initial differential diagnosis includes traditional gout, osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, septic arthritis, and Lyme disease. Acute attacks of CPPD may be indistinguishable from these conditions clinically, and a definitive diagnosis requires synovial fluid analysis. Fluid should be microscopically analyzed for cell count, crystal analysis under compensated polarizing microscopy, Gram stain, and culture. CPPD crystals are weakly birefringent under polarized light and have a rhomboid or rod-shaped appearance. No therapy is proven optimal, so CPPD treatment is instead tailored to symptoms, with goals of controlling acute pain, preventing additional attacks, and impeding the degenerative joint disease associated with CPPD disease arthropathy. Current treatment methods include intra-articular corticosteroid injections, NSAIDs, DMARDs, OMT, and in severe, refractory cases, surgery.
The Effect of Withholding Antibiotics Prior to Bone Biopsy in Patients With Suspected Osteomyelitis: A Meta-analysis of the Literature.

Objective The aim of this meta-analysis is to evaluate the effect of withholding antibiotics prior to obtaining a bone biopsy in the diagnosis of osteomyelitis. Methods Literature searches on Scopus, PubMed, and Google Scholar were performed with the input antibiotic, bone, biopsy, osteomyelitis, and prior both separately and together, though initially as a combination, as key words for all study types in the English language published up until July 2018. The initial combination search (and subsequent additional search of the references) yielded 924 related articles, which ultimately resulted in 12 articles with adequate data for analysis. Data were analyzed using an inverse variance method to determine the weight of the studies in a random effects model, pooling the data for odds ratios (OR) and heterogeneity. Bias risk was determined with the Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies 2 system. Results Of the 12 studies, 8 failed to demonstrate that antibiotics administered prior to bone biopsy have an effect on culture yield, while 4 reported a significant effect on culture yield. The total weighted OR for all studies was 2.02 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.94-4.36; P = .04) and the prediction interval was 0.17-23.63. When vertebral osteomyelitis (VO) and nonvertebral osteomyelitis (NVO) articles were evaluated separately, the VO OR was 2.95 (95% CI, 1.40-6.24) and the prediction interval was 0.40-21.53. The OR for NVO was 0.66 (95% CI, 0.04-12.03) and the prediction interval was 0-114.53. Conclusions When all studies as well as when NVO studies only were evaluated, there was no significant difference in bacterial pathogen yield based on antibiotic exposure. When VO studies were evaluated separately, there were fewer pathogens recovered than when antibiotics were administered prior to obtaining bone cultures.
Cost-share conservation practices have mixed effects on priority grassland and shrubland breeding bird occupancy in the Central Hardwoods Bird Conservation Region, USA

Abstract Globally, agricultural ecosystems continue to be the most imperiled for biodiversity. Subsequently, countries focused on cost-share conservation programs whereby private landowners are paid to conserve or restore their land. In the United States, populations of grassland and shrubland breeding birds continue to decline, despite state, federal, and private cost-share conservation programs. We related avian occupancy to cost-share conservation programs across the Central Hardwoods Bird Conservation Region using spatially explicit patch-scale survey data. Once per year from 2008 to 2012, we surveyed 5303 discreet points for 9 grassland and shrubland breeding bird species using roadside 5-min point-count surveys in 37 counties across 7 states. We modeled point-specific land cover and heterogeneity in conjunction with cost-share conservation program information using a multi-season robust-design occupancy model. Land-cover covariates were most important in models for species occupancy. For every species except Bell's vireo (Vireo bellii), Field sparrow (Spizella pusilla), and Prairie warbler (Setophaga discolor), addition of conservation covariates to best-supported land-cover models improved occupancy model fit, though effects of conservation programs on occupancy were mixed. Eastern meadowlark occupancy was negatively correlated to the presence of conservation. Alternatively, Northern bobwhite (Colinus virginianus) occupancy was 200% greater when a conservation practice was at a point rather than being located 4 km away. If cost-share conservation is going to reverse biodiversity declines in agricultural ecosystems, then scale-appropriate models will need to be used to prioritize future implementation because the status quo provides limited mixed effects on grassland and shrubland bird species occupancy.
COVID-19 Cases and Deaths in Federal and State Prisons.

