cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Structural Instability of the Ceramic Coating in a Metal-Ceramic Composite Induced Through Control of Chemistry of the Bonding Atmosphere

A novel processing technique has been developed to coat Al 2 O 3 on Nb in an argon atmosphere with very low O 2 content. It has been proposed 1 that the low O 2 content helped to increase the defect concentration in the ceramic phase resulting in an enhanced diffusion of Nb into Al 2 O 3 at the metal-ceramic interface at a relatively low bonding temperature. A mathematical model has been developed 1 to understand the effect of purified bonding atmosphere on interfacial diffusion. While diffraction studies in the transmission electron microscope revealed 1 extensive amorphization at the metal-ceramic interface, EDX analysis showed 1 that the interfacial amorphous phase has a very high concentration of O . Additionally, this phase is found to contain Al and Nb . The interfacial phase is formed due to the diffusion of Nb into the ceramic phase. The paradoxical phenomenon of O enrichment of the interfacial amorphous phase in a low O 2 containing bonding atmosphere is due to the loss of gaseous oxides of Al from this phase. These oxides have relatively less proportion of O compared to Al 2 O 3 . Continuous loss of such oxides from the amorphous phase to the gaseous phase will, therefore, result in an O to Al ratio (in the amorphous phase) far exceeding that in Al 2 O 3 (3:2).
Supervisor-Provided Resources Development and Validation of a Measure of Employee Resources

This research integrates social exchange theory and resource theory to develop a measure of the types of resources supervisors provide to their employees, referred to as supervisor-provided resourc...
Within- and between-sector quality differences in early childhood education and care.

This study leverages nationally representative data (N ≈ 6,000) to examine the magnitude of quality differences between (a) formal and informal early childhood education and care providers; (b) Head Start, prekindergarten, and other center-based care; and (c) programs serving toddlers and those serving preschoolers. It then documents differences in children's reading and math skills at age 5 between those who had enrolled in formal and informal settings. Cross-sector differences are substantially reduced when accounting for a set of quality measures, though these measures do less to explain more modest differences in outcomes within the formal sector. Results inform current efforts aimed at improving the quality of early childhood settings by highlighting the large quality differences across sectors and their relationship with child development.
Teaching Certificate Program Participants' Perceptions of Mentor-Mentee Relationships.

Objective. To assess teaching certificate program (TCP) participants’ perceptions of mentor-mentee relationships.Methods. A 15-item survey instrument was administered to all 2014-2015 participants of the Indiana Pharmacy Teaching Certificate (IPTeC) program.Results. One hundred percent of IPTeC program participants (83/83) responded to the survey. The majority of participants indicated that having a professional mentor was either very important (52%) or important (47%) to their professional development and preferred to choose their own professional mentor (53%). Mentor characteristics rated as highly important by mentees included having similar clinical practice interests (82%), having similar research interests (66%), and being available to meet face-to-face (90%). Age, race, and gender of the mentor were not rated by mentees as important.Conclusion. Teaching certificate program participants place high importance on having a professional mentor. Mentorship of pharmacists completing TCPs should be a prior...
Current Situation of Basic Public Health Service in Sichuan Province

Objective To fully understand the current development situation of basic public health services in different districts of Sichuan province,and to analyze the reasons of unequal access to public health services.Methods Totally 21 municipal or autonomous prefecture health bureaus,42 county or district health bureaus and 153 community medical institutions were selected and were investigated with the 11 items of basic public health services in 2011,with aspects of organization management,project implementing and implementing effect.Based on the results,descriptive analysis was adopted on the rates.Results The total scoring average of the basic public health services of the 18 cities and 3 prefectures in 2011 were 83.81% and 64.90% respectively.The scoring average of community medical institutions and township hospitals were 82.83% and 79.97% respectively.The scoring average of vaccination,the reports and dispositions of infectious disease and public health emergency,as well as health education were 96.42%,93.89% and 90.79% respectively.The scoring average of management of people with severe mental illness,the management of chronic diseases,elderly health management and help management service of health supervision were 61.93%,65.73%,70.47% and 78.16% respectively.The scoring average of children health management,maternal health management,the health records of urban and rural residents were 84.19%,86.92% and 84.42% respectively.Conclusion The basic public health services in of Sichuan province featured remarkable regional difference.Measures were advised as following: increasing the investment of funds of public health services,appropriately allocating the health resources,reinforcing staff training,popularizing the advanced work pattern of public health services in specific community medical institutions and promoting the quality of basic public health services in township hospitals,as well as equalizing the access to basic public health services.
Toward an "Unqualified" Otherwise Qualified Standard: Job Prerequisites and Reasonable Accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Acts

