cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Petrogenesis of Alkalic Seamounts on the Galápagos Platform

Abstract In the hotspot-fed Galapagos Archipelago there are transitions between volcano morphology and composition, effective elastic thickness of the crust, and lithospheric thickness in the direction of plate motion from west to east. Through sampling on the island scale it is unclear whether these transitions are gradational or sharp and whether they result in a gradational or a sharp boundary in terms of the composition of erupted lavas. Clusters of interisland seamounts are prevalent on the Galapagos Platform, and occur in the transition zone in morphology between western and eastern volcanoes providing an opportunity to evaluate sharpness of the compositional boundary resulting from these physical transitions. Two of these seamounts, located east of Isabela Island and southwest of the island of Santiago, were sampled by remotely operated vehicle in 2015 during a telepresence-supported E/V Nautilus cruise, operated by the Ocean Exploration Trust. We compare the chemistries of these seamount lavas with samples erupted subaerially on the islands of Isabela and Santiago, to test whether seamounts are formed from melt generation and storage similar to that of the western or eastern volcanoes, or transitional between the two systems. There are no systematic variations between the two seamounts and variability in all samples can be related through
Complex Contagions: A Decade in Review

Since the publication of “Complex Contagions and the Weakness of Long Ties” in 2007, complex contagions have been studied across an enormous variety of social domains. In reviewing this decade of research, we discuss recent advancements in applied studies of complex contagions, particularly in the domains of health, innovation diffusion, social media, and politics. We also discuss how these empirical studies have spurred complementary advancements in the theoretical modeling of contagions, which concern the effects of network topology on diffusion, as well as the effects of individual-level attributes and thresholds. In synthesizing these developments, we suggest three main directions for future research. The first concerns the study of how multiple contagions interact within the same network and across networks, in what may be called an ecology of contagions. The second concerns the study of how the structure of thresholds and their behavioral consequences can vary by individual and social context. The third area concerns the roles of diversity and homophily in the dynamics of complex contagion, including both diversity of demographic profiles among local peers and the broader notion of structural diversity within a network. Throughout this discussion, we make an effort to highlight the theoretical and empirical opportunities that lie ahead.
Simple Hepatic Cyst and Hemorrhagic Hepatic Cyst

Cystic liver lesions can be benign, inflammatory, or malignant. PET/MR imaging is an excellent modality to localize and characterize cystic liver lesions by combining MR imaging characteristics with metabolic information from PET.
Design optimization using dynamic evaluation

We describe a search strategy that may be useful for a class of design problems by developing an example from cancer radiation treatment planning. This application problem involves typical features of design problems such as constraints, optimality, a large search space with continuously varying parameters as well as discrete (non-numeric) parameters. There is no known method of comparing elements of the solution space based on a static evaluation function. We have therefore developed a dynamic evaluation function, which attempts to heuristically compare all solutions with one another, as a way of interpreting the evaluation results. This allows us to use an analog of hill-climbing with a simple SELECT-GENERATE-TEST loop where expert rules are used as "move generators" and a similarity metric is used to control or direct the application of the rules for plan modification. Preliminary tests of these ideas indicate that a practical working system can be built.
Higher exosomal tau, amyloid-beta 42 and IL-10 are associated with mild TBIs and chronic symptoms in military personnel.

Objective: Identify biomarkers in peripheral blood that relate to chronic post-concussive and behavioural symptoms following traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) to ultimately improve clinical managemen...
Terazosin: A New Long-Acting α1-Adrenergic Antagonist for Hypertension

Terazosin is a new long-acting, selective alpha 1-adrenergic antagonist. Its pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic profiles are similar to those of prazosin, but terazosin has a half-life three to four times longer. This allows once daily dosing of terazosin and a potential advantage in ensuring patient compliance to treatment. Terazosin has been evaluated alone and in combination with other drugs for the treatment of mild to moderate hypertension. Terazosin has been shown to have favorable lipid and side effect profiles. Unlike prazosin, the drug is available (but not yet marketed) in parenteral form. Its gradual onset of action with intravenous use would limit its potential application in hypertensive emergencies. Other possible uses for terazosin might include treatment of congestive heart failure and Raynaud's phenomenon, but definitive studies are needed.
Error Reporting Systems

The ability to detect errors in medicine is an important starting point for programmatic interventions aimed at improving patient safety. While information technology has the ability to improve many aspects of healthcare, the optimization of error reporting can ultimately improve error reduction because of the focus it brings to system defects.
Coagulation, dissociation and growth of aerosols

Traditional approaches to Brownian coagulation account for the interaction between particles through a phenomenological sticking probability, which is usually assumed to be unity.
Role of Parent Affective Behaviors and Child Negativity in Behavioral Functioning for Young Children With Developmental Delays

This study examined individual and interactive effects of child negativity and parental affective behaviors when children were 4 years of age on externalizing issues exhibited by children at 5 year...
Enhancement of murine hematopoiesis by synergistic interactions between steel factor (ligand for c-kit), interleukin-11, and other early acting factors in culture

