cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Tumor 3′-Deoxy-3′-18F-Fluorothymidine (18F-FLT) Uptake by PET Correlates with Thymidine Kinase 1 Expression: Static and Kinetic Analysis of 18F-FLT PET Studies in Lung Tumors

We report the first, to our knowledge, findings describing the relationships between both static and dynamic analysis parameters of 3′-deoxy-3′-18F-fluorothymidine (18F-FLT) PET and the expression of the proliferation marker Ki-67, and the protein expression and enzymatic activity of thymidine kinase-1 (TK1) in surgically resected lung lesions. Methods: Static and dynamic analyses (4 rate constants and 2 compartments) of 18F-FLT PET images were performed in a cohort of 25 prospectively accrued, clinically suspected lung cancer patients before surgical resection (1 lesion was found to be benign after surgery). The maximal and overall averaged expression of Ki-67 and TK1 were determined by semiquantitative analysis of immunohistochemical staining. TK1 enzymatic activity was determined by in vitro assay of extracts prepared from flash-frozen samples of the same tumors. Results: Static 18F-FLT uptake (partial-volume–corrected maximum-pixel standardized uptake value from 60- to 90-min summed dynamic data) was significantly correlated with the overall (ρ = 0.57, P = 0.006) and maximal (ρ = 0.69, P
Random Noise Suppression Using Normalized Convolution Filter

Summary Random noise in seismic data hampers seismic interpretation, confounds automatic pickers, overprints seismic attributes, and masks subtle geologic features of interest. For this reason much of seismic processing is devoted to increasing the the signal to noise ratio. In this paper, we introduce a novel method named the normalized convolution, or NC filter, which is based on a confidence estimation of the signal, to improve our signal to noise raito. The NC filter attenuates noise and enhances the continuity of seismic events. We demonstrate the effectiveness of the filter on simple synthetic, a real data set contaminated with real band-limited seismic noise, and a real data set contaminated with high amplitude artificial noise. These examples suggest that the proposed method is ready for application to seismic data.
Statistical features of the evolution of two-dimensional turbulence

Statistical fluid dynamics identifies a functional of the fluid energy spectrum that plays the role of Boltzmann’s entropy for fluids. Through a series of two-dimensional flow simulations we confirm the theoretical predictions for the behaviour of this entropy functional. This includes a demonstration of Loschmidt’s paradox and an examination of the effects of Rossby waves and viscosity on the behaviour of the entropy.
The impact of climate change measured at relevant spatial scales: new hope for tropical lizards

Much attention has been given to recent predictions that widespread extinctions of tropical ectotherms, and tropical forest lizards in particular, will result from anthropogenic climate change. Most of these predictions, however, are based on environmental temperature data measured at a maximum resolution of 1 km 2 , whereas individuals of most species experience thermal variation on a much finer scale. To address this disconnect, we combined thermal performance curves for five populations of Anolis lizard from the Bay Islands of Honduras with high-resolution temperature distributions generated from physical models. Previous research has suggested that open-habitat species are likely to invade forest habitat and drive forest species to extinction. We test this hypothesis, and compare the vulnerabilities of closely related, but allopatric, forest species. Our data suggest that the open-habitat populations we studied will not invade forest habitat and may actually benefit from predicted warming for many decades. Conversely, one of the forest species we studied should experience reduced activity time as a result of warming, while two others are unlikely to experience a significant decline in performance. Our results suggest that global-scale predictions generated using low-resolution temperature data may overestimate the vulnerability of many tropical ectotherms to climate change.
Characterization of plasma thiol redox potential in a common marmoset model of aging

Due to its short lifespan, ease of use and age-related pathologies that mirror those observed in humans, the common marmoset (Callithrix jacchus) is poised to become a standard nonhuman primate model of aging. Blood and extracellular fluid possess two major thiol-dependent redox nodes involving cysteine (Cys), cystine (CySS), glutathione (GSH) and glutathione disulfide (GSSG). Alteration in these plasma redox nodes significantly affects cellular physiology, and oxidation of the plasma Cys/CySS redox potential (EhCySS) is associated with aging and disease risk in humans. The purpose of this study was to determine age-related changes in plasma redox metabolites and corresponding redox potentials (Eh) to further validate the marmoset as a nonhuman primate model of aging. We measured plasma thiol redox states in marmosets and used existing human data with multivariate adaptive regression splines (MARS) to model the relationships between age and redox metabolites. A classification accuracy of 70.2% and an AUC of 0.703 were achieved using the MARS model built from the marmoset redox data to classify the human samples as young or old. These results show that common marmosets provide a useful model for thiol redox biology of aging.
Empirical solvation models in the context of conformational energy searches: Application to bovine pancreatic trypsin inhibitor