This article addresses the question of whether an employee or applicant should be considered otherwise qualified - and, therefore, entitled to a reasonable accommodation -- under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)-when the individual can perform the essential functions of a position they hold or seek, but need an accommodation to satisfy certain job prerequisites - such as education, skills or licensing. The article evaluates the ADA statutory provisions, Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) regulations and guidances, and legislative history, as well as the scant case law concerning the question. Based on this evaluation, the article determines that, although militating in favor of a conclusion that an individual is otherwise qualified - and that an employer has a duty to provide a reasonable accommodation - in the job prerequisite context, the statutory, regulatory and judicial authorities are less than clear on the issue. The article then proposes a legal standard that would recognize an individual as otherwise qualified and impose a duty of reasonable accommodation on an employer under the circumstances -- a position taken by the EEOC as an amicus in one of the cases. The article concludes by evaluating the proposed standard in the context of the judicial proclivity to narrowly interpret the ADA's threshold disability and qualified requirements and thereby avoid reasonable accommodation analysis, applying the standard to the few reported cases concerning the issue, and proposing that the EEOC memorialize the standard, i.e. its litigation position, in its regulations and guidances.
Insulin-like growth factor I exerts growth hormone- and insulin-like actions on human muscle protein metabolism.

The effect of a 6-h intra-arterial infusion of recombinant human (rh) insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) on forearm muscle metabolism was studied in 19 postabsorptive subjects. Forearm glucose, l...
William E. Paul, M.D. (1936–2015), President, The American Association of Immunologists, 1986–1987

It is probably difficult for the younger readers of this journal to recall a time when molecularly defined cytokines were unavailable, their signaling mechanisms unknown, and their roles in regulation of cell proliferation and differentiation unrecognized. William E. Paul, M.D., who died on
Carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus storage across a growing season by the herbaceous layer in urban and preserved temperate hardwood forests

Question Herbaceous plant communities in hardwood forests are important for maintaining biodiversity and associated ecosystem services, such as nutrient storage. Are there differences in herbaceous layer nutrient storage for urban park and state preserve forests, and is there seasonal variation? Location United States, Midwestern region (Iowa). Methods We examined the herbaceous layer in three 20-m2 plots at six forest sites, in urban parks (city parks with high human visitation) and state preserves (under permanent protection as state preserves). We harvested herbaceous plants from quadrats in each plot in spring, summer and autumn to analyse above- and below-ground tissues for total C, N and P concentrations. Biomass and tissue nutrient concentration data were used to estimate nutrient storage per plot and per hectare. We also collected soil samples at each plot in each season to determine soil C, N and P content. Results State preserve and urban park forests did not differ in herbaceous species richness, although state preserve forests were qualitatively distinct. State preserve forests had relatively higher biomass and nutrients than urban park forests. In both forest types, above-ground concentration for N and P were higher in spring than in autumn, whereas below-ground concentration of these nutrients was consistently higher in autumn. In urban parks, total soil N was higher in spring compared to summer and autumn. However, soil nutrient content did not appear to drive differences in plant tissue nutrient content in urban park forests. Conclusions Subtle qualitative differences in herbaceous layer composition affected seasonal biomass quantities and nutrient concentrations in urban park and state preserve forests. These differences influenced C, N and P storage and led to consistent trends for relatively higher biomass and nutrient storage in state preserve forests. Above-ground plant tissue provides important storage of N and P in spring, and below-ground plant tissue provides important storage of N and P in autumn. Since spring and autumn are seasons of limited vegetative cover in the regional landscape, with subsequently higher potential for nutrient loss from terrestrial systems, this finding is crucial for provision of ecosystem services.
Diffusion: General Questions and Heterogeneous Chemical Reactions

In the previous chapters, we have discussed how diffusion involves physical factors. We calculated the gas diffusion through a polymer film, or sized a packed absorption column, or found how diffusion coefficients were related to mass transfer coefficients. In every case, we were concerned with physical factors like the film's thickness, the area per volume of the column's packing, or the fluid flow in the mass transfer. We were rarely concerned with chemical change, except when this change reached equilibrium, as in solvation. In this chapter, we begin to focus on chemical changes and their interaction with diffusion. We are particularly interested in cases in which diffusion and chemical reaction occur at roughly the same speed. When diffusion is much faster than chemical reaction, then only chemical factors influence the reaction rate; these cases are detailed in books on chemical kinetics. When diffusion is not much faster than reaction, then diffusion and kinetics interact to produce very different effects. The interaction between diffusion and reaction can be a large, dramatic effect. It is the reason for stratified charge in automobile engines, where imperfect mixing in the combustion chamber can reduce pollution. It is the reason for the size of a human sperm. It can reduce the size needed for an absorption tower by 100 times. The interaction between diffusion and reaction can even produce diffusion across membranes from a region of low concentration into a region of high concentration.
Field Quality Control Test for Wetting Brick in Masonry Construction