This study describes coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) case rates and deaths among federal and state prisoners and compares them with corresponding rates for the US population.
GPU-Based Static Data-Flow Analysis for Fast and Scalable Android App Vetting

Many popular vetting tools for Android applications use static code analysis techniques. In particular, Interprocedural Data-Flow Graph (IDFG) construction is the computation at the core of Android static data-flow analysis and consumes most of the analysis time. Many analysis tools use a worklist algorithm, an iterative fixed-point approach, to construct the IDFG. In this paper, we observe that a straightforward GPU parallelization of the worklist algorithm leads to significant underutilization of the GPU resources. We identify four performance bottlenecks, namely, frequent dynamic memory allocations, high branch divergence, workload imbalance, and irregular memory access patterns. Accordingly, we propose GDroid, a GPU-based worklist algorithm implementation with multiple fine-grained optimizations tailored to common characteristics of Android applications. The optimizations considered are: matrix-based data structure, memory access-based node grouping, and worklist merging. Our experimental evaluation, performed on 1000 Android applications, shows that the proposed optimizations are beneficial to performance, and GDroid can achieve up to 128X speedups against a plain GPU implementation.
Hypertension in the Young Adult Trauma Population: Rethinking the Traditional "Incidentaloma".

Abstract Background Hypertension (HTN) is a treatable and preventable risk factor for cardiovascular disease that is often overlooked in young adults. As a result, young patients with HTN may enter the health care system as a trauma without a preexisting diagnosis. The potential impact of HTN (diagnosed and undiagnosed) on trauma outcomes is not known. Materials and methods Patients aged 18-39 y from the 2013-2017 North Carolina Trauma Registry were included. Patients were stratified as having no HTN, previously diagnosed HTN (PD-HTN), or newly diagnosed HTN (ND-HTN) during a trauma admission. Multivariable logistic and linear regression compared inpatient outcomes between patients with and without HTN, as well as ND-HTN and PD-HTN. Results Six percent of trauma patients were diagnosed with HTN (n = 1906; 14% ND-HTN). Those with HTN were more likely to have an inpatient complication (odds ratio [OR]: 1.65, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.32-2.07) and intensive care unit stay (OR: 1.28, 95% CI: 1.12-1.46) compared with patients without HTN. Compared with PD-HTN, those with ND-HTN were more likely to present with extreme injury. In addition, patients with ND-HTN had higher odds of inpatient complications (OR: 1.95, 95% CI: 1.18-3.22) and 30-d readmission (OR: 2.00, 95% CI: 0.95-4.20) after accounting for demographics and injury severity. Conclusions More than 10% of young adult trauma patients with HTN are not diagnosed before admission. HTN appears to have a detrimental impact on patient outcomes, with newly diagnosed patients having the worst outcomes. Trauma may serve as an opportunity for the diagnosis and treatment of HTN in young adults. Future studies should assess the impact of intervention on trauma outcomes.
Assessing the Effectiveness of Artistic Place-Based Climate Change Interpretation:

This paper analyzed the effectiveness of an artistic place-based climate change interpretive program at Glacier National Park in Montana. Utilizing the framework of place-based climate change commu...
Comparing Combination Therapy with Proton Pump Inhibitor and Topical Steroid versus Topical Steroid Alone for the Treatment of Eosinophilic Esophagitis

Purpose: Proton pump inhibitors (PPI) are used in patients with Eosinophilic Esophagitis (EoE) to fulfill diagnostic criteria, as well as for treatment. PPI’s therapeutic effect appears to involve anti-inflammatory mechanisms, specifically its ability to downregulate the expression of the chemoattractant eotaxin-3 through an acid-independent pathway. A recent in-vitro study showed greater suppression of eotaxin-3 in esophageal cells derived from EoE patients when they were treated with both fluticasone and omeprazole together, than when treated with either drug alone. Our aim was to compare the histologic outcomes of EoE patients between those …
Fluorescent detection of nucleosomes using functionalized magnetic beads on a digital microfluidic device

Epigenetics, the study of inheritable mechanisms that regulate gene expression, has clinical ramifications from cancer to autoimmune disorders to psychiatric pathologies. The main tool to study epigenetics is chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP), which probes the relationship between DNA and its structural nucleosome-forming histone proteins. Standard benchtop ChIP has three major drawbacks: (1) it requires a large input volume of cells, (2) it is very time consuming and work intensive, and (3) it is low throughput. Digital microfluidic biochips (DMFB) have proven to be successful at utilizing small volumes of reagents and samples to perform high throughput bioanalyses and assays of macromolecules. Their ease of configurability, automation, and high sensitivity make them an ideal platform for ChIP adaptation, addressing the three biggest issues facing epigenetic study and workflow. Herein, we demonstrate the first step towards ChIP implementation on a DMFB by detecting specifically modified nucleosomes, the building blocks of chromatin, in a nucleosome immunoprecipitation assay. Using magnetic beads to capture the nucleosomes with magnetic fields generated by embedded current wires and fluorescent conjugated antibodies for detection, this DMFB system allows complete on-chip isolation and detection without the need for external magnets or specialized fluoroscopy equipment. This assay design can be adapted to probe for multiple specific nucleosome modifications, thus establishing a rapid screening method for antibody specificity and sensitivity. Most importantly, this novel confirmatory checkpoint, currently unavailable when running ChIP, ensures that the target analyte has been isolated prior to intensive downstream analyses such as PCR and sequencing.
Mechanical and Electrical Myocardial Support

