cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Understanding the scope of downtime threats: A scoping review of downtime-focused literature and news media

Electronic health record downtimes are any period where the computer systems are unavailable, either for planned or unexpected events. During an unexpected downtime, healthcare workers are rapidly forced to use rarely-practiced, paper-based methods for healthcare delivery. In some instances, patient safety is compromised or data exposed to parties seeking profit. This review provides a foundational perspective of the current state of downtime readiness as organizations prepare to handle downtime events. A search of technical news media related to healthcare informatics and a scoping review of the research literature were conducted. Findings ranged from theoretical exploration of downtime to empirical direct comparison of downtime versus normal operation. Overall, 166 US hospitals experienced a total of 701 days of downtime in 43 events between 2012 and 2018. Almost half (48.8%) of the published downtime events involved some form of cyber-attacks. Downtime contingency planning is still predominantly considered through a top-down organizational focus. We propose that a bottom-up approach, involving the front-line clinical staff responsible for executing the downtime procedure, will be beneficial. Significant new research support for the development of contingency plans will be needed.
Prejudice Regarding Latinx-Americans

Despite the growing immigrant and native-born Latinx population in the United States, the documentation of Latinx experiences of oppression, prejudice, and discrimination is limited in the field of clinical psychology. The lack of information on multiracial, sexual minorities, and older Latinx populations is most pronounced. This chapter focuses on the research that has been done to document the prevalence of self-perceived discrimination and the deleterious effect of microaggressions on the mental health of Latinx individuals. In addition, this chapter emphasizes the lack of Latinx representation in professional domains and the growing need for social justice training in clinical psychology graduate programs. Recommendations are provided for assessing and conceptualizing experiences of oppression, prejudice, and discrimination for Latinx populations. Furthermore, this chapter argues that other fields of psychology have developed models and guiding frameworks that can help clinical psychology become more responsive to the needs of Latinx students, faculty, and clients.
L1 vs. L2 vs. L3 transfer: Evidence contra wholesale transfer models and privileged languages from grammatical gender and definiteness acquisition in sequential quardilinguals

The acquisition of the fourth language (L4A) is an underinvestigated field, and this study of acquisition of grammatical gender and determiners in sequential quadrilinguals (RUS-UKR-ENG-FRA) of CEFR A0 to A2 levels of French (n=22) aims at testing the hypothesis that all three languages are available as a source of transfer to (L4). The results were found to be significant by ANOVAs and MANOVA, thus the study presents evidence to support the hypothesis that language learning is cumulative, as well as to scrutinize the existing models of L3A on how they could be extended to the research in L4A and what the boundaries of "linguistic proximity" used so widely in L3A theories are.
Uses of Human MR and PET Imaging in Research of Neurodegenerative Brain Diseases

In the past decades, many neuroimaging studies have aimed to improve the scientific understanding of human neurodegenerative diseases using MRI and PET. This article is designed to provide an overview of the major classes of brain imaging and how/why they are used in this line of research. It is intended as a primer for individuals who are relatively unfamiliar with the methods of neuroimaging research to gain a better understanding of the vocabulary and overall methodologies. It is not intended to describe or review any research findings for any disease or biology, but rather to broadly describe the imaging methodologies that are used in conducting this neurodegeneration research. We will also review challenges and strategies for analyzing neuroimaging data across multiple sites and studies, i.e., harmonization and standardization of imaging data for multi-site and meta-analyses.
A Sound Approach to Concrete: Transforming Concrete Through Shape and Porosity for Acoustical Reflection, Diffusion, and Absorption

The shape, interior volume, and materiality of the built environment influence occupant perception of sound. Placement and articulation of surfaces directly relate to how sound is reflected, diffus...
Endomyocardial Fibrosis Found Incidentally on Cardiac Imaging.

Endomyocardial fibrosis (EMF) is a rare disease in the developed world characterized by the fibrosis of the endocardium in one or both of the ventricles causing restrictive-type cardiomyopathy. We present a case of a 47-year-old Chinese female with a past medical history of breast cancer treated in 2014 currently on tamoxifen therapy presented to the cardiology office for multiple presyncopal and syncopal events at rest. She was found to have apical hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) on echocardiogram. Subsequently, cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (cMRI) showed severe apical hypertrophy without left ventricular aneurysm, and evidence of small apical thrombus with subendocardial enhancement. There was no resolution of the left ventricular thrombus after a year-long course of therapeutic anticoagulation, a finding more consistent with EMF. Though the diagnosis of EMF initially depends on echocardiographic findings, cMRI is an essential imaging modality that allows clinicians to easily differentiate between potential diagnoses with the information that it provides. Early diagnosis, differentiation, and treatment for HCM are important for a good prognosis.
Enabling Retargetable Optimizing Compilers for Quantum Accelerators via a Multi-Level Intermediate Representation