Obtaining desired water tightness and adequate bond strength of brick masonry may require the prewetting of brick. An inexpensive and convenient field test is suggested for determining the necessity of prewetting. Select a representative sample of five brick specimens; with a wax pencil draw two 1-in. diam. circles on a bed area of each brick—with a medicine dropper place 20 drops of water within each circle in 10 ± 2 sec—do not overflow the circle; average the time from the placement of the last drop for all the water to be absorbed for each of the five bricks; and if the average time is less than 10 min., wet the brick prior to laying. If not, wetting is not required.
A Primer on Neural Signal Processing

The role of neural signal processing has become increasingly important in the field of neuroscience with the increase of complexity and scale in neural recordings. In neuroscience, neural signal processing is aimed to extract information from neural signals for the purpose of understanding how the brain represents and transmits information through neuronal ensembles. In neural engineering, neural signal processing is aimed to read out neural signals to send neurofeedback to the brain or computer devices that assist or facilitate brain-machine communications. Here we provide a short review of neural signal processing on important principles and state-of-the-art research. Through representative examples, we illustrate how statistical signal processing can be applied to many diverse neuroscience applications.
Revisión crítica del concepto de género en el discurso escrito y su aplicación didáctica a la enseñanza de las lenguas con propósitos específicos

This paper provides a theoretical review of how the concept of academic and professional discursive genres has evolved, from a linguistic perspective when it first emerged to its current sociocognitive perspective. The stage it has reached is due to intertextuality and interdiscursivity processes caused by the contact between different disciplines. Similarly, the paper discusses some of the most current didactic recommendations on genre teaching proposed by the languages for specific purposes (LPS) approach. The discursive genre has been regularly used in LPS since learning how to develop the typical genres of a discourse community is a fundamental requirement to succeed in any specialized profession.
The strangest of all encounters: racial and ethnic discrimination in US health care

Abstract: In 2003, a Committee of the Institute of Medicine of the National Academy of Sciences summarized hundreds of studies documenting that US racial minorities, especially African Americans, receive poorer quality health care for a wide variety of conditions than their White counterparts. These racial differences in health care persist after controlling for sociodemographic factors and patients’ ability to pay for care. The Committee concluded that physicians’ unconscious negative stereotypes of African Americans, and perhaps other people of color, likely contribute to these health care disparities. This paper selectively reviews studies published after 2003 on the likely contribution of physicians’ unconscious bias to US health care disparities. All studies used the Implicit Association Test which quantifies the relative speed with which individuals associate positive attributes like “intelligent” with Whites compared to Blacks or Latino/as. In addition to assessing physicians’ unconscious attitudes toward patients, some studies focused on the behavioral and affective dimensions of doctor-patient communication, such as physicians’ “verbal dominance” and whether patients felt respected. Studies reviewed found a “pro-white” unconscious bias in physicians’ attitudes toward and interactions with patients, though some evidence suggests that Black and female physicians may be less prone to such bias. Limited social contact between White physicians and racial/ethnic minorities outside of medical settings, plus severe time pressures physicians often face during encounters with patients who have complex health problems could heighten their susceptibility to unconscious bias.
Rapid response to intravenous vitamin K may obviate the need to transfuse prothrombin complex concentrates.

BACKGROUND Patients on warfarin who present with bleeding or who require an urgent procedure are commonly treated with intravenous (IV) vitamin K, which is supplemented with repletion of the vitamin K factors using either plasma or a prothrombin complex concentrate (PCC). In some such cases, use of vitamin K alone could be adequate to achieve acceptable hemostasis. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS An algorithm emphasizing the use of vitamin K alone in patients presenting with non–life-threatening bleeding was encouraged, with repeat testing of the international normalized ratio (INR) within 5 hours. Depending on the INR result, patients received no factor repletion or plasma or PCC, as judged by the physician. Leftover samples from a separate cohort of patients with supratherapeutic INRs (INR > 4.0) were studied for clotting factor evaluation. RESULTS A total of 46 pre- and postinfusion INRs were evaluable from 41 patients. Median INR decreased from 5.8 to 2.5, with a median dose of 5 mg after a median time of 4.0 hours postinfusion. A total of 27 of 46 (59%) postinfusion samples showed an INR of 2.5 or less. Samples from patients with the highest INR showed the greatest decline in INR. Samples from supratherapeutic INR patients showed very high Factor VIII:C (200%) and a normal activated partial thromboplastin time in 23 of 50 (46%). CONCLUSION Use of IV vitamin K as sole therapy for urgent partial reversal of warfarin for non–life-threatening bleeding may provide adequate hemostasis within 5 hours, avoiding the need for clotting factor repletion.
Histologic features of chronic cutaneous lupus erythematosus of the scalp using horizontal sectioning: Emphasis on follicular findings.

