cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Behavioral and physiological effects of deep pressure on children with autism: a pilot study evaluating the efficacy of Grandin's Hug Machine.

OBJECTIVE One symptom common to many persons with autism is a high arousal or anxiety level. This study investigated the effects of deep pressure on arousal and anxiety reduction in autism with Grandin's Hug Machine, a device that allows self-administration of lateral body pressure. METHOD Twelve children with autism were randomly assigned to either an experimental group (receiving deep pressure) or a placebo group (not receiving deep pressure but in the disengaged Hug Machine). All children received two 20-min sessions a week over a 6-week period. Arousal was measured behaviorally with the Conners Parent Rating Scale and physiologically with galvanic skin response (GSR) readings. RESULTS Behavioral results indicated a significant reduction in tension and a marginally significant reduction in anxiety for children who received the deep pressure compared with the children who did not. Additionally, children in the experimental group, whose GSR measures decreased, on average, after deep pressure, were somewhat more likely to have higher GSR arousal a priori. CONCLUSION These preliminary findings support the hypothesis that deep pressure may have a calming effect for persons with autism, especially those with high levels of arousal or anxiety.
Leiomyosarcoma of the adrenal vein: a novel approach to surgical resection.

Background Leiomyosarcomas typically originate within smooth muscle cells. Leiomyosarcomas arising from the adrenal vein are rare malignancies associated with delayed diagnosis and poor prognosis. The most common vascular site of origin is the inferior vena cava.
Bladder hematoma after vaginal paracentesis

Puncture of the bladder wall with a 17-gauge needle is usually safe; however, in the patient on anticoagulation, inadvertent puncture of the bladder could result in bladder hematoma formation.
Gold plated shovels with rope handles: cognitive issues in display design and a case for performance testing

System performance is often described in terms MIPS, MFLOPS, IO bus speed, etc. However, these dimensions are not very useful in characterizing overall system performance when part of the system is not silicon based (e.g., when there is a human user). Thus in wishing to address overall system performance in man-machine systems we must toss the user into the fray. How should this be done? Often, we just ask users how they like the particular configuration. We have, after all, been inculcated with the dictum, "honor thy user", and it is not far from that pronouncement to, "the user knows best". Thus if the user is happy we can expect optimal system performance. Or can we? This paper focuses on the importance of acknowledging general quirky human behavior in the design and evaluation of computer displays.
LOOPING BEHAVIOR OF ARCHES USING COROTATIONAL FINITE ELEMENT

Abstract Buckling of arches is studied using a corotational finite element model in conjunction with a modified Riks-Wempner technique. The corotational formulation allows for separation of rigid body displacements from deformation displacements of the element. The program can equally be applied to rigid or prestressed arches, as it takes into account the sequential fabrication of stressed (i.e. prebuckled) arches. Looping paths tracing nonlinear response of arches have been successfully obtained for several cases, including rigid and prestressed elastica arches with both symmetric and asymmetric modes of buckling. Comparisons are made with the results for prestressed arches using shooting method, and with the benchmark results for various rigid arches using discrete element method. When compared to a discrete element technique, the present method appears to be more cost-effective, as a finite element mesh with 60% fewer elements can result in virtually the same degree of accuracy.
Importance of Structure and Organization for the Chemical Reactions in Excitable Membranes

During the last decades biochemistry has seen exciting advances in many directions. One common factor, which became apparent in many areas of research, is the extraordinary importance of structure and organization for the chemical reactions taking place in cells. This factor was understood poorly, or not at all, in the era of classical biochemistry. Among the topics which have moved into the center of biological interest in recent years are the cell membranes. Two reasons are responsible: firstly, membranes turned out to be the site of many of the most vital functions of living cells; secondly, they offer a great challenge to the ingenuity of biochemists and physicochemists to analyze the interactions between proteins and proteins, proteins and phospholipids, and between other components within a tightly organized structure. As an illustration of the complexity of membranes and the progress achieved in their analysis, two models are given: that proposed about twelve years ago by Robertson [1], and the recent model of the inner mitochondrial membrane as proposed by Sjoestrand and Barajas [2], Fig. 1).
Return Levels of Northern Great Plains Snow Water Equivalents

Abstract This paper estimates return levels of extreme snow water equivalents (SWE) in the northern Great Plains region, containing North and South Dakota, Iowa, Minnesota, and Nebraska. The return levels are estimated from extreme-value methods using a new hybrid SWE dataset that improves the spatial resolution of existing data in the area. A novel aspect of the methods is the use of standard error margins to spatially smooth the estimated SWE return levels computed on individual grid cells. The end product is a reliable return-level estimate that controls for uncertainties in the raw observations. The methods should prove useful in analyses of other geographical regions.
Loaded shortening and power output in cardiac myocytes are dependent on myosin heavy chain isoform expression

The purpose of this study was to examine the role of myosin heavy chain (MHC) in determining loaded shortening velocities and power output in cardiac myocytes. Cardiac myocytes were obtained from e...
From the Gate-Control Theory to Brain Programs for Neonatal Pain