We present a multi-level quantum-classical intermediate representation (IR) that enables an optimizing, retargetable, ahead-of-time compiler for available quantum programming languages. To demonstrate our architecture, we leverage our proposed IR to enable a compiler for version 3 of the OpenQASM quantum language specification. We support the entire gate-based OpenQASM 3 language and provide custom extensions for common quantum programming patterns and improved syntax. Our work builds upon the Multi-level Intermediate Representation (MLIR) framework and leverages its unique progressive lowering capabilities to map quantum language expressions to the LLVM machine-level IR. We provide both quantum and classical optimizations via the MLIR pattern rewriting sub-system and standard LLVM optimization passes, and demonstrate the programmability, compilation, and execution of our approach via standard benchmarks and test cases. In comparison to other standalone language and compiler efforts available today, our work results in compile times that are 1000x faster than standard Pythonic approaches, and 5-10x faster than comparative standalone quantum language compilers. Our compiler provides quantum resource optimizations via standard programming patterns that result in a 10x reduction in entangling operations, a common source of program noise. Ultimately, we see this work as a vehicle for rapid quantum compiler prototyping enabling language integration, optimizations, and interoperability with classical compilation approaches.
Negative Emotions in Marketing Research: Affect or Artifact?

Abstract How similar are positive and negative affect? Are happiness and unhappiness opposite ends of the same continuum? Empirical marketing research generally reports separate positive and negative self-report consumer emotions. Recent research in social psychology calls this distinction into question and reasserts the bipolarity of human emotions. Despite the recent interest in consumer emotions among marketing researchers, the marketing literature has not addressed the issue directly. Two studies n = 334 and n = 335 are reported that investigate this issue. The results suggest that positive and negative consumer emotions may sometimes, but not always, be distinct, and more importantly, suggest further studies. Additionally, evidence is presented that suggests that the respondent task may moderate correlations between positive and negative consumer emotions.
Longitudinal study of changes in hip bone mineral density in Caucasian and African-American women.

Objectives: To determine whether changes in hip bone mineral density (BMD) differ in Caucasian and African American women. Design: Longitudinal study of changes in hip BMD. Setting: Four U.S. clinical centers. Participants: Six thousand seven Caucasian (mean age 73) and 482 African-American (mean age 75) women enrolled in the Study of Osteoporotic Fractures. Measurements: Total hip and femoral neck BMD were measured an average of 3.5 years apart (Caucasian) and 2.0 years apart (African American). Annual absolute and percentage changes in BMD and bone mineral apparent density (BMAD) were calculated. Results: The multivariate adjusted annual percentage change in BMD was greater in Caucasian than African-American women at the total hip (−0.574%/y vs −0.334%/y) and femoral neck (−0.515%/y vs −0.203%/y) (both, P<.001). Similar findings were observed for BMAD. The average annualized rate of BMD loss was twice as high in women aged 75 and older as in women younger than 75 in both ethnic groups. The annual percentage loss in femoral neck BMD in nonusers versus hormone therapy users was (−0.57% vs −0.22%) in Caucasians and (−0.35% vs 0.64%) in African Americans (interaction P=.03). Conclusion: The average rate of hip BMD loss is approximately twice as great in Caucasian as African-American women and increases with age in both groups. The hormonal and biochemical factors that contribute to ethnic differences and the increase in bone loss with advancing age need to be identified.
Drugs and the mechanism of insulin secretion.

Publisher Summary Although it is commonly observed that there is an absolute insulin deficiency in the late diabetic, much confusion, concerning the status of the insulin secretory mechanism of the early diabetic, has resulted from the reports of an augmented insulin response to a standard glucose tolerance test in early maturity onset diabetes. This insulin response is so characteristic of all the stages of diabetes mellitus that it is proposed that the primary lesion of diabetes is a “biochemical inertia of the pancreatic β-cell.” As it is well established, therefore, that whatever else if anything the diabetic disease state encompasses, a primary defect in the continued storage and secretion of insulin by the diabetic pancreas must be included, it is the intent of this chapter to extensively review these agents that have been found to stimulate the secretion of insulin and to discuss the possible mechanism of its normal release in the nondiabetic and abnormal release in the diabetic. Although infusions of metacholine or benthanecol induce an elevation of plasma glucose, this elevation follows the hyperinsulinemia. In vitro, cholinergic drugs stimulate insulin release from the slices of rat pancreas, an effect that is suppressed by simultaneous administration of atropine. Of additional importance is the independence of this stimulatory effect on the concentration of glucose in the medium.
A Practical Global Sensitivity Analysis Methodology for Multi-Physics Applications

This paper describes a global sensitivity analysis methodology for general multi-physics applications that are characterized by strong nonlinearities and interactions in their input-output relationships, expensive simulation runs, and large number of input parameters. We present a four-step approach consisting of (1) prescription of credible input ranges, (2) parameter screening, (3) construction of response surfaces, and (4) quantitative sensitivity analysis on the reduced set of parameters. Details of each step will be given using simple examples. Numerical results on real applications are available in another paper. Motivated by our experience with some large-scale multi-physics applications, we also propose enhancements to the various steps in the methodology for improving its robustness. The essential computational techniques targeted for this methodology have been implemented in a software package called PSUADE.
Level set segmentation of remotely sensed hyperspectral images