Similar to mechanical circulatory devices, cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) delivers oxygen and blood to vital organs. High-quality CPR can provide sufficient coronary blood flow, cerebral blood flow, and oxygen to attain return of spontaneous circulation or as a bridge to extracorporeal life support.
Influence of uranyl speciation and iron oxides on uranium biogeochemical redox reactions

Influence of Uranyl Speciation and Iron Oxides on Uranium Biogeochemical Redox Reactions Brandy D. Stewart 1* , Richard T. Amos 2 , Peter S. Nico 3 , and Scott Fendorf 1 Environmental Earth System Science, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON N2L 3G1, Canada Earth Sciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA *Corresponding author: email: brandy.stewart@erc.montana.edu phone: 406-994-7501
Early experience with the FDA's regulatory review of novel gene therapies.

Recent advances in gene therapies offer novel therapeutic options for many diseases that are otherwise resistant to pharmacologic treatment. Through gene therapy, scientists now have the opportunity to replace disease-causing genes with healthy copies, inactivate genes functioning improperly and introduce genes into the body to help fight disease.1 As of 31 December 2020, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved five gene therapies, and more than 900 are in clinical development.2 Based on an assessment of the current pipeline, the FDA predicts it will approve 10–20 gene therapy products per year by 2025.3 In anticipation of many more approvals in the coming years, the FDA recently released final guidance documents on the clinical development and manufacturing of gene therapy products.2 To facilitate the development of these therapies, the 21st Century Cures Act introduced a new expedited development programme, the regenerative medicine advanced therapy (RMAT) designation. This programme grants all the benefits of the breakthrough therapy designation, including rolling review and intensive FDA guidance on efficient drug development, along with an expanded range of options to fulfil postapproval commitments.4 As of 31 December 2020, the FDA has granted RMAT designation to 58 products.5 Although many laud these novel gene therapies as clinically transformative, there is growing concern about the high cost of these products, with list prices for one-time infusions ranging from $373 000 to as much as $2.1 million.6 In addition, gene therapies have been associated with serious safety risks including life-threatening immune responses and insertional mutagenesis-induced malignancies.7 As more gene therapies begin to enter the market, understanding the FDA’s past practices and standards in their review and approval of these products will help inform future regulatory decision-making, particularly upcoming approvals through the RMAT pathway, reimbursement decisions of payors, and the clinical …
Examination of whether early weight loss predicts 1-year weight loss among those enrolled in an Internet-based weight loss program.

Examination of whether early weight loss predicts 1-year weight loss among those enrolled in an Internet-based weight loss program
Docosapentaenoic acid is converted to docosahexaenoic acid in the retinas of normal and prcd-affected miniature poodle dogs.

PURPOSE Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, 22:6n-3) is the major fatty acid of photoreceptor membranes that is necessary for optimal retinal function. Miniature poodle dogs with progressive rod-cone degeneration have lower plasma levels of DHA than normal dogs and higher 22:5n-3/22:6n-3 ratios. The purpose of this study was to test the hypothesis that the metabolic defect in dogs affected with progressive rod-cone degeneration was a reduced capacity for ocular synthesis of DHA from its precursor 22:5n-3. METHODS The in vivo retinal conversion of [14C]22:5n-3 to [14C]22:6n-3 was investigated by injecting normal dogs and dogs affected with progressive rod-cone degeneration intravitreally with [14C]22:5n-3. After 72 hours, rod outer segments, remaining retina, and retinal pigment epithelium/choroid were analyzed for metabolic products. RESULTS Using high-performance liquid chromatography, six radioactive peaks were detected in both normal and affected dogs: [14C]20:5n-3, [14C]22:6n-3, [14C]22:5n-3, [14C]24:6n-3, [14C]24:5n-3, and [14C]18:0. The majority of the label in each tissue was in 22:6n-3 and there was no difference in the dpm% of [14C]22:6n-3 in normal and affected animals in any of the three tissues. Voss et al (J Biol Chem 1991;266:19995-20000) proposed a new pathway for the synthesis of DHA that involves elongation of 22:5n-3 to 24:5n-3, desaturation to 24:6n-3, and beta-oxidation to 22:6n-3. Identification of the products [14C]24:5n-3 and [14C]24:6n-3 verified that these putative intermediates are present in the dog retina. CONCLUSIONS The finding of large amounts of label in DHA shows that the normal and progressive rod-cone-degenerated retina and retinal pigment epithelium are capable of DHA synthesis from 22:5n-3. The presence of radioactivity in 24:5n-3 and 24:6n-3 suggests that the synthesis of DHA in the retina is similar to that described in the liver.
Exploring the Effects of Head Injuries Among Battered Women -- A Qualitative Study of Chronic and Severe Woman Battering