Entry into the cell cycle of dormant hematopoietic progenitors appears to be regulated by multiple synergistic factors, including interleukin-6 (IL-6), granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF), IL-11, and the ligand for c-kit, which is also known as steel factor (SF). We have tested the effects of these and other hematopoietic factors on the proliferation of partially enriched dormant murine progenitors in the presence and absence of serum. In serum-containing cultures, SF and IL-11 interacted to support the formation of multilineage colonies; the level of colony formation was comparable with the colony formation supported by other effective two-factor combinations. In serum-free cultures, colony formation supported by two factors was significantly less than that in serum-containing culture and the most effective two-factor combination in serum-free culture was SF plus IL-3. In serum-free cultures, three-factor combinations consisting of SF, IL-3, and one of IL-6, G-CSF, or IL-11 yielded colony formation that was comparable with that seen in serum-containing cultures. These studies indicate that IL-11 belongs to a group of early-acting hematopoietic synergistic factors that now includes IL-6, G-CSF, and IL-11. In contrast, SF is unique among the synergistic factors in that it interacts either with growth factors such as IL-3 or GM-CSF or with synergistic factors such as IL-6, IL-11, or G-CSF.
Oh, How Quickly We Forget: Curriculum Theorizing in the “New” Post-Truth Era

Donald Trump’s presidency has introduced a “new” post-truth era characterized by science denial, “alternative facts,” and a monumentalist longing for some lost American greatness. The association of post-truth solely with Trump’s election, however, elides analysis of the conditions of possibility of both phenomena. The focus on Trump’s bellicosity, overt racism, anti-immigrant sentiment, queer bashing, and misogyny, while important, distracts from the necessary self-critique of liberal elites on their roles in Trump’s ascendency. This paper imperfectly traces the antecedents of the current post-truth moment: sophisticated public relations and propaganda technologies developed in the United States during the early 20 th century and the revolt of many liberal intellectuals against Progressive democratic discourses and institutions. The author then discusses his subjective reconstruction of some of his commonsense truths through two autobiographical reflections. Finally, he discusses the implications for curriculum theorizing in this post-truth era in the context of Foucault’s analysis of parrhēsia .
Synthetic Aperture Focusing for Multi-Covariate Imaging of Sub-Resolution Targets

Coherence-based imaging methods suffer from reduced image quality outside the depth of field for focused ultrasound transmissions. Synthetic aperture methods can extend the depth of field by coherently compounding time-delayed echo data from multiple transmit events. Recently, our group has presented the Multi-covariate Imaging of Sub-resolution Targets (MIST), an estimation-based method to image the statistical properties of diffuse targets. MIST has demonstrated improved image quality over conventional delay-and-sum, but like many coherence-based imaging methods, suffers from limited depth of field artifacts. This article applies synthetic aperture focusing to MIST, which is evaluated using focused, plane-wave, and diverging-wave transmit geometries. Synthetic aperture MIST is evaluated in simulation, phantom, and in vivo applications, demonstrating consistent improvements in contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) over conventional dynamic receive MIST outside the transmit depth of field, with approximately equivalent results between synthetic transmit geometries. In vivo synthetic aperture MIST images demonstrated 16.8 dB and 16.6% improvements in contrast and CNR, respectively, over dynamic receive MIST images, as well as 17.4 dB and 32.3% improvements over synthetic aperture B-Mode. MIST performance is characterized in the space of plane-wave imaging, where the total plane-wave count is reduced through coarse angular sampling or total angular span. Simulation and experimental results indicate wide applicability of MIST to synthetic aperture imaging methods.
Deregulation of ribosomal protein expression and translation promotes breast cancer metastasis

Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) are shed into the bloodstream from primary tumors, but only a small subset of these cells generates metastases. We conducted an in vivo genome-wide CRISPR activation screen in CTCs from breast cancer patients to identify genes that promote distant metastasis in mice. Genes coding for ribosomal proteins and regulators of translation were enriched in this screen. Overexpression of RPL15, which encodes a component of the large ribosomal subunit, increased metastatic growth in multiple organs and selectively enhanced translation of other ribosomal proteins and cell cycle regulators. RNA sequencing of freshly isolated CTCs from breast cancer patients revealed a subset with strong ribosome and protein synthesis signatures; these CTCs expressed proliferation and epithelial markers and correlated with poor clinical outcome. Therapies targeting this aggressive subset of CTCs may merit exploration as potential suppressors of metastatic progression.
Pulmonary artery aneurysm: a review:

Pulmonary artery aneurysm is a rare but important entity in the spectrum of pulmonary vascular diseases. The etiologies can be varied and patients can present with non-specific symptoms with the diagnosis being incidental. There is limited consensus regarding the diagnostic criteria and follow-up imaging for patients diagnosed with this entity. Further the management strategies can be variable depending upon underlying disease, etiology, center dependent expertise, and resources available. We review the etiologies, epidemiology, classification, clinical manifestations, and imaging features of pulmonary artery aneurysm. We also review the current management strategies and suggest an algorithmic approach to these patients.
Under My Vodou: Haiti, Revolution, and Zombie Transformation as Liberation in Alejo Carpentier’s The Kingdom of This World and Brian Moore’s No Other Life