We present a semi-automated supervised hyperspectral image segmentation algorithm based on the level set methodology. In the proposed procedure, seed pixels are automatically selected by their similarity to the training signatures, and speed functions that control the level set propagation are created based on pixel similarity to the seed signature and class discriminator functions. Two sub images from a remotely sensed HYDICE hyperspectral image of the Washington D.C. Mall area in the U.S.A. are used to validate the algorithm. The results of the proposed algorithm are compared to the results using well-known supervised parallepiped or maximum-likelihood classification methods provided in the ERDAS Imagine software suite. The classes are grass, trees, buildings, water, paths and shadows. The results show the efficacy of the new algorithm. The contributions of the paper include: (1) successful application of the level set segmentation methodology to hyperspectral images, and (2) specification of speed functions suitable for controlling the level set propagation.
Mass spectrometric investigations of aluminum oxide reduction by gaseous aluminum carbides in electrothermal atomization

Abstract Inducement of free atom formation by reduction of oxide by carbides (ROC) was investigated experimentally using mass spectrometric techniques. The effort focuses on atomization of Al2O3, using aqueous, slurry and solitary Al-sphere samples to evaluate the ROC model. Conventional heating rates as well as the low heating rates used to evaluate the “spike” phenomenon, show relatively little Al2C2 produced during free atom formation. The more abundant, consistently observed, gaseous species were Al, Al2, and unless Al-sphere samples were used, Al2O. These were also the more abundant species contained in the “spike” profiles. The spike phenomenon is observed even for the metal samples. The observations are not attributable to an ROC mechanism as presently conceived.
Resonantly diode-pumped Er:YAG laser: 1470-nm versus 1530-nm CW pumping case

Growing interest to high power lasers in the eye-safe spectral domain initiated a new wave of activity in developing solid-state lasers based on bulk Er3+-doped materials. The resonant pumping of SSL allows for shifting significant part of thermal load from gain medium itself to the pump diodes, thus greatly reducing gain medium thermal distortions deleterious to SSL power scaling with high beam quality. The two major resonant pumping bands in Er:YAG are centered around 1470 and 1532 nm. Pumping into each of these bands has its pros and contras. The best approach to resonant pumping of Er:YAG active media in terms of pump wavelength is yet to be determined. We report the investigation results of high power diode-pumped Er:YAG laser aimed at direct comparison of resonant pumping at 1470 and 1532 nm. Two sources used for pumping were: 1530-nm 10-diode bar stack (>300 W CW) and 1470-nm 10-diode bar stack (>650 W CW). Both pumps were spectrally narrowed by external volume Bragg gratings. The obtained spectral width of less than 1 nm allowed for 'in-line' pumping of Er3+ in either band. The obtained CW power of over 87 W is, to the best of our knowledge, the record high power reported for resonantly pumped Er:YAG DPSSL at room temperature.
Sketching intelligent systems

Looks at one aspect of the trend toward more natural forms of interaction: the use of sketch-based interfaces for the design of intelligent systems. The authors contend that current computer interfaces are too formal and precise for creative tasks such as design. When working out ideas and brainstorming, people often sketch their thoughts informally on paper and whiteboards. Sketches, by their very informality, invite collaboration and modification, but after sketches are done on paper they must be transferred to the computer for further processing. Why not use a computer for the sketching process itself? There is an inherent contradiction in today's sketching programs-users select graphical primitives from a palette, resulting in clean, precise-looking diagrams despite the fact that only a sketch was intended. This leads to a feeling of commitment to the sketch as originally formulated, as opposed to the invitation to adjust and change that is normally associated with sketches. By contrast, the authors describe sketch-based user interfaces that honor the informal nature of the sketch and allow users to switch easily and naturally between sketchy, informal prototypes and precise, formal reifications of designs. Sketches are used for the design of user interfaces, mechanical devices and Web pages, to retrieve images from a large collection and to specify parameters for simulations.
Breastfeeding among high-risk inner-city African-American mothers: a risky choice?

Abstract Objective: This study identified barriers to breastfeeding among high-risk inner-city African-American mothers. Subjects and Methods: We used audiotaped focus groups moderated by an experienced International Board Certified Lactation Consultant, with recruitment supported by the community partner MomsFirst™ (Cleveland Department of Public Health, Cleveland, OH). Institutional Review Board approval and written informed consent were obtained. Notes-based analysis was conducted with use of a prior analytic structure called Factors Influencing Beliefs (FIBs), redefined with inclusion/exclusion criteria to address breastfeeding issues. Results: Three focus groups included 20 high-risk inner-city expectant and delivered mothers. Relevant FIBs domains were as follows: Risk Appraisal, Self Perception, Relationship Issues/Social Support, and Structural/Environmental Factors. Risk Appraisal themes included awareness of benefits, fear of pain, misconceptions, and lack of information. Self Perception themes ...
Simulation of soft recovery in Si pin rectifiers with ultra-shallow p+ emitters

Ultra-shallow (<500 /spl Aring/) p/sup +/-emitters in Si pin rectifiers are shown via numerical simulation to reduce the need for lifetime killing in order to obtain soft recovery. This benefit is especially pronounced at elevated operating temperatures.
Pandora's box reopened? The assessment of social skills