Large numbers of low-birthweight (LBW) and preterm neonates are born in developed and underdeveloped countries each year [1], and many of them are extremely premature (<1500 g). For their normal, routine care it may be necessary for these infants to undergo repeated or prolonged exposure to stress, pain, and maternal separation in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). At this stage, the brain’s architecture and vasculature are very immature, and these neonates can only survive because of improved obstetric and neonatal care [1]. Despite an increasing survival rate, preterm infants develop a high prevalence of cognitive deficits, learning difficulties, and abnormal behaviors during their early childhood and primary school years. Multiple follow-up studies of ex-preterm neonates have reported neurodevelopmental deficits [2, 3, 4], with needs for special assistance [5] and increasing burdens for health care and society [6].
SHP-1 regulates neuroinvasion of neurotropic virus into the CNS (VIR5P.1035)

Viral infections in the central nervous system (CNS) may have devastating clinical consequences to the host. Neurotropic virus infections often begin in peripheral tissues, which then spread to the CNS via peripheral nerves following entry into nerve terminals by receptor-mediated endocytosis and subsequent retrograde axonal transport into the CNS compartment. In our lab, a possible novel role for the protein tyrosine phosphatase, SHP-1, in regulating neuroinvasion via peripheral nerves of a neurotropic virus (Theiler’s Murine Encephalomyelitis Virus, TMEV) is being investigated. Preliminary data using immunohistochemistry of TMEV showed extensive staining of spinal cord neurons after intraperitoneal inoculation in mice with a null mutation in the SHP-1 gene (me/me mice) compared to wild type mice. Further, intramuscular (IM) inoculations of TMEV caused virus infection in spinal cord neurons and subsequent paralysis of SHP-1-deficient mice but not of wild type mice. IM and intraperitoneal injections (IP) of retrograde axonal transport tracers fluorogold and horseradish peroxidase showed increased tracer levels in the spinal cords of SHP-1-deficient mice compared to wild type mice. Therefore, we propose SHP-1 may play a role in regulating viral neuroinvasion by controlling retrograde axonal transport from peripheral sites of infection. In this sense, SHP-1 may play novel roles in antiviral responses including inhibition of virus invasion and spreading in the CNS.
Effect of Infrared on Tissue Temperature Gradient as Influenced by Pigment

Determinations of the temperature gradients1 from the surface of the skin to a depth of 16 mm. in 7 subjects with skin pigment types ranging from blond to negro, before, during and after exposure to varying quantities and wave bands of infrared radiation, indicate that the rise in temperature on the surface is proportional to the quantity of radiant energy and independent of wave length, between 0.75μ, and longer than 5.0μ, and the amount of natural skin pigment.2 The wave lengths of infrared used were broad bands 0.75μ to 3.0μ, 1.4μ to 5.0μ, 1.4μ to longer than 5.0μ, 3.0μ to longer than 5.0μ and the quantities varied from 0.25 to 1.6 gm. cal. per sq. cm. per min.3That there is no relation between the degree of natural pigmentation and the tissue temperatures during infrared irradiation is illustrated by experiments summarized in Table I, which shows tissue temperatures after 5-minute exposures to 1.0 gm. cal. per sq. cm. per min. of infrared (wave length 1.4 to longer than 5.0μ). The differences between ...
Selective Surfaces: High-Surface-Area Zinc Tin Sulfide Chalcogels

Porous zinc tin sulfide aerogel materials were constructed by metathesis reactions between Zn(acac)2·H2O and tetrahedral thiostannate cluster salts containing discrete [SnS4]4-, [Sn2S6]4-, and [Sn4S10]4- units. Self-assembly reactions of the Zn2+ linker and anionic thiostannate clusters yielded polymeric random Zn/Sn/S networks with gelation properties. Supercritical drying of the gels and solvent/counterion removal resulted in a metal sulfur framework. Zn2SnxS2x+2 (x = 1, 2, 4) aerogels showed high surface areas (363−520 m2/g) and pore volumes (1.1−1.5 cm3/g), and wide bandgap energies (2.8−3.2 eV). Scanning and transmission electron microscopy studies show the pores are micro- (d 50 nm) regions. The zinc chalcogenide aerogels also possess high affinities toward soft heavy metals and reversible absorption of strong electron-accepting molecules.
Demographics, response, and overall survival of patients with advanced renal cell cancer to sunitinib in a cohort of minority patient population

e16164 Background: Sunitinib is a tyrosine kinase inhibitor active in renal cell cancer (RCC). There is scanty literature of its efficacy in minority population. Methods: 21 patients (pts) with RCC who received sunitinib between February 2006-September 2007 were identified and studied as a retrospective cohort. Clinical and survival data were analyzed using fisher's test, chi square test, Kaplan Meier analyses. Results: Of the 21 patients, 11 (52%) were female and 10 (47%) male, 7 (33.3%) African American, 7 (33.3%) Hispanic, and 5 (23.8%) Caucasian. Median age at diagnosis was 59 years (32–74). 7 (33.3%) had clear cell and 3 (14.3%) sarcomatoid pathology. Mixed, poorly differentiated, papillary and unknown histology were 2 (9.5%) each. 12 (57%) pts had stage 4 disease at diagnosis, stage 3 in 3 (14.3%), stage 2 in 1 (4.8%) and 5 (23%) had missing data. 14(66.7%) pts underwent nephrectomy while 7 (33.3%) did not. 6 (28.6%) pts has good MSKCC risk score, 11 (52.4%) intermediate risk and 3 (14.3%) poor risk...
Reservoir characteristics of Xujiahe Formation in northeastern Sichuan Basin