This chapter contributes innovative frameworks to the field of Zombie Studies through a comparison of Alejo Carpentier’s 1949 novel The Kingdom of This World and Brian Moore’s 1993 novel No Other Life: both fictionalized histories of Haiti. It examines how perceptions of Haiti and Vodou have been colored by US pop-cultural representations of zombies as mere brain-dead automatons, weary symbols of either decadent consumerism or the threat of the third world. Carpentier and Moore are unique, then, for how their novels ascribe humanity and agency to their zombies. Drawing upon the early scholarship of Melville Herskovits, this chapter examines how both novels see in zombies not only the ability to rise from the grave, but also transform, metamorphose, and liberate themselves in an inhumane world.
Lagrangian modeling of intermittent flow condensation in circular micro- and mini-channels

Abstract Very few models exist in the literature for predicting phase-change heat transfer in the intermittent flow regime during condensation in microchannels. Intermittent flow is characterized by a transient bubble-slug train, which is modeled here using a transient Lagrangian bubble tracking scheme. The compressibility of the bubbles and local parameters, such as the film thickness, bubble velocity and slug velocity are taken into account. The model also accounts for the phase change due to condensation of vapor in the bubbles into the surrounding liquid. Heat transfer is assumed to occur through conduction in the thin film around the bubble and through convection in the slug. The model is applied to the condensation of R134a in a circular microchannel of hydraulic diameter 1.55 mm at a saturation temperature of 30°C and a wall subcooling of 2.5 K. Hydrodynamic parameters show good agreement with studies in the literature, and condensation heat transfer coefficients are in good agreement with experimental results (AAD = 11%).
Bragg coherent diffraction imaging by simultaneous reconstruction of multiple diffraction peaks

Bragg coherent diffractive imaging (BCDI) is a noninvasive microscopy technique that can visualize the morphology and internal lattice deviations of crystals with nanoscale spatial resolution and picometer deformation sensitivity. While BCDI has been successfully applied in various studies of materials, it is less successful for highly strained crystals. Specifically, it is difficult to correctly reconstruct the electron density of a highly strained object using conventional phase retrieval algorithms. Although various algorithms have been developed to overcome this challenge, most of them require a priori knowledge that is not always available in practice. Here we report a phase retrieval workflow that can invert diffraction patterns from multiple Bragg peaks simultaneously. The workflow is explored via simulated diffraction from crystals with various strain conditions. Reconstructions from the workflow consistently demonstrate more accurate electron density maps, in comparison with the conventional method. For highly strained crystals, the workflow improves the reliability and consistency of BCDI phase retrieval significantly.
A User-Centric Approach for Ranking NFV Services

Significant research efforts in virtualizing networks contributed to the formation of Network Function Virtualization (NFV) and led to the existence of a wide range of NFV service providers. Identifying relevant NFV services of interest tailored to end-user needs remains a major challenge. Given that IoT applications (e.g. self-driving cars, smart city, mission-critical applications) cannot afford to compromise the end-to-end Quality of Service (QoS), it is indispensable to consider efficient methods for enhancing the discovery of relevant NFV services. QoS attributes such as response time, bandwidth, among others, play an increasingly crucial role in differentiating between NFV services. In this paper, we present the User-Centric NFV (UCNFV) framework for improving the NFV service provisioning process based on TOPSIS, a multicriteria decision analysis method. By considering end-user and application requirements, UCNFV optimally ranks NFV services that match client requirements. Throughout the paper, we present experimental and validation results which show the usefulness of our proposed UCNFV optimization approach.
Cryoelectron Microscopy Structures of AdeB Illuminate Mechanisms of Simultaneous Binding and Exporting of Substrates.

ABSTRACT Acinetobacter baumannii is a Gram-negative pathogen that has emerged as one of the most highly antibiotic-resistant bacteria worldwide. Multidrug efflux within these highly drug-resistant strains and other opportunistic pathogens is a major cause of failure of drug-based treatments of infectious diseases. The best-characterized multidrug efflux system in A. baumannii is the prevalent Acinetobacterdrug efflux B (AdeB) pump, which is a member of the resistance-nodulation-cell division (RND) superfamily. Here, we report six structures of the trimeric AdeB multidrug efflux pump in the presence of ethidium bromide using single-particle cryoelectron microscopy (cryo-EM). These structures allow us to directly observe various novel conformational states of the AdeB trimer, including the transmembrane region of trimeric AdeB can be associated with form a trimer assembly or dissociated into “dimer plus monomer” and “monomer plus monomer plus monomer” configurations. We also discover that a single AdeB protomer can simultaneously anchor a number of ethidium ligands and that different AdeB protomers can bind ethidium molecules simultaneously. Combined with molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, we reveal a drug transport mechanism that involves multiple multidrug-binding sites and various transient states of the AdeB membrane protein. Our data suggest that each AdeB protomer within the trimer binds and exports drugs independently. IMPORTANCEAcinetobacter baumannii has emerged as one of the most highly antibiotic-resistant Gram-negative pathogens. The prevalent AdeB multidrug efflux pump mediates resistance to a broad spectrum of clinically relevant antimicrobial agents. Here, we report six cryo-EM structures of the trimeric AdeB pump in the presence of ethidium bromide. We discover that a single AdeB protomer can simultaneously anchor a number of ligands, and different AdeB protomers can bind ethidium molecules simultaneously. The results indicate that each AdeB protomer within the trimer recognizes and extrudes drugs independently.
An Advanced Communication Skills Workshop Using Standardized Patients for Senior Medical Students.