Social skills are viewed as an organizing principle for relating a variety of superficially dissimilar behaviors under a single megaconstruct. The underlying theme of this article is that since social skills are a megaconstruct we must be constantly vigilant lest we begin to regard them as a static, invariant dispositional-trait-like unit. Within this context, various theoretical-definitional issues are discussed and reduction of these issues is urged for any particular assessment task if adequate assessment is to be achieved. Social skills are viewed as response capabilities inferred from performance. Since performance is influenced by other parameters (e.g., cognitive factors — emotional states), these other parameters may need to be measured depending on the assessment task. The advantages and disadvantages of both molar unit and molecular unit recording of social skills are discussed. It is concluded that neither type of unit should be regarded as the “proper” measurement unit. The “proper” unit size is an empirical question which may differ as a function of the assessment task. An analogy is provided regarding the assessment of the megaconstruct of intelligence. It is hoped that we can profit from an examination of the strategies employed in intellectual assessment. Behavior assessors are urged to refamiliarize themselves with various psychometric theories and strategies to increase their methodological sophistication with respect to the assessment of social skills.
Use of Resampling to Evaluate a Simple Random Sampling Design for General Monitoring of Fishes in Texas Reservoirs

Abstract Traditional formulae used to estimate sample sizes to achieve a desired level of precision have been proven to underestimate required sample sizes. Further, because these formulae typically focus on precision, they are unable to provide the information needed to evaluate the risk of not attaining other sampling objectives. Resampling approaches provide a framework for estimating realistic sample sizes, can handle complex objectives, and will provide probability-based statements that can be used to assess risk. We used a resampling approach to assess the performance of a simple random sampling design for the general monitoring of fishes with electrofishing, gill nets, and trap nets in Texas reservoirs. We evaluated median relative standard error (RSE = 100 × SE of the estimate/estimate) of catch-per-unit-effort (CPUE) estimates of stock length fish with current sampling methods. We estimated the effort necessary to achieve RSEs of (at worst) 25% or 15% (RSE25 and RSE15, respectively) at various pr...
Resistance exercise training restores bone mineral density in heart transplant recipients

Abstract Objectives. This was a prospective, randomized, controlled study designed to determine the effect of resistance exercise traning on bone metabolism in heart transplant recipients. Background. Osteoporosis frequently complicates heart transplantation. No preventative strategy is generally accepted for glucocorticoid-induced bone loss. Methods. Sixteen male heart transplant recipients were randomly assigned to a resistance exercise group that trained for 6 months (mean [±SD] age 56 ± 6 years) or a control group (mean age 52 ± 10 years) that did not perform resistance exercise. Bone mineral density (BMD) of the total body, femur neck and lumbar spine (L2 to L3) was measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry before and 2 months after transplantation and after 3 and 6 months of resistance exercise or a control period. The exercise regimen consisted of lumbar extension exercise (MedX) performed 1 day/week and variable resistance exercises (Nautilus) performed 2 days/week. Each exercise consisted of one set of 10 to 15 repetitions performed to volitional fatigue. Results. Pretransplantation baseline values for regional BMD did not differ in the control and training groups. Bone mineral density of the total body, femur neck and lumbar vertebra (L2 to L3) were significantly decreased below baseline at 2 months after transplantation in both the control (−3.3 ± 1.3%, − 4.5 ± 2.8%, −12.7 ± 6.2%, respectly) and training groups (−2.9 ± 1.1%, 5.9 ± 3.2%, −14.8 ± 3.1%, respectively). Six months of resistance exercise restored BMD of the whole body, femur neck and lumbar vertebra to within 1%, 1.9% and 3.6% of pretransplantation levels, respectively. Bone mineral density of the control group remained unchanged from the 2-month posttransplantation levels. Conclusions. Within 2 months after heart transplantation, ≈ 3% of whole-body BMD is lost, mostly due to decreases in trabecular bone (−12% to −15% of lumbar vertebra). Six months of resistance exercise, consisting of low back exercise that isolates the lumbar spine and a regimen of variable resistance exercises, restores BMD toward pretransplantation levels. Our results suggest that resistance exercise is osteogenic and should be initiated early after heart transplantation.
Energy doubler for a linear collider