According to the test of drilling cores and outcrop samples,thin section analysis and scanning electronic microscope,this paper studied the reservoir petrologic characteristics,reservoir space types,diagenesis,pore structure and pore types of Xujiahe Formation in northeastern Sichuan Basin.The result shows that the reservoir sandstone of Xujiahe Formation presents petrological characteristics of medium-fine grained texture,lower compositional maturity and medium textural maturity.The reservoir pore spaces include residual primary intergranular pores,secondary dissolved pores and fractures.The pore structure is mainly of fine pore and thin throat.The study area is mainly of typical reservoir with low porosity and low permeability.
Optimization of Furnace Pressure Control Strategy in 660 MW Supercritical Unit When MFT

When MFT occurs,normal strategies can’t control the furnace pressure any more.We optimize the furnace pressure control strategies.With the rotating blade’s fast action,the furnace pressure can be controlled in a proper range.Practice shows the strategy works well.
Extracellular glutamate and aspartate in head injured patients.

Eighty-six patients in coma from a severe head injury underwent monitoring of extracellular concentrations of glutamate and aspartate by a microdialysis technique during the first few days after injury. The median value for glutamate was 7.4 µM (interquartile range 3.6–18.8 µM). The median value for aspartate was 2.4 µM (interquartile range 1.1–5.0 µM). Average values for the dialysate concentrations of glutamate and aspartate, were closely related to outcome (p <.001 and p =.002, respectively). Patients who died of their head injury had significantly higher dialysate glutamate and aspartate concentrations compared to patients who recovered to a Glasgow Outcome Score of good recovery or moderate disability. Dialysate glutamate and aspartate levels were also significantly related to type of injury (p =.008 and p =.004, respectively). The highest values were found in patients with gunshot wounds, followed by patients with evacuated and unevacuated mass lesions. Patients with diffuse injuries had the lowest values of glutamate and aspartate. These results suggest that excitatory amino acids may play a role in the evolution of injury to the brain after trauma.
Effects of small diameter IUDs on fertility and lengths of estrous cycles in ewes.

The effects of .3 mm diameter nylon suture IUDs on fertility length of estrous cycles and uterine histology were studied in ewes. The length of the estrous cycle was not markedly affected by the presence of an IUD. 17 of 18 sham-operated ewes became pregnant at the 1st mating with fertile rams while only 1 pregnancy occurred among the 18 IUD-treated ewes at the 1st mating. However 8 ova were recovered from 7 of 10 IUD-treated ewes who had not conceived at 1st mating 2-3 days after the 3rd mating. 4 ova from 3 of these ewes were fertilized. Assuming that normal estrous cycle lengths reflect normal luteal function the results suggest that the IUD can exert its effect without initiating uterine luteolytic function in the ewe. Uterine histology was similar for sham-operated and IUD-treated ewes.
Making sense of age-group justice A time for relational equality?

This article brings together two debates in contemporary political philosophy: on the one hand, the dispute between the distributive and relational approaches to equality and, on the other hand, the field of intergenerational equality. I offer an original contribution to the second domain and by doing so, I inform the first. The aim of this article is thus twofold: (1) shedding some light on an under-researched and yet crucial question – ‘which inequalities between generations matter?’ and (2) contributing to a far-reaching debate that touches upon the nature of egalitarianism. After showing that there are two key problems that fall within the scope of intergenerational equality – questions of justice between age groups and questions of equality between birth cohorts – I argue that, contrary to what the default distributive view (complete lives egalitarianism) states, some inequalities between age groups matter independently of their diachronic impact, and so partly for relational reasons. I argue that, e...
Foreign Direct Investment in the U.S.: Some Observations in the State of Tennessee

Perceptions of community leaders and the man on the street are compared on various issues related to foreign direct investment in the United States. Results indicate that these two groups do not differ significantly. Preferences on various countries as potential investors reveal that cultural proximity is an important concern. Preference for Japanese direct investment ranks as third behind Canada and Great Britain.
The Intersection of Professionalization, Policy, Performance Assessment, and Privatization as a Conceptual Frame in Teacher Education