Introduction Medical students often lack training in advanced communication skills encompassing emotionally fraught situations and those in which an intense emotional response is expected. Such ski...
Probing Human Osteogenic Differentiation Using Double-Stranded Locked Nucleic Acid Biosensors

Human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) have great potential for tissue engineering and regenerative medicine due to their self-renewal and multi-differentiation properties. However, the cellular and molecular mechanisms that govern osteogenic differentiation are poorly understood due to a lack of effective tools to detect gene expression at single cell level. Here, we present a double-stranded locked nucleic acid biosensor to investigate gene expression analysis during hMSCs osteogenic differentiation. We first demonstrated this biosensor for gene expression analysis in single hMSCs. We next investigated the regulatory role of Notchl-D1l4 signaling in osteogenic differentiation. Our findings provide evidence that Notchl-D1l4 signaling is involved in hMSCs osteogenic differentiation. Inhibition of Notchl-D1l4 signaling significantly decreased osteogenic differentiation and D1l4 expression.
Coupled Thermal and Mechanical Analysis of Thermal Barrier Coatings Under Gradient Exposure

The dynamic role of sintering in the lifetime of multilayer, multimaterial thermal barrier coatings (TBCs) has been probed through coupled kinetic, thermal, and mechanical models. Experimentally measured physical properties and analytical methods are integrated to understand the results of various novel laboratory-scale performance tests simulating realistic operating environments. Both isothermal and gradient tests are explored in this framework for single-layer yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ) and multilayer gadolinium zirconate–yttria-stabilized zirconia coatings. In both multilayer cases, failure between the two material layers can strongly be attributed to sintering, while failure between bond-coat TBC layers exhibits more ambiguity. Overall, this integrated computational materials engineering (ICME)-inspired framework demonstrates utility in understanding the failure of novel multilayer coating architectures. Further use in manufacturing is envisioned by incorporating the effects of process variation through the coating’s starting properties and microstructure.
Relationship Between Personality Measures and Perceived Mental Fatigability.

OBJECTIVE Examine the association between personality measures and perceived mental fatigability. METHODS We performed a cross-sectional analysis in N=1670 men, age 84.3±4.1 years. Multivariable linear regression models were used to examine the covariate adjusted association between personality measures (conscientiousness, optimism, goal reengagement, and goal disengagement) and perceived mental fatigability (measured with the validated 10-item Pittsburgh Fatigability Scale, PFS). RESULTS One standard deviation lower conscientiousness (β=-0.91, p<.0001) and optimism (β=-0.63, p<.0001), and higher goal reengagement (β=0.51, p=.01) scores were independently associated with higher PFS Mental scores adjusted for age, cognitive function, self-reported health status, depressive symptoms, sleep disturbance, physical activity, and goal disengagement. DISCUSSION Lower conscientiousness, optimism, and higher goal reengagement were linked with more severe perceived mental fatigability in older men. Personality traits may potentially contribute to early risk assessment for fatigability in later life. Future work should be longitudinal in nature and include personality assessments to confirm the temporality of the relationships observed.
Homosexuality And The Ethics Of Behavioral Intervention: Paper 1, Homosexuality, The Ethical Challenge.

It is suggested that behavior therapists have not attended sufficiently to the factors influencing the desire of some homosexuals to change their sexual orientation. Therapists of all persuasions constantly make decisions for their voluntary clients, encompassing both the goals of therapy and the means to be used to achieve those goals. A perusal of the psychotherapy and behavior therapy literature indicates that therapists generally regard homosexuality as undesirable, if not pathological. Since professionals are unlikely to work on treatment procedures unless they see a problem, it is probable that the very existence of change-of-orientation programs strengthens societal prejudices against homosexuality and contributes to the self-hate and embarrassment that are determinants of the "voluntary" desire by some homosexuals to become heterosexual. It is therefore proposed that we stop offering therapy to help homosexuals change and concentrate instead on improving the quality of their interpersonal relationships. Alternatively, more energy could be devoted to sexual enhancement procedures in general, regardless of the adult gender mix.
Antenna patterns for prototype two-dimensional digital beamforming array

The US Army Missile Command has conducted experiments on a two-dimensional, C-band, digital beamforming (DBF) array. The 8 /spl times/ 8 array has been tested both as a traditional DBF array and as a feed for a larger microwave lens. The multiple beam capability and flexibility in the beamforming process were demonstrated for both the conventional planar and the space fed configurations during tests on the prototype DBF hardware. >
Uma análise da implantação do padrão de troca de informação em saúde suplementar no Brasil