At 2 miles long and 50 GeV, the Stanford Linear Collider (SLC) is the highest energy linear accelerator in the world, and the only linear collider. Along with the Large Electron Positron Collider (LEP) at CERN, it has succeeded in unveiling much of the detailed physics of the standard model of elementary particles and fields. However, the Higgs boson and the ultimate test of the standard model appear now to lie above 100 GeV and therefore out of the reach of the SLC. The results of the last runs of LEP were suggestive of the fact that the discovery of the Higgs may have been just beyond the reach of that machine [1,2]. In this report, we describe a scenario for doubling the energy of a collider by using a plasma wake field accelerator section several meters long placed at the end of each beam line just before the collision point. Such a doubling scheme could be used to extend the high-energy physics reach of the SLC or a future linear collider. The concept of a plasma wake field accelerator has received considerable attention recently [3‐ 7]. In a plasma wake field accelerator, the space charge of a particle bunch displaces the electrons of a preformed quiescent plasma to produce a large plasma wake field that can accelerate a subsequent bunch at a very high rate. In this report, 3D simulation models are used to show that the amplitude of the accelerating wake scales with the inverse square of the bunch length and that this scaling continues to hold for parameters far exceeding the linear theory from which it is derived. This leads us to propose the concept of a plasma afterburner — a specifically designed plasma that accelerates as well as focuses each beam from a linear collider in a single, short, final stage. Finally, we outline the critical issues that remain to be addressed in order to realize this concept. The afterburner concept is illustrated schematically in Fig. 1. Electrons and positrons are accelerated to the collider’s nominal operating energy (e.g., 50 GeV for the SLC example), overcompressed to form two microbunches each, then the trailing half-bunches are doubled in energy over a few meters in the plasma afterburner. To sustain the luminosity at the interaction point (IP) at the nominal level of the original collider without the plasma, the reduction in number of particles must be offset by a smaller spot size at the IP. Reduction of the spot size is possible in the strong focusing fields of the plasma; thus, higher density plasma lenses are added to the design just before the interaction point. To guide the discussion of the simulations to follow, we begin by reviewing key features of plasma wake field excitation in linear theory [8]. The linear response of a plasma to a Gaussian bunch is optimized when the plasma density no is chosen such that the bunch length and plasma wavelength are matched; more precisely, for kpsz p 2,
Psychoanalysis and theology: Two dialectics

In the vocabulary of psychoanalysis, “health” means something roughly correlative to “salvation” in the vocabulary of theology. Both health and salvation assume some manner of change from a previous pathological or doomed state. Against this background this paper seeks to delineate two different possible models of change: One in which realityper se is changed as opposed to one in which theperception of reality is changed. In theology, the former can be represented by Paul and the latter by John. In psychoanalysis, Freud represented each point of view in his structural and topographical paradigms respectively. In contemporary psychoanalytical therapy, Otto Kernberg represents the former and Jacques Lacan the latter.
Application of the generalized maximum likelihood criterion to evaluation of partial fringe orders in photoelasticity

Partial fringe orders can be extracted from photographic negatives of photoelastic fringes with reasonable accuracy. The accuracy can be improved by prefogging the film and adjusting the exposure so that saturation does not occur.
ReO3 Band Structure in the Tight-Binding Approximation

Using tight-binding, LCAO methodology, a formal band structure scheme has been specified for the ReO3 structure based on the use of 2s and 2p orbitals for oxygen and of 5d, 6s, and 6p orbitals for rhenium. The scheme should also be useful in the characterization of band structures for perovskites in general. Two sets of sufficient conditions have been found under which the secular determinant reduces to two special cases: one corresponding to a model previously considered by Goodenough and the other to a model considered by Kahn and Leyendecker. The nature of the approximation schemes is discussed in some detail.
Inflammatory cap polyposis in a 42-year-old male

INTRODUCTION Inflammatory cap polyposis (CP) is an uncommon, non-malignant condition whose pathogenesis is poorly understood. Initial presentation of CP may mimic other gastrointestinal conditions like inflammatory bowel disease, pseudomembranous colitis, irritable bowel syndrome, and colon cancer.
Distance, Production, Virtual Trade and Growth: A Note

This paper argues that distance is not necessarily harmful to trade. It is shown that there may be an increase in the production and volume of trade if time zones of the trading nations are non-overlapping. This implies a positive effect of distance on the volume of trade in general and virtual trade in particular. It is also shown that exploitation of time zone differences raises welfare and ensures capital accumulation. The paper builds on the emerging literature on time zones and pure theory of international trade.
Evaluating multi-port frame buffer designs for a mesh-connected multicomputer

Multicomputers can be effectively used for interactive graphics rendering only if there are mechanisms available to rapidly composite and transfer images to an external display device. One method for achieving the necessary bandwidth for this operation is to provide multiple high-bandwidth ports into a frame buffer. In this paper, we evaluate the design space of a multiport frame buffer design for the Intel Paragon mesh routing network. We use an instrumented rendering system to capture the graphics operations needed for rendering a number of three-dimensional scenes; we then use those workloads as input to test programs running on the Paragon to estimate the performance of our hardware. Our experiments consider three major design questions: how many network ports the frame buffer needs, whether Z-Buffering should be done in hardware on the frame buffer or in software on the computing nodes, and whether the design alternatives are scalable.
Deposition and characterization of SiC and cordierite thin films grown by pulsed laser evaporation

Thin films of SiC and cordierite were deposited on Si (100) by pulsed laser evaporation (PLE) technique at various substrate temperatures. Auger, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and grazing incidence X-ray diffraction were used to investigate the stoichiometry, chemistry, and structure of the PLE-deposited films. The results indicate that properties of SiC films were affected by the substrate temperature. The SiC films grown at 25 °C were amorphous and were a physical mixture of silicon, carbon and very little SiC. The films deposited at 500 and 900 °C substrate temperature were polycrystalline SiC. The as-deposited cordierite films were stoichiometric crystalline.
Annular Ringlike Arrays from Mixtures of Metal Nanoparticles

We describe a theory for hole nucleation in volatile, wetting, thin liquid films. Hole nucleation in this system can occur due to two independent driving forces: evaporation (volatile hole nucleation) and by disjoining pressure effects (non-volatile hole nucleation). Although a concerted combination of these two can be in effect, the cases are treated separately here and will be treated jointly in the context of a simulation elsewhere. Growing holes – dry areas of the solid surface which are otherwise wet by solvent – are conjectured to be responsible for the formation of close-packed 2D annular ringlike arrays from dilute solutions of nearly monodisperse, large (3–5nm diameter), organically passivated metal particles [1]. When organic solutions of these nanoparticles are evaporated on a solid carbon substrate (a TEM grid), the resulting sub-monolayer structures are annular ringlike arrays due to the pinning of the rim of an opening hole by a sufficient collection of particles.
Diagnostic yield of array comparative genomic hybridization in adults with autism spectrum disorders.