This qualitative study examined the link between chronic woman battering and head injuries in a sample of 52 battered women. The voices of the women in terms of the qualitative data revealed that severe and repeated women battering seems to be associated with head injuries, flashbacks, insomnia, major depression and nightmares of the batterer killing the victim. The research findings support the need for neurological workups among battered women with severe head injuries to rule out temporal lobe epilepsy, and other traumatic brain injuries. It is imperative that battered women be assessed and screened for neurological injuries as well as mental disorders so that appropriate medical and mental health services can be provided. Social workers and psychiatric nurses in hospital emergency rooms and other medical settings are in a pivotal role to detect and facilitate intervention for battered women with neurological injuries and mental disorders.
Commerce and Imagination: The Sources of Concern about International Human Rights in the US Congress

Do members of Congress put human rights concerns on the agenda in response to their constituents’ demands for trade protection? Humanitarian concern may be an important motive, but the normative weight of these issues also makes them a potentially powerful tool for politicians with less elevated agendas. They may criticize the behavior of countries with whom their constituents must compete economically, while overlooking the actions of countries with which their constituents have more harmonious economic relations. This paper tests several hypotheses about the salience of human rights concerns in the politics of US foreign policy using data on congressional speeches during the late 1990s gathered from the Congressional Record . We find evidence that, while humanitarian interests remain an important motive for raising human rights issues, the economic interests of their constituents influence which members of Congress speak out on these questions, and the countries on which they focus their concern.
Simulating crop phenology in the Community Land Model and its impact on energy and carbon fluxes

A reasonable representation of crop phenology and biophysical processes in land surface models is necessary to accurately simulate energy, water, and carbon budgets at the field, regional, and global scales. However, the evaluation of crop models that can be coupled to Earth system models is relatively rare. Here we evaluated two such models (CLM4-Crop and CLM3.5-CornSoy), both implemented within the Community Land Model (CLM) framework, at two AmeriFlux corn-soybean sites to assess their ability to simulate phenology, energy, and carbon fluxes. Our results indicated that the accuracy of net ecosystem exchange and gross primary production simulations was intimately connected to the phenology simulations. The CLM4-Crop model consistently overestimated early growing season leaf area index, causing an overestimation of gross primary production, to such an extent that the model simulated a carbon sink instead of the measured carbon source for corn. The CLM3.5-CornSoy-simulated leaf area index (LAI), energy, and carbon fluxes showed stronger correlations with observations compared to CLM4-Crop. Net radiation was biased high in both models and was especially pronounced for soybeans. This was primarily caused by the positive LAI bias, which led to a positive net long-wave radiation bias. CLM4-Crop underestimated soil water content during midgrowing season in all soil layers at the two sites, which caused unrealistic water stress, especially for soybean. Future work regarding the mechanisms that drive early growing season phenology and soil water dynamics is needed to better represent crops including their net radiation balance, energy partitioning, and carbon cycle processes.
Purchasing Decisions among Black and White Families for Selected Products in Durham, North Carolina

This study considers the relative influence of black and white husbands and wives in purchasing decision-making behavior for various product categories. This study attempts to develop a more accurate consumer profile of blade families. Comparisons are made between black and white families based on social class.
Alpha adrenergic responses of blood vessels of rabbits after ovariectomy and administration of 17 beta-estradiol.