A ausencia de normas e a complexidade envolvida na troca de informacoes entre operadoras de planos privados de saude e prestadores de saude, assim como o investimento pouco expressivo em Tecnologia da Informacao (TI) estimularam a Agencia Nacional de Saude Suplementar (ANS) a elaborar uma norma nacional relacionada ao intercâmbio eletronico de informacao, intitulada como padrao TISS (Troca de Informacao em Saude Suplementar). Esse padrao foi desenvolvido de forma compativel com sistemas publicos de informacao e baseado em normas nacionais e internacionais, e visa a melhoria na qualidade do atendimento, racionalizacao dos custos e otimizacao dos recursos existentes. Esse artigo tem como objetivo apresentar os resultados do processo de implantacao do Padrao TISS no pais. Foram consideradas as informacoes provenientes de uma pesquisa periodica realizada pela ANS denominada RADAR TISS, que tem como intuito avaliar o intercâmbio de informacao entre operadoras e sua rede prestadora de de saude. O instrumento de coleta de informacoes utilizado foi um questionario eletronico, tendo como referencia trocas de informacao ocorridas no mes de abril de 2008. Tambem foram utilizados os dados provenientes de uma pesquisa de impacto socio-economico. Foram considerados tambem relatos de representantes de operadoras de planos e de prestadores de saude por meio do Comite de Padronizacao de Informacoes na Saude Suplementar (COPISS). Como principais resultados da pesquisa RADAR TISS, observou-se que distribuicao de trocas de informacao por meio eletronico foi extremamente desigual pelo Brasil. Adicionalmente, a Certificacao Digital do servidor e utilizada de forma ainda muito incipiente pelas operadoras de planos privados de saude. Alem disso, o processo de elaboracao e execucao do programa de forma participativa foi essencial para o desenvolvimento do padrao. A pesquisa socio-economica apontou que ate 2012, espera-se que todos os potenciais beneficios do padrao relacionados a elegibilidade, pagamento e prestacao de contas estejam contemplados. Como conclusao, o padrao TISS provou ser um programa relevante, mesmo com as dificuldades para implementacao. Seu principal objetivo e estimular a adocao de normas nacionais de informacao, terminologia unica e identificadores univocos. O padrao TISS representa um estimulo a um amplo debate nacional sobre Registro Eletronico de Saude.
A robust parallel delta-sigma A/D converter architecture

This paper presents an A/D converter architecture in which four 4/sup th/ order /spl Delta//spl Sigma/ modulator channels are operated in parallel at a time-oversampling ratio of 10 to obtain an ideal signal-to-quantization error ratio corresponding to 18-bits. The architecture has the property that any x-bit decrease in individual /spl Delta//spl Sigma/ modulator conversion performance due to non-ideal circuit behavior causes an x+1-bit decrease in the overall A/D conversion performance. The additional error caused by gain and offset mismatches among the four channels is either tolerable or removable using a simple digital compensation scheme. Thus, much of the robustness of /spl Delta//spl Sigma/ modulators is preserved.
Construcción y Validación de un Instrumento para Evaluar la Actitud Hacia la Salud Mental

La salud mental presenta un reto para la Ciudad de Mexico ya que problemas propios de la capital tales como, estres, tencion, embarazos tempranos, depresion, ansiedad, etc. son factores que desencadenan enfermedades mentales. En la primera fase se realizo un estudio exploratorio con la tecnica de redes semanticas modificadas, con una muestra de 50 participantes, 25 hombres y 25 mujeres. Se obtuvo un tamano de la red total de 312 definidoras del constructo, 144 para hombres y 168 para mujeres. Con base en los resultados del estudio exploratorio, se tomaron los indicadores mas frecuentes y se elaboraron 60 afirmaciones con formato de respuesta tipo Likert de 5 puntos. El instrumento de medicion para evaluar la actitud hacia la Salud Mental se aplico en una muestra de 105 participantes voluntarios, 40 hombres y 65 mujeres. Se obtuvo una fiabilidad de .83 donde 8 factores explican el 54.6% de la varianza.
Output relationships of China and India with the USA: How do the Asian giants respond to America?

Abstract With the advent of globalization, China and India, the two emerging giants of the world, are being integrated with the US, the leading economy, more than ever before. Hence, examining output relationships among them becomes necessary. This work finds a long run cointegrating relationship in output among these countries. The US economy remains exogenous in the short run error correction mechanism, but China and India correct any deviations from this equilibrium relationship. While theory expects a positive response of China and India to an output shock in America, India, and China respond in a significantly negative fashion to the US economy, as found in impulse responses. The US explains a major share of output variance in these Asian economies, but the reverse is not true. These findings have policy implications not only for India and China, but also for other developing nations that are growing fast through globalization and embracing further integration with the US economy.
Bedside diagnosis of preserved versus impaired left ventricular systolic function in heart failure.