Background Chronic cutaneous lupus erythematosus (CCLE) often affects the scalp resulting in scarring alopecia. While histopathologic findings of CCLE have been well described, there is little written on the morphologic changes to the hair follicles in this condition. Objective We aim to determine the histopathologic findings of hair follicles in CCLE of the scalp. Methods We conducted a retrospective study of 33 transversely sectioned skin biopsy specimens of CCLE of the scalp at the Skin Pathology Laboratory at Boston University between April 2005 and March 2015. Results New findings include basaloid follicular epithelium lacking hair follicles at deep levels, follicular miniaturization, increased catagen/telogen hair follicles, and pigment casts. Two histopathologic patterns could be discerned, an alopecia areatalike pattern and a lichen planopilarislike pattern. Limitations Generalizability of a single-center experience may be limited. Conclusion Follicular findings in CCLE of the scalp are reported. We hypothesize that the basaloid aggregates are remnants of hair follicles that are no longer actively cycling.
Typical Carpal Tunnel Syndrome or Something More? A Plastic Surgeon’s Experience With Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy:

Chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP) typically presents with widespread peripheral motor and sensory deficits that progress over a 2- to 3-month period. In this article, the authors report a case involving a 32-year-old pregnant woman presenting to hand clinic after a 3-month history of bilateral median nerve compression consistent with carpal tunnel syndrome. Carpal tunnel syndrome is a common complaint resulting from pregnancy-associated edema and is typically treated conservatively. However, upon follow-up, this patient displayed new signs of widespread peripheral neurological deficits, prompting a diagnosis of CIDP. In addition to this highly atypical presentation of CIDP, the patient’s symptoms spontaneously remitted throughout the pregnancy requiring no further treatment. This case highlights the heterogeneous nature of neurological disease presentation and the importance in considering alternative diagnosis in what may appear as clear-cut plastic surgery case.
Muscle compression improves reliability of ultrasound echo intensity

INTRODUCTION: Muscle echo intensity has been shown to correlate with disease status in muscle disorders including Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). We report the effect of sonographer-applied load on measurements of muscle echo intensity. METHODS: Quadriceps ultrasound scans were performed on 22 healthy boys and 16 boys with DMD between the ages of 2 and 15 years. Transducer contact force was increased linearly from 1.5 N to 10 N, and echo intensity was measured throughout. RESULTS: Echo intensity increased linearly with strain at a rate of 42 (95% CI: 21 – 63) and 74 (95% CI: 49 – 98) in the healthy and DMD populations, respectively. Echo intensity reliability was moderate at low strain (ICC = 0.82) and was improved at high strain (ICC = 0.92). DISCUSSION: Sonographer-applied load introduces error in measurements of echo intensity, but it can be minimized by measuring echo intensity at near-maximal levels of compression. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
Blocking fatty acid amide hydrolase reduces T cell activation and attenuates experimental colitis (IRC10P.405)

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) refers to chronic inflammatory disorders of the gut with unknown etiology. Fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH) is the enzyme crucially involved in the modulation of intestinal physiology. We investigated the effects of FAAH inhibitors on the dextran sodium sulfate (DSS) induced model of colitis. FAAH inhibitors diminished the overall clinical score, reversed the colitis-associated inflammation score, and reversed body weight loss after DSS induced colitis. The frequency of activated CD4 + T cells in the spleen, mesenteric lymph node (MLN), and Peyer’s patches (PP) was reduced after FAAH inhibition as compared to the control group. Further, the frequency of macrophages, natural killer (NK1.1), and NKT cells in PP, and the concentration of inflammatory cytokines and chemokines also declined after FAAH inhibition. FAAH treatment also resulted in greater than 1.5 fold changes in 26 miRs in MLN and 217 miRNAs in PP. Among these, eight anti-inflammatory miRNAs were validated by RT-PCR analysis. Pathway analysis also validated that differentially regulated miRNAs target mRNA associated with inflammation. Taken together, these results indicate that FAAH modulates colitis severity by reducing activated T cells at sites of inflammation and suppresses other immune mediators such as systemic cytokines and inflammatory miRNAs through regulation of miRs. In summary, our results suggest that FAAH inhibitors may be developed as a novel therapeutic agent for IBD.
Addressing Fragmentation in the Forensic Document Examination Community: Applying the NAS Report's Call for Standardization to the Current State of the Field

ABSTRACTThe National Research Council of the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) released their report, Strengthening Forensic Science in the United States: A Path Forward in 2009. The NAS Committee...
Unproven Cancer Diet Claims

Laetrile (Fig. 9–1) is an amygdalin, a cyanogentic glycoside that is naturally present as a toxicant (poison) in the kernels of apricot pits as well as a number of other stone fruits and nuts (e.g., macadamia nuts). There is a possibility that nature may have put it in the kernels to protect the plant from being eaten.
An Overview of the Molecular Mechanism of Autophagy