Experiments were designed to determine the effect of estrogen pretreatment on alpha adrenergic responsiveness of blood vessels of the rabbit. Rabbits were ovariectomized and, after 8 days of recovery, treated with 17 beta-estradiol (100 micrograms i.m.; estrogen group) or solvent (control group) for 4 days. Rings of saphenous vein and femoral artery (both without endothelium) were mounted for isometric tension recording in organ chambers filled with modified Krebs-Ringer bicarbonate solution (37 degrees C), gassed with 95% O2-5% CO2. All experiments were performed in the presence of inhibitors of neuronal uptake, extraneuronal uptake and beta adrenoceptors. In the saphenous vein, the estrogen treatment did not significantly affect the concentration-effect curves evoked by norepinephrine (either under control conditions or after alpha-1 or alpha-2 adrenergic blockade), phenylephrine (an alpha-1 adrenergic agonist) or UK 14,304 (an alpha-2 adrenergic agonist). In the femoral artery, estrogen treatment depressed the contractile responses evoked by norepinephrine (under control conditions) but not those produced by phenylephrine; UK 14,304 did not evoke a contractile response. The depressant effect of estrogen treatment on the concentration-effect curve to norepinephrine in the femoral artery was prevented by the alpha-2 adrenergic antagonist, rauwolscine. The results in the femoral artery but not in the saphenous vein suggest that estrogens depress alpha-2 but not alpha-1 adrenergic responsiveness. In the femoral artery, alpha-2 adrenoceptor stimulation does not cause contraction per se but apparently can facilitate alpha-1 adrenergic responses. This probably results from a reduced density of alpha-2 adrenoceptors in this blood vessel.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Transient liquid phase bonding of structural intermetallic compounds

The intermetallic compound NiAl is a candidate material for high–temperature structural applications, for example in the hot–zone of aero gas turbine engines. However, if this material is to find significant structural applications, methodologies for primary fabrication of complex components and post–service repair will be required. In particular, joining technologies suitable for bonding NiAl to nickel–base alloys are required. This paper examines transient liquid phase (TLP) bonding as a method of joining NiAl to nickel–base alloys. The focus of the paper is microstructural development at the bond–line and in the adjacent (nickel–base and NiAl) substrates. Two different interlayer materials are considered in this paper, namely: Ni – 4.5 wt.% Si – 3.2 wt.%B (designated by the American Welding Society as 'BNi–3') and commercially pure copper. Bonds between binary, nominally–stoichiometric NiAl and both commercially pure nickel and Martin Marietta 247 are examined using edge–on transmission electron microscopy. The paper considers the character of the isothermal solidification process, the formation of second–phases at the bond–line and in the adjacent substrates and the extent to which NiAl–Ni–base alloy TLP bonds obey the assumptions implicit in standard models of the TLP process.
Hyperspectral imaging sensors and the marine coastal zone

Hyperspectral imaging sensors greatly expand the potential of remote sensing to assess, map, and monitor marine coastal zones. Each pixel in a hyperspectral image contains an entire spectrum of information. As a result, hyperspectral image data can be processed in two very different ways: by image classification techniques, to produce mapped outputs of features in the image on a regional scale; and by use of spectral analysis of the spectral data embedded within each pixel of the image. The latter is particularly useful in marine coastal zones because of the spectral complexity of suspended as well as benthic features found in these environments. Spectral-based analysis of hyperspectral (AVIRIS) imagery was carried out to investigate a marine coastal zone of South Florida, USA. Florida Bay is a phytoplankton-rich estuary characterized by taxonomically distinct phytoplankton assemblages and extensive seagrass beds. End-member spectra were extracted from AVIRIS image data corresponding to ground-truth sample stations and well-known field sites. Spectral libraries were constructed from the AVIRIS end-member spectra and used to classify images using the Spectral Angle Mapper (SAM) algorithm, a spectral-based approach that compares the spectrum in each pixel of an image with each spectrum in a spectral library. Using this approach different phytoplankton assemblages containing diatoms, cyanobacteria, and green microalgae, as well as benthic community (seagrasses), were mapped.
Control of Spoilage of Canned Mushrooms Inoculated with Clostridium sporogenes PA3679 Spores by Acid-Blanching and EDTA

A new process involving blanching in 0.05M citric acid and addition of 200 ppm CaNa2EDTA in the canning brine (ABC) was compared to the standard commercial method (SCM) for control of spoilage of canned mushrooms inoculated with C. sporogenes PA3679 spores. Fresh mushrooms were uniformly inoculated by vacuum hydration in spore suspensions. Compared to the SCM, the ABC process reduced the potential number of nonsterile units per million cans at Fo 10 from 14.8 to 2.1. At Fo 8 and 10, the ABC process reduced spoilage of the canned products from 100 to 68.1% and 89.3 to 28.7%, respectively, compared to the SCM.
Attempted validation of a "pragmatic classification of depression".