The importance of recognizing symptomatic heart failure with preserved left ventricular (LV) systolic function has only recently been apprecated. To determine its frequency and identify clinical features that make the bedside diagnosis likely, 82 patients admitted for decompensated heart failure were classified into 2 groups based on their LV systolic performance, as defined by fractional shortening (FS): group I (n = 59), with impaired systolic function (fractional shortening <24%), and group II (n = 23) with preserved systolic function (fractional shortening ≥24%). Mean fractional shortening was 15 ± 5% and 39 ± 1% for groups I and II, respectively. Female gender (p < 0.05), obesity (p < 0.01) and diastolic blood pressure ≥105 mm Hg (p < 0.05) predominated in group II. Jugular venous distention was identified more frequently in group I (p < 0.05). No statistically significant difference between the 2 groups was noted among various demographic variables (age, duration of symptoms, history of hypertension, ischemic heart disease and heavy alcohol drinking) or physical findings (S3 gallop, edema, cardiomegaly, pulmonary congestion and pulmonary edema). Echocardiographic mean left ventricular dimension measured 6.6 ± 1 versus 5.0 ± 1 cm (p < 0.01) and mean posterior wall thickness 1.1 ± 0.3 versus 1.4 ± 0.4 cm (p < 0.01) in group I and II, respectively. The combination of diastolic blood pressure ≥105 mm Hg and an absence of jugular venous distention had a high specificity and positive predictive value (100%) for identifying group II patients. It is concluded that, of 82 consecutive patients with symptomatic heart failure admitted to a city hospital, a sizeable portion (28%) have preserved systolic function. The combination of diastolic blood pressure ≥105 mm Hg and the absence of jugular venous distention has high specificity and positive predictive value in identifying heart failure with preserved systolic performance.
Analysis of organic and inorganic species on the surface of atmospheric aerosol using time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (TOF-SIMS)

This work explores the utility of time-of-flight static secondary-ion mass spectrometry (TOF-SIMS) for the analysis of the surface organic layer on individual atmospheric aerosol particles. The surface sensitivity and minimal fragmentation available with TOF-SIMS suggest that it can be a powerful tool for the examination of the organic and inorganic species on the surface of individual particles. Cascade impactors were used to collect aerosol from summer 2000 Montana forest fires, winter snowmobile samples in Yellowstone National Park, Hawaiian lava and sea salt, from an Asian Dust event reaching Salt Lake City, Utah in April 2001 and from Salt Lake Valley summer urban aerosol. TOF-SIMS analysis and multivariate statistical techniques combined gave chemical and morphological information about the particles. Surfaces of the aerosol from forest fires, snowmobile exhaust, and sea salt were all dominated by aliphatic hydrocarbons and their amphiphilic derivatives. Each source showed a different organic chemical signature. The extent and composition of the organics layer which typically covers the surface of atmospheric particles are expected to effect all of the surface related aerosol properties such as health effects, the ability of the particle to activate and form cloud droplets, and the aggregation of particles as well as reactions between the particle and gas phase species.
Perturbative corrections to basis incompleteness in molecular SCF calculations

A unified summary is presented of the mathematical approach developed by McDowell for employing perturbation theory to correct for basis-set incompleteness in ab initio SCF calculations. Revised expressions for the corrections to the wavefunction both in terms of orbitals and spin-orbitals are presented with explicit incorporation of the spin variables. Employing H2O as an example, we show that this approach is considerably more powerful for computing molecular energies with standard basis sets than was indicated by previous work. In particular at the higher levels of approximation it accurately reproduces the effect of polarization functions in sets such as 6-31G* and 6-31G**. The equilibrium molecular structure of H2O was also computed by this approach and found to give good accuracy. In each case perturbing functions coupled to both occupied and virtual orbitals are required for acceptable results.
Estimation of Self-Exchange Electron Transfer Rate Constants for Organic Compounds from Stopped-Flow Studies

Second-order rate constants k12(obsd) measured at 25 °C in acetonitrile by stopped-flow for 47 electron transfer (ET) reactions among ten tetraalkylhydrazines, four ferrocene derivatives, and three p-phenylenediamine derivatives are discussed. Marcus's adiabatic cross rate formula k12(calcd) = (k11 k22 k12 f12)1/2, ln f12 = (ln K12)2/4 ln(k11k22/Z2) works well to correlate these data. When all k12(obsd) values are simultaneously fitted to this relationship, best-fit self-exchange rate constants, kii(fit), are obtained that allow remarkably accurate calculation of k12(obsd); k12(obsd)/k12‘(calcd) is in the range of 0.55−1.94 for all 47 reactions. The average ΔΔGij between observed activation free energy and that calculated using kii(fit) is 0.13 kcal/mol. Simulations using Jortner vibronic coupling theory to calculate k12 using parameters which produce the wide range of kii values observed predict that Marcus's formula should be followed even when V is as low as 0.1 kcal/mol, in the weakly nonadiabatic region. Tetracyclohexylhydrazine has a higher kii than tetraisopropylhydrazine by a factor of ca. 10. Replacing the dimethylamino groups of tetramethyl-p-phenylenediamine by 9-azabicyclo[3.3.1]nonyl groups has little effect on kii, demonstrating that conformations which have high intermolecular aromatic ring overlap are not necessary for large ET rate constants. Replacing a γ CH2 group of a 9-azabicyclo[3.3.1]nonyl group by a carbonyl group lowers kii by a factor of 17 for the doubly substituted hydrazine and by considerably less for the doubly substituted p-phenylenediamine.
Invasive squamous cell carcinoma of the vagina in a diethylstilbestrol-exposed woman