Autophagy is a highly conserved cellular degradation process in which portions of cytosol and organelles are sequestered into a double-membrane vesicle, an autophagosome, and delivered into a degradative organelle, the vacuole/lysosome, for breakdown and eventual recycling of the resulting macromolecules. This process relieves the cell from various stress conditions. Autophagy plays a critical role during cellular development and differentiation, functions in tumor suppression, and may be linked to life span extension. Autophagy also has diverse roles in innate and adaptive immunity, such as resistance to pathogen invasion. Substantial progress has been made in the identification of many autophagy-related (ATG) genes that are essential to drive this cellular process, including both selective and nonselective types of autophagy. Identification of the ATG genes in yeast, and the finding of orthologs in other organisms, reveals the conservation of the autophagic machinery in all eukaryotes. Here, we summarize our current knowledge about the machinery and molecular mechanism of autophagy.
1.23 – Ethical Issues and Challenges Facing the Pharmaceutical Industry

This is an overview of the ethical issues that confront pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies when commercializing medicinal chemistry and related products.
Ecology and economics in the science of anthropogenic biosphere change

Abstract This chapter considers the ways in which research at the intersection of ecology and economics has strengthened our understanding of anthropogenic biosphere change. Three dimensions of the problem are addressed. The first is the linkages between the carrying and assimilative capacity of the environment and the substitutability of produced and natural capital. The second is connection between biodiversity, ecosystem functioning and the valuation of non-marketed environmental goods and services. The third is the resilience of ecological systems and the stability and sustainability of economic states and processes. Work across the two disciplines has affected the spatial and temporal scale at which the problem is addressed, the way in which biophysical processes appear in models of the coupled system, the data used to calibrate and validate those models, and the range of interventions considered. We show where traction has been gained by taking explicit account of processes that have traditionally been neglected or treated parametrically in economic models, or by taking account of stocks whose dynamics play out at different temporal and spatial scales. We also show how application of the ecological concept of resilience has provided both a foundation for sustainability science and a way to test the environmental consequences of demographic, technological, institutional and economic changes in human societies.
Microstructure Determines Water and Salt Permeation in Commercial Ion-Exchange Membranes

Ion-exchange membrane (IEM) performance in electrochemical processes such as fuel cells, redox flow batteries, or reverse electrodialysis (RED) is typically quantified through membrane selectivity and conductivity, which together determine the energy efficiency. However, water and co-ion transport (i.e., osmosis and salt diffusion/fuel crossover) also impact energy efficiency by allowing uncontrolled mixing of the electrolyte solutions to occur. For example, in RED with hypersaline water sources, uncontrolled mixing consumes 20-50% of the available mixing energy. Thus, in addition to high selectivity and high conductivity, it is desirable for IEMs to have low permeability to water and salt to minimize energy losses. Unfortunately, there is very little quantitative water and salt permeability information available for commercial IEMs, making it difficult to select the best membrane for a particular application. Accordingly, we measured the water and salt transport properties of 20 commercial IEMs and analyzed the relationships between permeability, diffusion, and partitioning according to the solution-diffusion model. We found that water and salt permeance vary over several orders of magnitude among commercial IEMs, making some membranes better suited than others to electrochemical processes that involve high salt concentrations and/or concentration gradients. Water and salt diffusion coefficients were found to be the principal factors contributing to the differences in permeance among commercial IEMs. We also observed that water and salt permeability were highly correlated to one another for all IEMs studied, regardless of polymer type or reinforcement. This finding suggests that transport of mobile salt in IEMs is governed by the microstructure of the membrane and provides clear evidence that mobile salt does not interact strongly with polymer chains in highly swollen IEMs.
Probe assisted localized doping of aluminum into silicon substrates

Precise control of dopant placement is crucial for the reproducible, and reliable, nanoscale semiconductor device fabrication. In this paper, we demonstrate an atomic force microscopy (AFM) probe assisted localized doping of aluminum into an n-type silicon (100) wafer to generate nanoscale counter-doped junctions within two nanometers of the silicon-air interface. The local doping results in changes in electrostatic potential, which are reported as contact potential difference, with nanoscale spatial resolution. In contrast to the literature where nano-mechanical defects in, or contaminants on, silicon substrates can result in measurable changes in the chemical potential of the near-surface, additional thermal treatment was needed to electrically activate the aluminum dopants in our current work. Unfortunately, the thermal activation step also caused the dopants to diffuse and geometric distortions in the doped area, i.e., broadening and blurring of the electrically distinct areas. The results from optimization efforts show that the “active” dopant concentration depended primarily on the thermal anneal temperature; additional AFM-tip dwell time during the aluminum implantation step had no meaningful impact on the electrical activity of the doped sites.
Cypate and Cypate-Glucosamine as Near-Infrared Fluorescent Probes for In Vivo Tumor Imaging