Limited aspects of Blinder's pragmatically derived classification of depressives based on syndrome characteristics were assessed. Blinder's syndrome descriptions were cast into items for an observer-rated interview and into a parallel, patient-rated schedule. Interobserver ratings were statistically reliable (γ′ = .78, p < .001). Patients' self-ratings were positively related to observer ratings (γ′ = .69, p = 01), but observers rated patients as more depressed than patients rated themselves (t = 2.93, p = .01). Observer ratings only were factor analyzed. The unrotated factors obtained accorded better with previous factor analytic studies than with the syndrome aspect of Blinder's pragmatic classification.
A Petrographic Study of the Three Forks Formation (Upper Devonian), Williston Basin, North Dakota: Based on Thin Section Analysis, XRD and SEM

Deeply buried below 8,000 ft, the Three Forks Formation in North Dakota displays a variety of interesting diagenetic characteristics including dolomitization and hematite precipitation. Samples from three lithofacies are analyzed by thin section and SEM petrography and combined bulk and clay XRD analyses. Key aspects controlling the porosity and permeability of this formation are revealed by focusing on the detail mineralogy, rock type and diagenetic mineral distribution, and overall reservoir quality. Results prove that the Three Forks mineralogy is dominated by dolomite, along with substantial hematite, monocrystalline quartz, and mica flakes with trace feldspar, calcite, and pyrite. Clays mainly consist of illite together with minor chlorite and kaolinite and are associated with the scattered clasts. The reservoir quality is controlled by intercrystalline, rare microvuggy, and microporosity types that result from diagenetic and depositional events. Three stages of the dolomitization process are identified and discussed. Our hypothesis is that dolomitization commenced soon after deposition and was pervasive as no original carbonate texture is detectable.
Breakdown of cartilage proteoglycan in a tissue culture model of rheumatoid arthritis

Proteoglycan breakdown was studied in a coculture model which mimics the confrontation between synovium and cartilage that occurs in rheumatoid arthritis. Bovine nasal-septum cartilage discs radioactively labeled (35SO2-4 with or without [3H]glucosamine) and 'chased' in non-radioactive medium were cultured in contact with minced rheumatoid synovial membranes for intervals up to 8 days. Synovium-stimulated (2-3-fold) cartilage breakdown was unaffected by ascorbate supplementation. Labeled products (small molecules plus proteoglycan complexes) in culture media were characterized by chromatographic, sedimentation and enzymic digestion methods. Breakdown was dominated by the release of a range of proteoglycan products, fully disaggregated and incapable of reaggregation with added hyaluronate. Because constituent glycosaminoglycans were of uniform size, proteoglycan polydispersity was attributed to differences in core protein length. Hydrocortisone inhibited degradation and partially prevented the shift of proteoglycans to lower average molecular weight. An additional breakdown pattern occasionally noted during the initial 48 h of coculture was characterized by release of a subpopulation of low charge-density proteoglycan bearing shortened glycosaminoglycan chains, consistent with glycosidase action. We conclude that rheumatoid synovia exhibit two distinct cartilage degradative potencies in vitro that may be important in vivo: (a) A variable hyaluronidase-like activity at early culture times, and (b) a dominant proteolytic activity generating an array of disaggregated proteoglycan products that differ largely on the basis of their core lengths. The response to hydrocortisone is consistent with inhibition of proteolysis through the stabilization of cellular membranes.
Targeting small Aβ oligomers: the solution to an Alzheimer's disease conundrum?

Amyloid β (Aβ) is a small self-aggregating peptide produced at low levels by normal brain metabolism. In Alzheimer's disease (AD), self-aggregation of Aβ becomes rampant, manifested most strikingly as the amyloid fibrils of senile plaques. Because fibrils can kill neurons in culture, it has been argued that fibrils initiate the neurodegenerative cascades of AD. An emerging and different view, however, is that fibrils are not the only toxic form of Aβ, and perhaps not the neurotoxin that is most relevant to AD: small oligomers and protofibrils also have potent neurological activity. Immuno-neutralization of soluble Aβ-derived toxins might be the key to optimizing AD vaccines that are now on the horizon.
Self-organized nanoscale Ge dots and dashes on SiGe/Si superlattices

This study explores the self-organization of Ge nanostructures on SiGe/Si superlattices grown on Si substrates with the surface normal tilted from (001) towards (111) by up to 25°. Prior studies found two-dimensional ordering of Ge dots on nominally flat Si(001) surfaces with a very homogeneous size distribution. Our results show that the Ge islands are less ordered for tilted Si(001) substrates. For substrates with a miscut of 25°, Ge dots nucleate on top of the ripples that form approximately perpendicular to the [1-10]Si direction, i.e., perpendicular to the step direction. Additionally, we observe the formation of Ge dashes, which align preferentially along the [1-10]Si direction.
Effect of vaginal ph on efficacy of the dinoprostone vaginal insert for cervical ripening/labor induction