A case of invasive squamous cell carcinoma of the vagina in a diethylstilbestrol (DES)-exposed patient is described. Histologic evidence indicates that the invasive lesion arose in dysplastic vaginal adenosis. The medical literature regarding squamous cell neoplasia in DES-exposed patients is discussed.
Nonlinear transformation analysis of the misregistered trade-off heterocorrelation filter: part 1, using full spectrum information

We analyze an algorithm for the misregistered trade-off heterocorrelation filter (HCF) using nonlinear transformation methods. This HCF consists of a matched filter modified by a transmittance function that has been optimized for the metric peak-to-mismatched energy. We find that this algorithm employs a new form of the nonlinear synthetic discriminant function algorithm that generates multiple correlation peaks for both autocorrelation and heterocorrelation when the filter function is made up of functions misregistered (i.e., shifted) with respect to each other. By means of computer simulations we study the effect that the trade-off factor (β), weighting the Fourier spectrum difference, has on the autocorrelation, heterocorrelation, and cross-correlations for centered inputs when the matched filter is used as the basic filter. We find that as β increases, the difference between the autocorrelation and heterocorrelation peak intensities diminishes and reaches a minimum value when β approaches 1. Furthermore, we find that for exactly registered (i.e., unshifted) images used to make up the HCF, there is only one order of autocorrelation peak and only one order of heterocorrelation peak; however, as the amount of misregistration increases, both the autocorrelation and heterocorrelation peaks split into many orders and their positions are displaced relative to each other. The amount of shift between successive autocorrelation and heterocorrelation peaks is equal to the amount of shift in the misregistered images used to make up the filter.
Heat transfer in trapezoidal microchannels of various aspect ratios

Heat transfer in the thermal entrance region of trapezoidal microchannels is investigated for hydrodynamically fully developed, single-phase, laminar flow with no-slip conditions. Three-dimensional numerical simulations were performed using a finite-volume approach for trapezoidal channels with a wide range of aspect ratios. The sidewall angles of 54.7° and 45° are chosen to correspond to etch-resistant planes in the crystal structure of silicon. Local and average Nusselt numbers are reported as a function of dimensionless length and aspect ratio. The effect of Prandtl number upon the thermal entrance condition is explored. The fully developed friction factors are computed and correlated as a function of channel aspect ratio. Correlations are also developed for the local and average Nusselt numbers in the thermal entrance region as a function of a dimensionless axial length variable.
Average Yarding Distance for Row Thinning of Plantations

An average yarding distance model for rectilinear skidtrail layout from a centralized landing is given. The model is appropriate to the evaluation of some row thinning designs in plantations. The theoretical basis for formulas used in the model is briefly described. The model was coded for computer solution and applied to a hypothetical example the results of which are presented.
High resolution vertical profiles of pH in recent sediments

High resolution (0.1 cm sampling interval) profiles of pH were obtained from some recent estuarine (Long Island Sound, Chesapeake Bay) and freshwater (Lake Erie) sediments and from laboratory microcosms containing homogenized Lake Erie sediment (both with and without tubificid oligochaetes) by incrementally precessing a micro-pH electrode downward through the sediment. These profiles revealed that hydrogen ion undergoes chemical reactions on a scale smaller than can be resolved using classic 1 cm sampling intervals, and that the vertical distribution of hydrogen ion is affected by bioturbation. In all sediments examined, a local pH minimum occurred immediately below the oxidized zone. In estuarine sediments, a second deeper pH minimum was observed. The presence of tubificids prevented profound pH changes from developing in microcosm sediments treated with a layer of activated sewage sludge and resulted in more modest alterations of pH profile in microcosm sediments lacking such a layer. The technique used in this study is by no means limited to pH. In principal, any chemical species that can be directly determined by electrodes (e.g. O2, S-2) may be studied. Microelectrode techniques could be especially useful in the study of chemical gradients around animal burrows and in time series studies of whole core diagenesis.
Retention of STEM majors using early undergraduate researchexperiences

An early undergraduate research program for rising sophomores and juniors at risk of leaving STEM degree programs is described. Students are paid a stipend to work part-time, at a maximum of twenty hours per week, as part of a research team. Faculty researchers are not financially compensated for working with students. The program successfully brings together STEM departments to target students who are at risk of leaving their major. Initial results demonstrate a positive influence of undergraduate research in retaining STEM majors and improvements in Student Assessment of Learning Gains. Future work, including institutionalization of the project, is discussed.
Mobility of the herbicide pyrithiobac through intact soil columns.