The complex intersection of interests in policy, privatization, professionalization, and performance assessment in teacher education is rooted in debates about conceptions of what it means to be well educated, which in turn define “good teaching” and how best to prepare teachers for the profession. We recognize that teaching portfolios, a common form of performance assessment in teacher preparation, have been used in teacher education programs since the 1980s. Portfolios have various purposes for preservice teachers: formatively, to facilitate growth; summatively, to assess readiness to teach; as a showcase for prospective employers; and increasingly as part of state certification requirements and mandates, such as the edTPA. This chapter explores the intersection of policy, privatization, professionalization, and performance assessment as a conceptual lens that can lead to a more generative understanding of reforms and trends in teacher education. Specifically, this conceptual lens guides our analysis of performance assessment and related policies and practices as they affect opportunities for teacher learning in teacher education programs in the United States.
Credit and savings

The administrative framework that evolved under the Sheremetyevs not only allowed serfs to participate in markets in land and labour, it also enabled them to engage in credit transactions and accumulate savings. Credit markets have at least three important functions: for lenders, they provide opportunities for preserving the value of their savings; for borrowers, they afford a means for smoothing consumption over time, on the one hand, and they supply capital for investment, on the other. Credit markets enable lenders to put unused surpluses to work, while enabling borrowers to consume or invest now and pay later. Until recently, these functions were considered to be of importance only in economically advanced societies of the past century or two. We now know, however, that credit markets are of equal, if not even greater, importance in developing societies. Rural credit markets in Russia have received even less attention than markets in land and labour. This may be at \least partly due to the paucity of sources; references to credit transactions are not always readily apparent in the archival records for Russian estates. But the neglect of rural credit markets is reinforced by the prevailing view of Russian peasants as dependent on communal institutions for insurance and welfare provision. Through its land-repartitioning activities, the commune is supposed to have guaranteed a minimum level of subsistence to its member households.
Unraveling fabrication and calibration of wearable gas monitor for use under free-living conditions

Volatile organic compounds (VOC) are organic chemicals that have high vapor pressure at regular conditions. Some VOC could be dangerous to human health, therefore it is important to determine real-time indoor and outdoor personal exposures to VOC. To achieve this goal, our group has developed a wearable gas monitor with a complete sensor fabrication and calibration protocol for free-living conditions. Correction factors for calibrating the sensors, including sensitivity, aging effect, and temperature effect are implemented into a Quick Response Code (QR code), so that the pre-calibrated quartz tuning fork (QTF) sensor can be used with the wearable monitor under free-living conditions.
Robust segmentation of corneal fibers from noisy images

Corneal collagen structure, which plays an important role in determining visual acuity, has drawn a lot of research attention to exploring its geometric properties. Advancement of nonlinear optical (NLO) imaging provides a potential way for capturing fiber-level structure of cornea, however, the artifacts introduced by the NLO imaging process make image segmentation on such images a bottleneck for further analysis. Especially, the existing methods fail to preserve the branching points which are important for mechanical analysis. In this paper, we propose a hybrid image segmentation method, which integrates seeded region growing and iterative voting. Results show that our algorithm outperforms state-of-the-art techniques in segmenting fibers from background while preserving branching points. Finally, we show that, based on the segmentation result, branching points and the width of fibers can be determined more accurately than the other methods, which is critical for mechanical analysis on corneal structure.
Influence of bidentate ligand donor types on the formation and stability in 2 + 1 fac-[MI(CO)3]+ (M = Re, 99mTc) complexes

In the last two decades, a number of chelate strategies have been proposed for the fac-[MI(CO)3]+ (M = Re, 99mTc) core in radiopharmaceutical applications. However, the development of new ligands/complexes with improved function and in vivo performance has been limited in recent years. Expanding on our previous studies using the 2 + 1 labeling strategy, a series of bidentate ligands (neutral vs. anionic) containing an aromatic amine in combination with monodentate pyridine analogs or imidazole were explored to determine the influence of the bidentate and monodentate ligands on the formation and stability of the respective complexes. The 2 + 1 complexes with Re and 99mTc were synthesized in two steps and characterized by standard radio/chemical methods. X-ray characterization and density functional theory analysis of the Re 2 + 1 complexes with the complete bidentate series with 4-dimethylaminopyridine were conducted, indicating enhanced ligand binding energies of the neutral over anionic ligands. In the 99mTc studies, anionic bidentate ligands had significantly higher formation yields of the 2 + 1 product, but neutral ligands appear to have increased stability in an amino acid challenge assay. Both bidentate series exhibited improved stability by increasing the basicity of the pyridine ligands.
Cultivating Anti-intellectualism in the Fictional University

Fictional media representations have presented numerous depictions of higher education over the years. Though research has noted the value of investigating this depiction—because media plays a critical role in shaping viewers’ perceptions, beliefs, and behaviors—it has not been the focus on much scholarly work to date. This chapter provides the rationale for this analysis of the higher education portrait in novels, television, film, comic books, and video games. It also introduces the concepts of anti-intellectualism and cultivation theory, which guided the book’s authors, while offering a glimpse into the content of the upcoming chapters in the volume.
Forecasting Financial Crises in Emerging Market Economies