Array comparative genomic hybridization is available for the evaluation of autism spectrum disorders. The diagnostic yield of testing is 5–18% in children with developmental disabilities, including autism spectrum disorders and multiple congenital anomalies. The yield of array comparative genomic hybridization in the adult autism spectrum disorder population is unknown. We performed a retrospective chart review for 40 consecutive patients referred for genetic evaluation of autism from July 2009 through April 2012. Four pediatric patients were excluded. Medical history and prior testing were reviewed. Clinical genetic evaluation and testing were offered to all patients. The study population comprised 36 patients (age range 18–45, mean 25.3 years). An autism spectrum disorder diagnosis was confirmed in 34 of 36 patients by medical record review. One patient had had an abnormal karyotype; none had prior array comparative genomic hybridization testing. Of the 23 patients with autism who underwent array comparative genomic hybridization, 2 of 23 (8.7%) had pathogenic or presumed pathogenic abnormalities and 2 of 23 (8.7%) had likely pathogenic copy-number variants. An additional 5 of 23 (22%) of autism patients had variants of uncertain significance without subclassification. Including one patient newly diagnosed with fragile X syndrome, our data showed abnormal or likely pathogenic findings in 5 of 24 (21%) adult autism patients. Genetic reevaluation in adult autism patients is warranted. Genet Med 16 1 70–77.
Relationship of work injury severity to family member hospitalization.

Background Working while under stress due to a family health event may result in injuries of greater severity. Work leave might mitigate such consequences. Data and Methods Workers' compensation data for 33,817 injured workers and inpatient medical data for 76,077 members of their families were extracted from the 2002–2005 Thomson Reuters Medstat MarketScan Health and Productivity Management (HPM) and Commercial Claims and Encounter (CCE) datasets. Using a probit model, the impact of family hospitalization on the probability that a subsequent injury would be severe (above average indemnity costs) was estimated, adjusting for age, sex, hourly versus salaried status, industry sector, state, and family size. Results Family hospitalization within 15 days before injury increased the likelihood that the injury would be severe (from 12.5% to 21.5%) and was associated with 40% higher indemnity costs and 50% higher medical costs. Hospitalizations over 30 days before injury had no impact. Conclusion The observed higher severity of work injuries following family hospitalizations suggests additional analyses may find higher injury rates as well, and that timely family leaves might help prevent severe workplace injuries. Am. J. Ind. Med. 53:506–513, 2010. © 2010 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Identification of gingipain‐specific I‐Ab‐restricted CD4+ T cells following mucosal colonization with Porphyromonas gingivalis in C57BL/6 mice

Chronic periodontitis is associated with Porphyromonas gingivalis infection. Although virulence factors of P. gingivalis are hypothesized to contribute to the pathogenesis of periodontitis, it is unclear whether the local CD4(+) T-cell-mediated response they elicit prevents or contributes to periodontal bone destruction. We hypothesize that major histocompatibility complex class II I-A(b) -binding peptides existing in Kgp and RgpA are presented to CD4(+) T cells during P. gingivalis oral colonization. The protein sequences of gingipains RgpA and Kgp, and OMP40 and OMP41 of P. gingivalis were scanned using an I-A(b) -binding matrix. From this analysis we identified 53 candidate peptides that had the potential to engage the peptide-binding groove of the I-A(b) molecule of C57BL/6 mice. An ELISpot-based screen revealed those peptide-primed effector/memory CD4(+) T cells that could be re-stimulated in vitro with P. gingivalis or the peptide itself to produce interleukin-17A or interferon-γ. Two immunodominant peptides, Kgp467-477 (pKgp) and RgpA1054-1064 /Kgp1074-1084 (pR/Kgp) were identified and engineered to be displayed on I-A(b) molecular tetramers. Peptide pR/Kgp is conserved across all sequenced P. gingivalis strains. C57BL/6 mice were orally inoculated with P. gingivalis strain 53977 and cervical lymph node cells were stained with phycoerythrin-conjugated pKgp::I-A(b) and pR/Kgp::I-A(b) tetramers. We found that only pR/Kgp::I-A(b) bound with the desired specificity to gingipain-specific CD4(+) T cells. The pR/Kgp::I-A(b) tetramer complex will allow the identification of effector/memory CD4(+) T cells specific for two virulence factors of P. gingivalis strains associated with periodontal disease.
“Errorless” elimination of separation anxiety: A case study