Abstract Objective: To evaluate whether vaginal pH has an effect on the relative efficacy of the dinoprostone vaginal insert (Cervidil) for cervical ripening/labor induction. Methods: Thirty-four gravidas, with an unfavorable cervix and indication for labor induction, were enrolled in this prospective, double-blinded clinical evaluation. Baseline assessment of cervicovaginal pH and Bishop score were made at the time of enrollment by an independent examiner. All patients received Cervidil, 10 mg, intravaginally for 12 hours. Following the initial 12 hours of preinduction, a repeat Bishop score assessment was made by the same initial examiner. Patients not in active labor at 12 hours were placed on a standardized oxytocin induction regimen. Labor was managed by the on-call obstetric team who remained blinded to pH assessment. Clinical outcomes were evaluated. Statistical analyses were made using Students’ t test and linear regression analysis. Results: Average initial vaginal pH was 4.9 ± 0.5 (range 4.0–6.5) for the study cohort. No significant differences were noted between those patients with low vaginal pH (≤4.5), compared with the high pH group (>4.5), with respect to maternal age, parity, gestational age, or initial Bishop score. Similarly, Bishop score change over preinduction interval (3.2 versus 3.3), time to active labor (28.6 versus 24.6), time to complete dilation (31.2 versus 30.2 hr), and time to delivery (33.7 versus 31.4 hr) were not significantly different between the low and high pH groups, respectively. Linear regression analysis revealed no association between vaginal pH and Bishop score change during preinduction interval, time to complete dilation, or time to delivery ( P = NS). Conclusion: Vaginal pH does not seem to affect the efficacy of the dinoprostone vaginal insert (Cervidil) for cervical ripening/labor induction.
Minimum In-Service Retroreflectivity of Pavement Markings

Minimum in-service retroreflectivity values for pavement markings are presented based on visibility computations performed with the CARVE (Computer-Aided Road-Marking Visibility Evaluator) computer model. CARVE accurately computes all geometric and photometric relationships for each headlamp separately; applies the human visual luminance contrast threshold database from Blackwell (Part III, 1946) adjusted by a field factor function that has been obtained from a number of pavement marking visibility field experiments; and provides retroreflectivity values for the pavement markings for any selected single-point geometry (e.g., ASTM 30-m geometry, observation angle = 1.05°, entrance angle = 88.7°). Based on the CARVE computation results, a set of in-service pavement marking retroreflectivity values are derived for fully marked, dark, straight, and dry roads using paint-and-beads pavement markings. The derived minimum retroreflectivity values for fully marked roads without raised pavement markers (RPMs) are h...
Estrogen stimulates protein tyrosine phosphorylation and Src kinase activity in avian osteoclasts.

The estrogen, 17β-estradiol, stimulated a profound increase in phosphotyrosine immunostaining of proteins that localized along the site of attachment in avian osteoclasts within 1 min of treatment. By 10 min, this rapidly occurring event had returned to basal levels. Pretreatment with 1 μM herbimycin A, a tyrosine kinase inhibitor, prevented the response. Immunoblotting revealed that Src kinase was one of the phosphorylated intermediates. Src kinase also appeared to translocate to the periphery of the cells during the 1 min 17β-estradiol treatment and became dispersed by 10 min. Src kinase activity measurements indicated an increase in phosphotransferase activity after the 1 min estradiol treatment; this effect diminished with longer exposures to estrogen. Pretreatment of osteoclasts with 1 μg/ml cytochalasin B, an inhibitor of actin polymerization, delayed the appearance of increased phosphotyrosine immunostaining at attachment sites, possibly through inhibition of Src kinase translocation. These findings demonstrate that estrogen stimulates rapid tyrosine phosphorylation in osteoclasts, a process that involves activation and translocation of Src kinase to the plasma membrane. J. Cell. Biochem. 76:206–216, 1999. © 1999 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Fever, chills, and hypotension following cardiac catheterization with single- and multiple-use disposable catheters

Recognition of pyrogen reactions in patients studied with multiple-use cardiac catheters led to recommendations regarding their cleaning and ultimately to the expensive practice of discarding catheters after a single use. Primarily because of cost considerations, our laboratory continued to clean and reuse catheters through 1981. This afforded an opportunity to assess the endemic rate of adverse reactions associated with this practice. We prospectively evaluated 341 patients who were studied with single-use or multiple-use catheters. The overall incidence of adverse reactions was: hypotension 27%, fever 3%, chills 3%, and all three 0.6%. There were no statistically significant increases in these reactions associated with the reuse of catheters. Bacterial infection did not appear responsible for these reactions, and it is possible that they were due to angiographic dye. We conclude that careful cleaning and reuse of catheters does not create an obvious increase in the risk of infection, and it appears to play a minor role, if any, in the development of other adverse reactions.
Controlling the thermal expansion anisotropy of Mo5Si3 and Ti5Si3 silicides