Near-infrared (NIR) imaging is a promising technique for use as a noninvasive and sensitive diagnostic tool. Although the NIR fluorescently labeled glucose analog glucosamine (cypate-glucosamine) has applications in preclinical imaging, the transport pathways and fate of this probe in tissues remain unaddressed. Here, we have synthesized and characterized cypate and cypate-glucosamine conjugate (cy-2-glu), and investigated the probable transport pathways of these probes in vitro and in vivo. We compared uptake of the probes in the presence and absence of excess d-glucose, "saturated cypate" and palmitic acid in two normal-cancer cell line pairs: lung cancer (A549)-normal (MRC9) and prostate cancer (DU145)-normal (BPH). Breast cancer (MDA-MB-231) and liver cancer (HepG2) cell lines were also examined. Results support use of the glucose transport pathway by cy-2-glu and fatty acid transport pathway by cypate. Mass spectrometry data on the in vitro extracts revealed deamidation of cy-2-glu in prostate and liver cells, suggesting release of glucosamine. In vivo biodistribution studies in mice engrafted with breast tumors showed a distinct accumulation of cy-2-glu in liver and tumors, and to a lesser extent in kidneys and spleen. A negligible accumulation of cypate alone in tumors was observed. Analysis of urine extracts revealed renal excretion of the cy-2-glu probe in the form of free cypate, indicating deamidation of cy-2-glu in tissues. Thus, investigation of the metabolic pathways used by NIR probes such as cy-2-glu advances their use in the detection and monitoring of tumor progression in preclinical animal studies.
Frequency-Hopped Signal Source Identification in Frequency-Selective Channels

Blind source separation of frequency-hopped signals is a challenging problem for cases involving multipath exhibiting temporal and angular spread. A novel solution is proposed that exploits polarization-frequency correlation to separate signals, enabling association of hopped signal in these adverse conditions. Performance depends upon signal-to-noise ratios and channel-induced signal feature differences. The method has the advantage of not requiring model order estimation of multipath. The efficacy of the approach is demonstrated in experiments and numerical analyses.
Aggregating Information for Optimal Portfolio Weights

I attempt to address an important issue of the portfolio allocation literature -- none of the allocation rules developed in prior literature seems to consistently deliver good performance across different asset samples. For this purpose, I develop an approach that aggregates information from multiple sources for optimal portfolio weights. In particular, my approach uses the weights implied by extant allocation rules as instruments and decides the relative contribution from each rule through Elastic Net, a machine learning technique. Out-of-sample tests suggest that, by aggregating information from twelve allocation rules, my approach consistently achieves good performance across a variety of asset samples whereas none of the twelve rules can match the consistency. My paper also emphasizes the relevancy of the mean-variance framework and the allocation rules developed in prior studies. Even though these rules might not deliver satisfactory performance individually, their weights still contain valuable information and serve well as instruments.
Growth-cycle of influenza virus.

FULTON has criticized1 my work on the growth-cycle of influenza virus2 ; he appears to have confirmed the main facts, but is reluctant to accept the conclusions. The essential facts are these.
Expanding the evolutionary explanations for sex differences in the human skeleton

While the anatomy and physiology of human reproduction differ between the sexes, the effects of hormones on skeletal growth do not. Human bone growth depends on estrogen. Greater estrogen produced by ovaries causes bones in female bodies to fuse before males' resulting in sex differences in adult height and mass. Female pelves expand more than males' due to estrogen and relaxin produced and employed by the tissues of the pelvic region and potentially also due to greater internal space occupied by female gonads and genitals. Evolutionary explanations for skeletal sex differences (aka sexual dimorphism) that focus too narrowly on big competitive men and broad birthing women must account for the adaptive biology of skeletal growth and its dependence on the developmental physiology of reproduction. In this case, dichotomizing evolution into proximate-ultimate categories may be impeding the progress of human evolutionary science, as well as enabling the popular misunderstanding and abuse of it.
Using Immersive Virtual Environments (IVEs) to Conduct Environmental Design Research: A Primer and Decision Framework.

Purpose:We propose a methodological framework to use immersive virtual environments (IVEs) in head-mounted displays for environmental design research.Background:IVEs offer researchers with experime...
Parenting Activities and the Transition to Home-based Education During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

This study reports on parent-child dynamics following COVID-19 related school closures, based on cross-sectional analyses of a survey that utilized a convenience sampling approach. Data were collected approximately five weeks after the World Health Organization declared that the Coronavirus was a pandemic. Participants (N = 405) were adults recruited throughout the U.S. This study examines data from parents (69% mothers and 31% fathers) with at least one child 0-12 years of age. The majority were White (71%) and 41% had at least a bachelor's degree. 78% of parents said they were educating their child at home due to COVID-19. Most (77.1%) reported use of online tools for at-home education, including educational apps, social media, and school-provided electronic resources. More than one-third (34.7%) of parents said their child's behavior had changed since the pandemic, including being sad, depressed, and lonely. Most parents were spending more time involved in daily caregiving of their children since COVID-19. Two out of every five parents met the PHQ-8 criteria for major depression or severe major depression (40.0%) and the GAD-7 criteria for moderate or severe anxiety (39.9%). Multivariate analyses indicated that, compared to non-depressed parents, parents who met criteria for probable major or severe depression (B = -.16, 95% CI = [-.29, -.02], p = .021) and parenting stress (B = -.37, 95% CI = [-.47, -.27], p < .001) were negatively associated with parents' perceived preparation to educate at home. Compared to parents with minimal or mild anxiety, parents with moderate or severe anxiety reported higher child anxiety scores (B = .17, 95% CI = [.06, .28], p = .002). Parenting stress was also positively associated with higher child anxiety scores (B = .40, 95% CI = [.32, .48], p < .001). Content analyses of open-ended questions indicated that school closures were a significant disruption, followed by lack of physical activity, and social isolation. Overall, study results suggested that parents' mental health may be an important factor linked to at-home education and child wellbeing during the pandemic.
Resolving the Instructions for αβ T Cell Development.