Abstract Intense and persistent separation anxiety in a 4-yr-old child was eliminated using differential reinforcement of other behavior and stimulus fading. After differentially reinforcing the child for non-anxious behavior by having the mother reappear, the interval between the mother's disappearance and subsequent reappearance was gradually increased. This resulted in a gradual fading of the mother from the situation. The procedure was accomplished in a total of 17 hr, during which only 10 min of anxious behavior was observed. The problem was completely eliminated and showed no signs of recurrence over the subsequent 6 months.
Leukemogenicity of moloney murine leukemia viruses carrying polyoma enhancer sequences in the long terminal repeat is dependent on the nature of the inserted polyoma sequences

Abstract The leukomogenicity of Moloney murine leukemia virus (M-MuLV) variants with chimeric long terminal repeats (LTRs) containing sequences from polyomavirus was studied. We previously showed that insertion of the B enhancer element from the PyF101 variant into the M-MuLV LTR between the M-MuLV enhancers and promoter abolished leukemogenicity. PyF101 differs from wild-type polyoma in that it can productively infect undifferentiated F9 embryonal carcinoma cells; this is due to alterations in the B enhancer element. Two additional chimeric M-MuLVs were generated that contained the B enhancers from wild-type polyoma and also from a second host range variant (PyF441), which differs from wild-type polyoma by only a single base change. In contrast to Mo+PyF101 M-MuLV, both Mo+Pywt and Mo+PyF441 M-MuLV induced T-lymphoid leukemia in neonatal NIH Swiss mice with the same time course as wild-type M-MuLV. Thus the lack of leukemogenicity of Mo+PyF101 M-MuLV was related to the exact nature of the PyF101 B enhancers. While both Mo+Pywt and Mo+PyF441 M-MuLVs induced leukemia, they showed differences when the resulting tumors were examined. First, approximately one-third of the tumors induced by Mo+Pywt M-MuLV contained proviruses which lacked polyoma sequences, while all of the tumors induced by Mo+PyF441 M-MuLV contained proviruses with the chimeric LTR. Second, a majority of tumors induced by Mo+Pywt M-MuLV (and also wild-type, M-MuLV) showed proviral integrations near one or more of the cellular c-myc, pim-1, or pvt-1 loci. In contrast, tumors induced by Mo+PyF441 M-MuLV showed infrequent integrations at these loci
Partial rupture of the distal biceps tendon.

Rupture of the distal biceps tendon is a relatively uncommon injury. Roentgenograms often demonstrate osseous changes at the raidal tuberosity consistent with the degenerative tendon changes seen at the time of surgical repair. Partial rupture of the distal biceps tendon exhibits features similar to
Relative abundance of monovalent and divalent cations and the impact of desiccation on geosynthetic clay liners.

Laboratory experiments were conducted on a geosynthetic clay liner (GCL) containing Na–bentonite to determine how the swell index and hydraulic conductivity of GCLs are affected by wet-dry cycling with solutions having different relative abundance of monovalent and multivalent cations. Relative abundance of monovalent and multivalent cations was characterized by the RMD of the test solution, which is defined as the ratio of the total molarity of monovalent cations to the square root of the total molarity of multivalent cations at a given ionic strength. RMD was found to control the final swell index, relative abundance of monovalent and divalent cations in the final exchange complex, and the final hydraulic conductivity of bentonite exposed to wet-dry cycling. Ionic strength affects the number of wet-dry cycles required for a change in hydraulic conductivity to occur and the rate of change in swell index. Large increases in hydraulic conductivity and loss of swelling capacity occurred for solutions having...
Cortisol enhancement of PTH-stimulated cyclic AMP accumulation in cultured fetal rat long bone rudiments.

Cortisol in concentrations from 10 nM to 10 µM produced a dose-related inhibition of basal and PTH1-stimulated45Ca and [3H]-hydroxyproline release from cultured fetal rat forelimb rudiments. PTH-stimulated cyclic AMP generation however was not diminished by cortisol; in contrast, at a concentration of 1 µM cortisol produced a 57% increase in PTH-stimulated bone cyclic AMP content. The stimulatory effect of cortisol on cyclic AMP content appeared to be the result of reduced phosphodiesterase activity, since this effect was not seen in the presence of 10 mM theophylline. It is concluded that cortisol inhibition of PTH-induced resorption in long bones is not accompanied by reduced cyclic AMP generation.
Structures and energies of seleno derivatives of biuret.Ab Initio comparative studies of diselenobiuret, selenobiuret, and selenothiobiuret