This article identifies six fundamental indicators that might predict a financial crisis similar to the one that affected the emerging markets of Southeast Asia. Our empirical analysis shows that the 1997 Asian crisis could have been predicted. Probit estimation reveals that a small number of common indicators can forecast a financial crisis well. The estimation gives estimates that are robust to either cross-section or panel data. We suggest an aggregate indicator that combines all the individual indicators and calculates the optimal thresholds for the indicators. This aggregate indicator has similar predictive properties and reduces the calculations to determine the probability of crisis.
Land cover, lightning frequency, and turbulent fluxes over Southern Louisiana

Abstract Lightning is one of the most impactful weather phenomena but little precise and accurate information is known about how its frequency is impacted by changes in land use/land cover (LULC). Similarly, little is known about the spatial and temporal variability of the convective (i.e., turbulent) fluxes of sensible and latent heat that fuel the updrafts associated with lightning under changing LULC. This research applies NOAA's gridded annual lightning data from the National Lightning Detection Network (NLDN), gridded annual mean convective flux data from the North American Regional Reanalysis database (NARR), and LULC classification data from the NOAA Coastal Change Analysis Program (C-CAP) to analyze frequency changes in lightning and the turbulent fluxes across a swath of Louisiana, U.S.A., over the years 1996–2011. Results suggest that urban areas have the highest means of CG lightning with a consistent mean of approximately 152 flashes per km−2. However, urban areas support less convective flux of sensible (latent) heat than five (four) of six other generalized land classes tested. Lightning frequency tends to be positively related to latent heat fluctuations but less directly related to sensible heat, at least at the annual time scale, as we see positive relationships in all land classes except unconsolidated shore (p
Mapping Quantum Reality: What to Do When the Territory Does Not Make Sense?

One of the central goals of science is to find consistent and rational representations of observational data: a map of the world, if you will. How we do this depends on the specific tools, which are often mathematical. When dealing with real-world situations, where the data (or “territory”) has a random component, the mathematical tools most commonly used are those grounded in probability theory, defined in a precise way by the Russian mathematician Andrei Kolmogorov. In this paper we explore how experimental data (the “territory”) can be represented (or “mapped”) consistently in terms of probability theory, and present examples of situations, both in the physical and social sciences, where such representations are impossible. This suggests that some “territories” cannot be “mapped” in a way that is consistent with classical logic and probability theory.
New CEOs and Strategic Change: The Influence of Prior Board Experience

The study explores the effect of new CEOs' prior board experience on strategic change. We develop a theory to explain how prior board experience may affect new CEOs' propensity and ability to initi...
Dynamics of Vibrational Predissociation of Van Der Waals Molecules

A van der Waals molecule (VDWM) consists of atoms or molecules held together by intermolecular attractions [1]. These relatively weak interactions, on the order of 10–100 wavenumbers, are responsible for such phenomena as deviation of real gases from ideality and condensation of molecules into liquids and solids. One class of VDWM’s that has attracted attention is the triatomic complex X⋯BC, where X represents a rare gas atom. Of particular interest is the mechanism by which vibrational energy in the chemical bond BC is transferred to the van der Waals bond X⋯B, resulting in dissociation into X and BC. Both experimental [1,2] and theoretical [3–5] investigations of this process of vibrational predissociation (VP) have been carried out.
High-sensitivity search for neutrons during electrochemical reactions

This paper reports on a search for neutrons generated during cold fusion in an electrochemical cell conducted using a redundant detector system with three independent channels, an overall measured efficiency of 9.2%, and a background of 10 count/h. While spurious signals indicative of neutrons occurred one channel at a time, no real neutron emission events, where a signal is observed in all three channels simultaneously, were recorded for a wide variety of electrodes and electrolytes.
Direct Adaptive Optimal Control: Biologically Inspired Feedback Control

Control system theory has been based on certain well understood and accepted techniques such as transfer function-based methods, adaptive control, robust control, nonlinear systems theory and state-space methods. Besides these classical techniques, in recent decades, many successful results have been obtained by incorporating artificial neural networks in classical control structures. Due to their universal approximation property, neural network structures are the perfect candidates for designing controllers for complex nonlinear systems. These successful results have caused a number of control engineers to focus their interest on the results and algorithms of the machine learning and computational intelligence community and, at the same time, to find new inspiration in the biological neural structures of living organisms in their most evolved and complex form: the human brain. In this chapter we discuss two algorithms that were developed, based on a biologically inspired structure, with the purpose of learning the optimal state feedback controller for a linear system, while at the same time performing continuous-time online control for the system at hand. Moreover, since the algorithms are related to the reinforcement learning techniques in which an agent tries to maximize the total amount of reward received while interacting with an unknown environment, the optimal controller will be obtained while only making use of the input-to-state system dynamics. Mathematically speaking, the solution of the algebraic Riccati equation underlying the optimal control problem will be obtained without making use of any knowledge of the system internal dynamics. The two algorithms are built on iteration between the policy evaluation and policy update steps until updating the control policy no longer improves the system performance. Both algorithms can be characterized as direct adaptive optimal control types since the optimal control solution is determined without using an explicit, a priori obtained, model of the system internal dynamics. The effectiveness of the algorithms is shown and their performances compared while finding the optimal state feedback dynamics of an F-16 autopilot.
Image-based canine skeletal model for bone microdosimetry in the UFDog phantom