In this issue of Immunity, Chopp et. al. use single-cell transcriptomics and epigenomics in mice and human samples to delineate developmental trajectories of αβ T cell subsets and refine the kinetic selection model of CD4+ and CD8+ T cell lineage commitment.
Satisfaction With Hormonal Treatment for Menstrual Suppression in Adolescents and Young Women With Disabilities.

Abstract Purpose To characterize the population of adolescents and young women with special needs presenting for gynecologic care, describe usage patterns of hormonal suppression methods, and evaluate outcomes of menstrual management. Methods This retrospective cohort study included females with special needs up to age 26 years presenting for menstrual management from 2009 to 2018. Demographic, social, and medical histories were collected to investigate effects on bleeding pattern and satisfaction with menstrual management. Results Of 262 patients who presented for menstrual complaints, final methods of treatment included combined hormonal contraceptives (30.9%), oral progestins (19.8%), depot medroxyprogesterone acetate (8.0%), etonogestrel implant (1.9%), and levonorgestrel intrauterine device (16.8%). Eighty-five percent of patients were satisfied with their final bleeding pattern. Patients with amenorrhea or light regular periods were more likely to be satisfied than patients with heavy or irregular bleeding (p Conclusions Amenorrhea or light regular bleeding led to satisfaction in most patients. No hormonal method was superior. When counseling families and patients who present for menstrual suppression, emphasis should be placed on goals of treatment and expectations for outcomes, as light regular periods may be as acceptable as amenorrhea.
POS1150 ANATOMICAL LOCATIONS AND CORRELATES OF CALCIUM PYROPHOSPHATE CRYSTAL DEPOSITS OF THE SPINE – PATHOLOGIC EXAMINATION OF 77 SURGICAL CASES

Background: Spinal involvement in calcium pyrophosphate deposition disease (CPPD) is thought to be a rare occurrence and is seen infrequently as crowned dens syndrome. Furthermore, data on anatomical locations and correlates of calcium pyrophosphate (CPP) deposits in spinal CPPD are scarce. Objectives: To describe the anatomical locations and correlates of pathologically confirmed CPPD of the spine. Methods: Consecutive patients with spinal CPPD were identified via retrospective chart review of individuals who underwent spine surgery for intractable chronic neck or back pain at Massachusetts General Hospital between 2009 and 2014. These deposits and surrounding anatomical structures were surgically resected and confirmed to have calcium pyrophosphate deposition upon pathologic review. We reviewed musculoskeletal imaging (CT, MRI, XR) and laboratory data from these pathologically confirmed cases. Results: From April 2009 to August 2014, we identified 77 individuals with pathologically confirmed CPPD of the spine. The mean age was 68 years; 41 (53%) were female; mean BMI was 28.7. Calcium pyrophosphate (CPP) was grossly identified intraoperatively by the surgeon in 38 cases (50%), typically as “chalky white deposits” (Figure 1). CPP deposits were seen most frequently in the ligamentum flavum (23%) and intervertebral disc (23%), followed by other less common locations (Table 1). Imaging findings in the soft tissue or intervertebral disc suggestive of CPPD were found in 5 cases (6%), whereas findings of spinal canal narrowing, facet arthropathy, or ligamentum flavum thickening were eventually correlative with CPP deposits in pathologic specimens. Only 7 (9%) experienced a prior episode of acute CPP arthritis (pseudogout). Chondrocalcinosis on x-ray was seen in 26 cases (34%), most commonly in the wrist and/or knees. Osteoarthritis was present in all spinal imaging, and 65% had comorbid scoliosis. Laboratory abnormalities associated with secondary causes of CPPD (hypercalcemia, hypomagnesemia, hyperparathyroidism) were not seen with spinal CPPD. Conclusion: Spinal CPPD may occur more frequently than previously perceived. The ligamentum flavum and intervertebral discs were common anatomical locations for spinal CPPD. Advanced imaging of the spine showed low sensitivity for detecting spinal CPPD. Only a small minority had typical peripheral joint involvement or imaging with peripheral joint chondrocalcinosis. Thus, without pathologic confirmation, the vast majority of cases would remain unidentified. These findings call for the need to seek pathologic confirmation to determine the robust epidemiology and also raise the potential role for preoperative CPPD treatment. Disclosure of Interests: Jonathan Dau: None declared, Gary Ho: None declared, Hyon Choi Consultant of: Ironwood, Selecta, Horizon, Takeda, Kowa, Vaxart, Grant/research support from: Ironwood, Horizon, Joseph Schwab: None declared, Minna Kohler Speakers bureau: Eli Lily, Consultant of: Novartis.
The Fundamental Error of Rational Expectations Proponents Is Their Claim that They Have Discovered True Statistical Models: Given that No Model Can Be True, Talk of Having a 'True Model' Is An Anti-Scientific Oxymoron Given Keynesian Uncertainty