Ab initio studies (LCAO-MO method) on conformers of three seleno derivatives of the biuret molecules diselenobiuret [I], selenobiuret [II], and selenothiobiuret [III] were carried out at the Hartree-Fock (HF) and MP2 levels. The molecular geometries of these species were fully optimized at the HF level and characterized by analysis of the harmonic vibrational frequencies using a split-valence triple-zeta basis set augmented by a set ofd polarization functions on heavy atoms andp polarization functions on hydrogen atoms [TZP(d, p)]. The total energies of the HF-optimized structures were calculated at the MP2 (frozen core) level using a larger TZP (2df, 2pd) basis set. The potential energy searches revealed a total of 11 minimum-energy conformers (assigned astrans-trans, trans-cis, cis-trans, andcis-cis) and seven transition-state species for the title molecules. The two predicted conformers for diselenobiuret (Ia=trans-trans andIc=cis-cis) are characterized byC2 and the third byCs symmetry. For selenothiobiuret two forms (IIIa=trans-trans andIIId=cis-cis) possessC1 and two (IIIb=trans-cis andIIIc=cis-trans) possessCs symmetries, respectively. For selenobiuret, four formsIIa=trans-trans (C1),IIb=trans-cis (Cs),IIc=cis-trans (C1), andIId=cis-cis (C1), were obtained as a result of gradient optimization. Comparison of the relative energies for the considered species indicated that thecis-trans forms are the most stable conformations for all three systems at both the HF and MP2 levels of theory.
INFECTION, GROWTH, AND COMMUNITY-LEVEL CONSEQUENCES OF A DIATOM PATHOGEN IN A SONORAN DESERT STREAM1

We describe effect of a pathogen that spread through a dense, rapidly growing, benthic diatom community during two infection periods (February and mid-April 1991) in Sycamore Creek, Arizona. Infected areas appeared as gray rings within a matrix of healthy diatom growth and spread rapidly, eventually covering all benthic substrata and causing algal sloughing (within 2 wk in February and 1 wk in April). Examination of algal material with transmission electron microscopy revealed the presence of invasive bacteria within diatom cells from infected areas, suggesting a pathogenic bacterium as the most probable cause of this phenomenon. Infected area supported lower chlorophyll a concentrations and contained higher percentages of diatom cells with fragmented or reduced chloroplasts than uninfected areas. Spread of the pathogen appeared to be linked most strongly with diatom densities. The infection spread most rapidly in April, when cell densities were highest, and decimated all diatom species populations. The February infection was more species-specific in its action, affecting large motile and rosetteforming taxa more strongly than small, adnate diatoms. This latter group likely resided at the base of communities and may have been buffered from pathogen transfer by mucilage and/or dentrital particles. Consequently, relative abundance of small, adnate diatom taxa increased in algal communities as a result of the February infection. Pathogen-induced alteration of diatom species composition and abundance should influence primary production in this ecosystem and affect the dynamics of organisms that exploit algae as a resource.
Body size as a determinant of the 1-h cycling record at sea level and altitude

This study was designed to validate models for predicting the two Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) classifications for the 1-h cycling record at sea level and altitude. Specific attention was paid to the integration of model components that were sensitive to scaling differences in body mass (mb). The Modern Aero Position model predicted UCI Best Hour performances using predictions of total projected frontal area (AP) that included use of an aerodynamic bicycle and aerodynamic handlebars. The Traditional Racing Position model predicted UCI Hour Record performances using predictions of total AP that include use of a “Merckx-era” bicycle with drop-style handlebars. Prediction equations for AP, as well as the coefficient of drag and metabolic power output , involved scaling relationships with mb, while other model components were similar to previously published 1-h models. Both models were solved for the distance cycled in 1 h (DHR) using an iterative strategy. Chris Boardman’s current records for the UCI Best Hour Performance (56.375 km) and the UCI Hour Record (49.202 km) were underpredicted by only 0.332 km (-0.6%) and 0.239 km (-0.5%). Both models, regardless of altitude, suggested that DHR should scale with mb to the +0.174 power (DHR∝mb+0.174), which is lower than the +0.32 exponent recently suggested in the literature. Lastly, the same models also predicted that six-time Tour de France winner, Lance Armstrong, could exceed both of Boardman’s current records at sea level by about 2.0 km.
The calcium concentration clamp: spikes and reversible pulses using the photolabile chelator DM-nitrophen

New procedures are described for producing brief transients and reversible elevations in [Ca] that can be used to quantitatively control the concentration of cytoplasmic calcium. If the photolabile calcium chelator DM-nitrophen, partially bound to calcium, is exposed to steady illumination, [Ca] can be raised from a few nM to up to 10 microM for durations of 100 ms or longer, depending on light intensity and duration. An association rate of calcium with nitrophen of 1.5 x 10(6) M-1s-1 was estimated from measurements of [Ca] using the fluorescent indicator Fluo-3, and calcium was found to speed the photolysis of nitrophen 2.5-times. Partial photolysis of DM-nitrophen partly loaded with calcium elicits a [Ca] spike of over 100 microM lasting about 1 ms, depending on intensity and duration of the light flash. Simulations of the reactions involved predict changes in Fluo-3 fluorescence measured at high time resolution with a laser scanning confocal microscope. These procedures have been applied in physiological experiments to generate cytoplasmic [Ca] spikes and pulses and study the cellular responses to them.
An oscillating solution for the porous medium equation

with initial condition in L”(R), which did not stabilize at x = 0. This indicated that the mechanism of diffusion in the equation of heat conduction is not sufficiently strong to smooth out highly nonuniform, albeit bounded, distributions of initial data. Later on, Repnikov and Eidelman [20], [21] gave necessary and sufficient conditions for stabilization of solutions of certain parabolic equations, including (1.3). Their result stated that within the class of uniformly bounded solutions one has