1832 Objectives The purpose of this study was to construct a detailed skeletal model for a canine phantom recently developed for pre-clinical nuclear medicine dosimetry [J Nucl Med 49 (3) 446-452 (2008)]. Methods Skeletal samples were acquired from an average-weight hound and subjected to microCT imaging. CT-based models of whole canine bones were coupled to microCT images of trabecular spongiosa under Paired-Image Radiation Transport (PIRT). Five source regions were considered for electron and beta-particle dosimetry: Active and Inactive Trabecular Marrow (TAM, TIM), Cortical Bone Volume (CBV), Trabecular Bone Volume and Surface (TBV, TBS). The two tissues used as targets were the TAM and the TAM50. TAM was used as a surrogate for the hematopoietic cells. TAM50 represents the TAM that is within 50 microns of the bone surfaces in spongiosa. Results A complete set of AFs and SAFs were calculated for all skeletal sites. AF values and their energy dependence vary strongly with source-target combination. For example, the AF values from TAM self-irradiation start approximately at unity at very low energies, and then decrease with increasing energy, whereas AF values for a TAM source and a TAM50 target start at approximately 0.65. Conclusions The data presented will allow researchers the opportunity to make accurate assessments of skeletal tissue dose in pre-clinical radionuclide therapy studies using the canine animal model. Research Support Work supported by NCI Grant F31 CA130165.
The Dietary Supplement Label Database: Recent Developments and Applications.

Objective To describe the history, key features, recent enhancements, and common applications of the Dietary Supplement Label Database (DSLD). Background and history Although many Americans use dietary supplements, databases of dietary supplements sold in the United States have not been widely available. The DSLD, an easily accessible public-use database was created in 2008 to provide information on dietary supplement composition for use by researchers and consumers. Rationale Accessing current information easily and quickly is crucial for documenting exposures to dietary supplements because they contain nutrients and other bioactive ingredients that may have beneficial or adverse effects on human health. This manuscript details recent developments with the DSLD to achieve this goal and provides examples of how the DSLD has been used. Recent developments With periodic updates to track changes in product composition and capture new products entering the market, the DSLD currently contains more than 71,000 dietary supplement labels. Following usability testing with consumer and researcher user groups completed in 2016, improvements to the DSLD interface were made. As of 2017, both a desktop and mobile device version are now available. Since its inception in 2008, the use of the DSLD has included research, exposure monitoring, and other purposes by users in the public and private sectors. Future directions Further refinement of the user interface and search features to facilitate ease of use for stakeholders is planned. Conclusions The DSLD can be used to track changes in product composition and capture new products entering the market. With over 71,000 DS labels it is a unique resource that policymakers, researchers, clinicians, and consumers may find valuable for multiple applications.
Neuropilin-2 is involved in tumor growth and angiogenesis of pancreatic adenocarcinoma

2518 Introduction. Neuropilin-2 (NRP-2) is a co-receptor for vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) on endothelial cells and increases the binding affinity and activity of the VEGF tyrosine kinase receptors. NRP-2 is overexpressed in pancreatic adenocarcinoma cells relative to normal ductal epithelium; however, the role of NRP-2 on pancreatic cancer tumor cells remains to be elucidated. Methods. NRP-2 expression was reduced with stable short-hairpin RNA (shRNA) transfection. Western blot analyses were done for signaling intermediates. Semi-qiantitative RT-PCR was used to determine VEGF levels. Cellular proliferation was assessed by MTT assay. Migration and invasion studies were carried out in Boyden chambers. Anchorage-independent growth was determined by soft-agar colony formation. In vivo growth was evaluated in a murine subcutaneous xenograft model. Immunohistochemistry was used to quantitate in vivo proliferation and tumor vessel count and morphology. Results. Activation of Akt signaling was reduced in shRNA-NRP-2 clones relative to control clones. ShRNA-NRP-2 cells demonstrated decreased migration, invasion, and anchorage independent growth compared to control cells. In vitro proliferation rates were similar in control- and shRNA-transfected cells. Constitutive expression of the angiogenic mediator Jagged-1 was reduced in shRNA-NRP-2 cells by 57%, whereas VEGF levels were unchanged. Subcutaneous tumors in mice inoculated with shRNA-NRP-2 cells were significantly smaller than control transfected cells by 72-90% (p Conclusion. Reduction of NRP-2 expression in pancreatic cancer cells decreased survival signaling, migration, invasion and ability to grow under anchorage-independent conditions. In vivo , reduction of NRP-2 led to decreased growth of subcutaneous xenograft tumors with increased necrosis and decreased angiogenesis and patent vessels. This study provides evidence for NRP-2 as a potential target on pancreatic adenocarcinoma cells.
A Ground Support Biobarrier (GSB) for recontamination prevention