The relative mobility of pyrithiobac [sodium 2-chloro-6-(4,6-dimethoxypyrimidin-2-ylthio)benzoate], a new herbicide used for postemergence control of broadleaf weeds in cotton (Gossypium hirsutum), was evaluated and compared against that of bromide (Br-) tracer on four soils representative of cotton-growing regions using intact soil columns under saturated flow conditions. Pyrithiobac breakthrough curves were asymmetrical in shape with significant tailing and displaced to the left of 1 pore volume in the Houston Black clay (fine, montmorillonitic, thermic Udic Pellustert), Orelia fine sandy clay loam (fine-loamy, mixed, hyperthermic Typic Ochraqualfs), and Ships silty clay (very-fine, mixed, thermic Udic Chromustert) soils. Breakthrough of pyrithiobac in the Hidalgo sandy loam soil (fine-loamy, mixed, hyperthermic Typic Calciustoll) was delayed and more symmetrical, with peak pyrithiobac concentration reached after 1.2 pore volumes. The immobile pore water (IPW) fractions estimated from the Br- breakthrou...
Towards a computation system based on set theory

Abstract An axiomatic theory of sets and rules is formulated, which permits the use of sets as data structures and allows rules to operate on rules, numbers, or sets. We might call it a “polymorphic set theory”. Our theory combines the λ-calculus with traditional set theories. A natural set-theoretic model of the theory is constructed, establishing the consistency of the theory and bounding its proof-theoretic strength, and giving in a sense its denotational semantics. Another model, a natural recursion-theoretic model, is constructed, in which only recursive operations from integers to integers are represented, even though the logic can be classical. Some related philosophical considerations on the notions of set, type, and data structure are given in an appendix.
Interoception and learning: import to understanding and treating diseases and psychopathologies

Chemotherapeutic agents nauseate cancer patients. Some individuals with schizophrenia hear voices. Chronic pain can be reduced by analgesics. Nausea, voices, and pain are examples of internal (interoceptive) stimuli closely linked with a disease and/or its treatment. There is evidence that the perception and, hence, role of these internal stimuli can be modified by one’s learning history. There is also increased awareness by researchers and practitioners of the potential import of learning involving internal states to some diseases and psychopathologies. Unfortunately, the science, theory, and practice appear to be trailing behind awareness. In this mini-review, we describe two examples: smoking and panic disorder. While doing so, we discuss the need to develop translationally relevant animal models that will allow investigators to better understand the behavioral and neural mechanisms underlying interoception and learning.
Image‐based modeling of tumor shrinkage in head and neck radiation therapy

Purpose: Understanding the kinetics of tumor growth/shrinkage represents a critical step in quantitative assessment of therapeutics and realization of adaptive radiation therapy. This article presents a novel framework for image-based modeling of tumor change and demonstrates its performance with synthetic images and clinical cases. Methods: Due to significant tumor tissue content changes, similarity-based models are not suitable for describing the process of tumor volume changes. Under the hypothesis that tissue features in a tumor volume or at the boundary region are partially preserved, the kinetic change was modeled in two steps: (1) Autodetection of homologous tissue features shared by two input images using the scale invariance feature transformation (SIFT) method; and (2) establishment of a voxel-to-voxel correspondence between the images for the remaining spatial points by interpolation. The correctness of the tissue feature correspondence was assured by a bidirectional association procedure, where SIFT features were mapped from template to target images and reversely. A series of digital phantom experiments and five head and neck clinical cases were used to assess the performance of the proposed technique. Results: The proposed technique can faithfully identify the known changes introduced when constructing the digital phantoms. The subsequent feature-guided thin plate spline calculation reproducedmore » the ''ground truth'' with accuracy better than 1.5 mm. For the clinical cases, the new algorithm worked reliably for a volume change as large as 30%. Conclusions: An image-based tumor kinetic algorithm was developed to model the tumor response to radiation therapy. The technique provides a practical framework for future application in adaptive radiation therapy.« less
KDIGO guideline for the care of kidney transplant recipients will be resource challenged

The Executive Summary of the KDIGO Clinical Practice Guideline for the Care of Kidney Transplant Recipients is presented in this issue of Kidney International. This guideline will require careful attention for implementation in the context of available resources within each country, especially those with underdeveloped economies.
A Black Theology of Liberation

AbstractThis essay looks at the notion of culture as one of the foundational presuppositions for developing a future constructive theological anthropology based on African-American folk tales. Too often contemporary theologians, in general, and Black and Womanist theologians, in particular, assume an understanding of culture as given. But because theological anthropology emerges from a divine spirit of liberation revealing itself among the culture of the people from below, then what is the exact status of the notion of culture (that is, the human container for liberating divinity)? Indeed, it is one's construal of culture that actually affects (if not effects) the resulting theological anthropology. Drawing on theoretical resources from Africa and the Diaspora, the article asserts, at least, a three-part definition. Culture is constituted by human labor, the aesthetic, and the spirit. In this regard, culture is an integrated way of life which shuns false dichotomies between sacred and so-called secular. H...