No model can ever be true. By definition, models are only, at best, approximations to reality. Some models are better approximations than others, so one can talk about one model being better than another model. However, to talk about a model yielding true predictions means that the speaker does not understand what a model is and what it is used for. This is especially true in the area of probability and statistics. George Box said it well when he stated that ‘all models are wrong, but some are useful.’ Rational expectations advocates violate basic scientific approaches to theory construction and model use when they claim that there is a true model of how the economy operates that consumers and producers can learn from experience. There can never be any scientific support for that claim or any of the following claims, given that all models are only approximations, which can never be true: • There is a true(correct, right ,valid) probability • There is a true(correct, right, valid) expectation • There is a true(correct, right, valid) model • There is a true(correct, right, valid) expected value • Consumers and producers can learn the true(correct,right,valid) model • There is a true(correct, right, valid), objective probability or probability distribution • There are true(correct,right,valid) model consistent expectations
HOW FALLING EXCHANGE RATES HAVE AFFECTED THE U.S. ECONOMY AND TRADE DEFICIT (EVALUATED USING THE FEDERAL RESERVE'S REAL BROAD EXCHANGE RATE)

Falling exchange rates reduce the purchasing power of the dollar, increasing import prices. Higher import prices have two effects. (1) A substitution effect that shifts demand from imported to domestically produced goods. (2) An income effect that reduces the total amount of real income available for spending on domestic goods and foreign goods. Based on U.S. 1960 - 2000 data, this paper estimates an econometric model that finds that the income effects of falling exchange rates overwhelms the substitution effects, causing a net negative influence on the GDP and income. Results indicate demand for both imported and domestic consumer and investment goods is adversely affected because the income effect is so dominant. For investment goods, there was a substitution effect into imported goods when import prices rose due to a falling exchange rate, presumably because the negative income effect so reduced income that demand was pushed toward cheaper imports, despite the fact that their own prices had recently risen, causing the U.S. real income decline. Declining real income also caused decreased demand for domestically produced investment goods, presumably for the same reason. For consumer goods, the substitution effect stimulated domestic demand, but was more than offset by the negative effects of declining income. The decrease in demand for domestic goods and services was 3.5 times as large as the decrease in demand for imports. In short, the trade deficit appears to fall far less than the GDP when the exchange rate drops. The study estimates that, other things equal, the trade deficit would have fallen from 4.3% to 2.8% of the GDP as a result of a 12.5 point (12%) weakening of the dollar against the Broad trade weighted real exchange rate, such as occurred 2000-07. Had the exchange rate not fallen during this period, we estimate the average annual growth rate of the real U.S. economy would have been 3.4%, not the 2.7% it has actually averaged, assuming sufficient capital and labor availability to do so. Finally, we find that a falling trade deficit induced by falling exchange rates, reduces the size of the annual transfer of U.S. assets to foreigners needed to finance the deficit, but does not result in a faster rate of net growth for U.S. – owned assets, because declining income also reduces domestic savings by about the same amount. JEL E00, F40, F43.
Electrode Potential-Dependent Stages in OH ads Formation on the Pt3Cr Alloy (111) Surface

Results of a periodic spin-density-functional theory study of the electronic structure and the local adsorption properties of the Pt 3 Cr(111) alloy surface are presented. A slab composed of four-atom-layer is used to model the (111) surface of the L1 2 bulk phase with the two topmost layers and adsorbed species allowed to relax. Adsorption energies for OH and H 2 O have been calculated as functions of initial OH coverage. Using these energies in a model based on reaction energies for acid electrolyte, we have calculated reversible potential shifts, A U°, for OH ads formation from H 2 O ads on different surface sites of the Pt 3 Cr(111) alloy relative to the Pt(lll) surface. For the first 0.25 monolayer (ML) coverage, H 2 O and OH are more stable on the Cr sites and a ΔU° = -0.55 V is calculated. For the next 0.25 ML instalment, forming OH ads on Pt, ΔU° = -0.15 V. Shifts in U° for going to 0.75 and 1 ML OH ads coverage are both positive. Hydrogen bonding between adsorbed molecules plays a role at higher coverage. O 2 adsorption was studied on the 0.5 ML OHMS covered surface and was found to bond more weakly than H 2 O, allowing us to suggest that if the sputtered alloy surface is active toward O 2 reduction, as the sputtered Pt 3 Co and Pt 3 Ni surfaces are, Pt islands may be responsible.