Abstract Planetary Protection organizations at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the European Space Agency (ESA), and other space agencies around the world are charged with protecting icy moons and Mars Special Regions, areas that carry an increased potential for life, from Earth biological contamination. During the spacecraft assembly process subsystems undergo functional testing, a task that verifies critical components can survive from launch through the duration of the mission. Despite efforts to keep spacecraft clean during these ground testing operations, as well as during transportation, recontamination frequently occurs and results in the need to re-clean the spacecraft, putting stress on the spacecraft assembly critical path. In response, the Biotechnology and Planetary Protection Group (BPPG) at NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) has designed a Ground Support Biobarrier (GSB) capable of protecting flight hardware continuously from an up-to 150 °C Heat Microbial Reduction (HMR) sterilization through hardware integration with the spacecraft, itself. The biobarrier consists of aluminum brackets bolted together and covered with thin aluminum sheets sealed via epoxy. The base plate of the biobarrier contains bolt connections and a gasket to ensure that all venting is through the HEPA-filtered vent when the biobarrier is closed. Additionally, the GSB allows for vapor hydrogen peroxide (VHP) sterilization as well as the ability to functionally test hardware without opening the barrier. The GSB provides a safety-net against microbiological re-contamination during critical functional testing, decreasing the need for re-cleaning and reducing schedule impact risk.
Formulas for Determining the Recovery Times for Optimal Two-Point Saturation-Recovery Measurement of the MR Longitudinal Relaxation Rate

ABSTRACT The saturation–recovery method is a frequently used NMR/MRI technique for the measurement of the longitudinal relaxation rate R1. Under noise influence, the accuracy and the precision of the measurement outcome depend on the selection of the recovery times. This work seeks to determine the optimal recovery-time selection when the total scan time is constrained. A Monte Carlo computational method was used to simulate the noise-influenced distribution of the R1 measurement for various combinations of the two recovery times and to find the combination that produces the minimal standard deviation. Using the sum of recovery times (SRT) as the total scan time, mathematical formulas are derived from the simulation covering the SRT range of [0.05T1, 15T1]. The formulas describe the relationship between the SRT, the optimal accuracy and precision, and the recovery-time selection, and reproduce the results for the cases previously validated with experiments. In clinical application, the scan time is limited by the scan subject’s tolerance in the scanner and the time that can be allocated to the measurement in a scan session. These formulas provide a practical way to evaluate the trade-offs between precision and the scan time in scan planning.
Probing and controlling magnetic states in 2D layered magnetic materials

The discovery of atomic monolayer magnetic materials has triggered significant interest in the magnetism/spintronics and 2D van der Waals materials communities. Here we review recent progress in this rapidly growing field. We survey the physical properties of the large class of layered magnetic materials, and discuss recent advances in the study of these materials in the 2D limit. We then overview the optical and electrical techniques used for probing 2D magnetic materials (for reading their magnetic states) and the mechanisms for reorienting and/or switching 2D magnets by electric fields (for writing). Emerging device concepts based on magnetic van der Waals heterostructures are also discussed. We conclude with the future challenges and opportunities in this area of research. The emergence of 2D magnetic materials presents a unique opportunity to study magnetism and spintronics devices in new regimes. This Review surveys the basic properties of these materials, methods to read and write their magnetic states, and emerging device concepts.
Cognitive Biases in Technical Communication

Cognitive biases play an important role in our life. These biases allow humans to make mental shortcuts and quick decisions. They also lead to less-than-rational judgements. This paper focuses on the less-explored realm of cognitive biases in technical communication, with broad implications in engineering communication. It assembles cognitive biases in four categories that resonate with technical communicators and users: how we draw from past experiences, how we respond to stimuli, how we make decisions, and how we absorb social contexts. For each bias, the paper provides examples and analyzes how technical communicators can prevent, tackle, and harvest from the bias to improve communication effectiveness. Grasping cognitive biases has broad benefits for engineering communicators, engineering educators, and user experience professionals.
Confronting Structural Racism in the Prevention and Control of Tuberculosis in the United States

Tuberculosis incidence in the United States is declining, yet projections indicate that we will not eliminate tuberculosis in the 21 st century. Incidence rates in regions serving the rural and urban poor, including recent immigrants, are well above the national average. People experiencing incarceration and homelessness represent additional key populations. Better engagement of marginalized populations will not succeed without first addressing the structural racism that fuels continued transmission. Examples include: (1) systematic underfunding of contact tracing in health departments serving regions where Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) live; (2) poor access to affordable care in state governments that refuse to expand insurance coverage to low-income workers through the Affordable Care Act; (3) disproportionate incarceration of BIPOC into crowded prisons with low tuberculosis screening rates; and (4) fear-mongering among immigrants that discourages them from accessing preventive health services. To eliminate tuberculosis, we must first eliminate racist policies that limit essential health services in vulnerable communities.
Unpacking teacher challenges in understanding and implementing cognitively demanding tasks in secondary school mathematics classrooms

Literature suggests that students need to be exposed to cognitively demanding tasks (CDT). In this qualitative study, we examined in-service secondary school teachers’ challenges in understanding (...
A single-case multiple baseline design for treating insomnia in eating disorders: The TIRED study.