Abstract The coefficients of thermal expansion (CTE) of the tetragonal silicides Mo 5 Si 3 and Ti 5 Si 3 are highly anisotropic. The CTE anisotropy values, defined as the ratio of the CTEs in the c and a directions, CTE( c )/CTE( a ), are 2.0 and 2.7 for Mo 5 Si 3 and Ti 5 Si 3 , respectively. Guided by first-principles calculations by Fu et al. (Acta Mater 51 (2003) 5033), ternary and quaternary alloying additions for reducing the anisotropy were selected. The smallest anisotropy, namely, 1.16, was found for a Mo–25Nb–12.5V–37.5Si (at.%) alloy. The experimentally determined reductions in CTE( c )/CTE( a ) were not always as large as predicted because the measured site occupations of the ternary alloying elements were not as ideal as those calculated by Fu et al. Suitable alloying also reduces the CTE anisotropy of Ti 5 Si 3 , but the reduction is not nearly as large as that claimed in previous publications.
Purification and partial characterization of human angiotensinogen

Renin substrate was initially extracted from human plasma by (NH4)2SO4 followed by chromatography on Sephadex G-150, DEAE cellulose, calcium phosphate gel, isoelectric focusing and preparative polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. On the basis of one mol of angiotensin per mol of substrate, the purity of the preparation is in excess of 95%. On analytical polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in the presence of 1% sodium dodecyl sulfate or 8 M urea, the protein appears homogenous. In addition, the purified protein shows only one preciptin line against anti-normal human serum on either Ouchterlony immunodiffision or immunoelectrophoresis. The biological activity appears similar to "native" renin substrate since the Km is the same as that reported for the renin reaction in whole plasma. The molecular weight was determined as 110 000 by gel filtration and polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis; amino acid analysis of the human substrate differs from that reported for hog, especially in the Asp, Glu and Gly composition.
The 2-category of spectra in a 2-category

A theory of spectra in the setting of a general 2-category C with zeros is presented. The development closely parallels that already available in the topological setting of based spaces but requires significant modifications due to the attenuated setting. For example, even the existence of a suspension functor is not assumed. However, if C does admit a suspension functor, then a stable 2-category for C can be constructed. In the topological setting, an application of the results is made to extend the notion of W-topology, where W is a based space, as studied in [5]. Accordingly, W-topology is defined, where W is a spectrum. In the construction of both the stable 2-category and the W-topology 2-category, essential usage is made of the full image factorization of an arbitrary 2-functor.
Diffusion and Reaction Phenomena in Solution‐Based Healing of Polymer Coatings Using the Diels–Alder Reaction

The healing of a furan-functional epoxy coating using bismaleimide (BMI) solutions is demonstrated. Corrosion studies of scratched coated carbon steel show that solution healing of damaged coatings inhibits corrosion. The healing relies on (i) the diffusion of solution components into the polymer, causing the system to swell, thus bringing crack surfaces into contact, and (ii) Diels–Alder adduct formation between furan moieties of the polymer network and the maleimide, resulting in covalent bonding across the crack interface. For the system investigated, crack healing is reaction-limited for small crack widths. The results provide a guideline for the design and implementation of self-healing systems based on BMI solution encapsulation.
How rapidly and how far do neutrons migrate

Exact formulas are derived for the mean-squared displacements of neutrons from an isotropic point, line, or plane source in an infinite homogeneous medium. These displacements depend on the initial energy E0 of the neutron, the elapsed time t since the birth of the neutron, and the energy E of the neutron at time t. Our results are stated in terms of the solutions of three infinite-medium transport equations - it is not necessary to solve a space-dependent transport equation, even though the underlying transport problem is space-dependent. Also, time and energy-dependent diffusion equations are formulated, whose diffusion coefficients are chosen so that their solutions exactly preserve certain of the mean-squared displacement properties of the transport equation.
The habit of copper dendrites grown in molten thallium solutions

Abstract Copper dendrites were grown from molten thallium solutions by two cooling techniques and over a range of temperatures and cooling rates. All dendrites were faceted by {111} planes. Several different growth habits were found depending on the conditions. The effect of poisons on the growth habit was also investigated.