Objective The purpose of this trial is to evaluate the novel use of an empirically supported treatment for sleep problems for people with residual insomnia disorder following ED treatment. Method Participants (N = 6) will complete a single-case multiple baseline study using Brief Behavioral Treatment for Insomnia (Buysse et al., Archives of Internal Medicine, 171, 2011, 887-895; Troxel et al., Behavioral Sleep Medicine, 10, 2012, 266-279). Participants will complete pre- and post-treatment evaluations of insomnia severity, sleep efficiency, daytime fatigue, ED symptoms, depressive symptoms, and anxiety symptoms. Throughout treatment, participants will complete daily diaries of sleep indices (sleep latency, wake after sleep onset, total sleep time, and sleep efficiency). Results The primary outcome will be treatment effects on insomnia severity, measured by the Insomnia Severity Index. Secondary outcomes include sleep efficiency and daytime fatigue. Exploratory outcomes include ED-related impairment and symptoms, anxiety symptoms, and depression symptoms. We will provide subject-level graphs of sleep indices and ED symptoms throughout treatment. Additionally, treatment effects will be examined at one- and three-month follow-up. Discussion Although insomnia treatments have been evaluated in other psychiatric disorders, there has yet to be a study examining behavioral interventions for insomnia in EDs. Results of this study will inform the development and application of interventions for residual insomnia symptoms in this population.
Can DNA Be Speech

DNA is generally regarded as the basic building block of life itself. In the most fundamental sense, DNA is nothing more than a chemical compound, albeit a very complex and peculiar one. DNA is an information-carrying molecule. The specific sequence of base pairs contained in a DNA molecule carries with it genetic information, and encodes for the creation of particular proteins. When taken as a whole, the DNA contained in a single human cell is a complete blueprint and instruction manual for the creation of that human being. In this article we discuss myriad current and developing ways in which people are utilizing DNA to store or convey information of all kinds. For example, researchers have encoded the contents of a whole book in DNA, demonstrating the potential of DNA as a way of storing and transmitting information. In a different vein, some artists have begun to create living organisms with altered DNA as works of art. Hence, DNA is a medium for the communication of ideas. Because of the ability of DNA to store and convey information, its regulation must necessarily raise concerns associated with the First Amendment’s prohibition against the abridgment of freedom of speech. New and developing technologies, and the contemporary and future social practices they will engender, necessitate the renewal of an approach towards First Amendment coverage that takes into account the purposes and values incarnated in the Free Speech Clause of the Constitution. This article proposes and applies a framework for analysis in the context of contemporary social practices that involve the manipulation of DNA, as a case study from which we can hope to gain valuable insights regarding First Amendment doctrine in general.
On determination of positive-definiteness for an anisotropic operator

We study the positive-definiteness of a family of \(L^2(\mathbb {R})\) integral operators with kernel \(K_{t, a} (x, y) = \pi ^{-1} (1 + (x - y)^2+ a(x^2 + y^2)^t)^{-1}\), for \(t > 0\) and \(a > 0\). For \(0 0\), the known theory of positive-definite kernels and conditionally negative-definite kernels confirms positive-definiteness. For \(t > 1\) and a sufficiently large, the integral operator is not positive-definite. For t not an integer, but with integer odd part, the integral operator is not positive-definite.
Cochlear Microphonic Correlates of Cubic Difference Tones

Our purpose is to underscore our previous contentions (Dallos, 1969; 1970; 1973a; 1973b) that cubic difference components of the type 2f1−f2 do not possess a direct correlate in the normal cochlear microphonic potential, and thus in the gross motion pattern of the cochlear partition. The important implication of all available psychoacoustic evidence (Plomp, 1965; Zwicker, 1955; Goldstein, 1967; Smoorenburg, 1972; and others) and that of the single-unit recordings of Goldstein and Kiang (1968), is that the cubic difference components (CDC’s) are analyzed in the cochlea at a place that corresponds to their frequency. Since the only experimentally demonstrated frequency analyzer in the cochlea is the basilar membrane, which performs its analysis via the traveling wave mechanism (von Bekesy, 1960), one would expect that traveling waves corresponding to the various CDC’s could easily be shown. In fact, our work on the normal cochlear microphonic (CM) cited above, and the (negative) attempts of Wilson and Johnstone (1972) to measure 2f1−f2 in basilar membrane motion tend to indicate that significant CDC content does not exist at this stage of the analysis. Some work of Smoorenburg (1972) and of Sachs (1974), utilizing subjects having cochlear pathologies, also tend to lead toward this conclusion.
The origin of vertebrates and the principle of succession of functions. Genealogical sketches by Anton Dohrn 1875. An English translation from the German.

Cet article est la traduction en Anglais du texte de Dohrn en 1875 «L'Origine des vertebres et le principe de succession des fonctions», avec une bibliographie et une introduction ou l'A. explique en quoi Dohrn a contribue a l'anatomie evolutionnaire