Continuum solvation models that estimate free energies of solvation as a function of solvent accessible surface area are computationally simple enough to be useful for predicting protein conformation. The behavior of three such solvation models has been examined by applying them to the minimization of the conformational energy of bovine pancreatic trypsin inhibitor. The models differ only with regard to how the constants of proportionality between free energy and surface area were derived. Each model was derived by fitting to experimentally measured equilibrium solution properties. For two models, the solution property was free energy of hydration. For the third, the property was NMR coupling constants. The purpose of this study is to determine the effect of applying these solvation models to the nonequilibrium conformations of a protein arising in the course of global searches for conformational energy minima. Two approaches were used: (1) local energy minimization of an ensemble of conformations similar to the equilibrium conformation and (2) global search trajectories using Monte Carlo plus minimization starting from a single conformation similar to the equilibrium conformation. For the two models derived from free energy measurements, it was found that both the global searches and local minimizations yielded conformations more similar to the X-ray crystallographic structures than did searches or local minimizations carried out in the absence of a solvation component of the conformational energy. The model derived from NMR coupling constants behaved similarly to the other models in the context of a global search trajectory. For one of the models derived from measured free energies of hydration, it was found that minimization of an ensemble of near-equilibrium conformations yielded a new ensemble in which the conformation most similar to the X-ray determined structure PTI4 had the lowest total free energy. Despite the simplicity of the continuum solvation models, the final conformation generated in the trajectories for each of the models exhibited some of the characteristics that have been reported for conformations obtained from molecular dynamics simulations in the presence of a bath of explicit water molecules. They have smaller root mean square (rms) deviations from the experimentally determined conformation, fewer incorrect hydrogen bonds, and slightly larger radii of gyration than do conformations derived from search trajectories carried out in the absence of solvent.
Real Time Measures of Prestin Charge and Fluorescence during Plasma Membrane Trafficking Reveal Sub-Tetrameric Activity

Prestin (SLC26a5) is the outer hair cell integral membrane motor protein that drives cochlear amplification, and has been described as an obligate tetramer. We studied in real time the delivery of YFP-prestin to the plasma membrane of cells from a tetracycline-inducible cell line. Following the release of temperature block to reinstate trans Golgi network delivery of the integral membrane protein, we measured nonlinear capacitance (NLC) and membrane fluorescence during voltage clamp. Prestin was delivered exponentially to the plasma membrane with a time constant of less than 10 minutes, with both electrical and fluorescence methods showing high temporal correlation. However, based on disparity between estimates of prestin density derived from either fluorescence or NLC, we conclude that sub-tetrameric forms of prestin contribute to our electrical and fluorescence measures. Thus, in agreement with previous observations we find that functional prestin is not an obligate tetramer.
An accumulative x-ray streak camera with 280-fs resolution

We demonstrated a significant improvement in the resolution of the x-ray streak camera by reducing the electron beam size in the deflection plates. This was accomplished by adding a slit in front of the focusing lens and the deflection plates. The temporal resolution reached 280 fs when the slit width was 5 mm. The camera was operated in an accumulative mode and tested by using a 25 fs laser with 2 kHz repetition rate and 1-2% RMS pulse energy stability. We conclude that deflection aberrations, which limit the resolution of the camera, can be appreciably reduced by eliminating the wide-angle electrons.
Experimental investigation and multiscale modeling of ultra-high-performance concrete panels subject to blast loading

Abstract Tailored cementitious materials, such as Ultra-High-Performance Concrete (UHPC), may significantly improve the blast resistance of structural panels. To understand and quantify the performance of UHPC panels subject to blast loading, four 1626- by 864- by 51-mm UHPC panels without steel rebar reinforcement were subjected to reflected impulse loads between 0.77 and 2.05 MPa-ms. The UHPC material was composed of a commercially available UHPC premix, high-range water reducing agent, 2% volume fraction of straight, smooth 14-mm-long by 0.185-mm-diameter fibers, and water. Experimental results determined that the UHPC panel fractured at a reflected impulse between 0.97 and 1.47 MPa-ms. These results were used to validate a multiscale model which accounts for structure and phenomena at two length scales: a multiple fiber length scale and a structural length scale. Within the multiscale model, a hand-shaking scheme conveys the energy barrier threshold and dissipated energy density from the model at the multiple fiber length scale to the model at the structural length scale. Together, the models at the two length scales account for energy dissipation through granular flow of the matrix, frictional pullout of the fibers, and friction between the interfaces. The simulated displacement and fracture patterns generated by the multiscale model are compared to experimental observations. This work is significant for three reasons: (1) new experimental data provide an upper and lower bound to the blast resistance of UHPC panels, (2) the multiscale model simulates the experimental results using readily available material properties and information regarding mesostructure attributes at two different length scales, and (3) by incorporating information from multiple length scales, the multiscale model can facilitate the design of UHPC materials to resist blast loading in ways not accessible using single length scale models.
Institutional Affiliations of Contributors to the Personnel and Guidance Journal: Volumes 47–62

The institutional affiliations of contributors to the Personnel and Guidance Journal were examined for a 16-volume period (Vols. 47–62). Authors from colleges and universities represented the major source of contributions (80%). Colleges and universities were then ranked according to the number of articles submitted in each of the two 8-volume periods studied. The top 25 institutions for the entire 16-volume period were identified and ranked according to their contributions to the Journal. Results were compared to a previous study of Journal contributors to highlight trends across a 32-volume period.
Pressure effect on the electronic structure of iron in (Mg,Fe)(Si,Al)O 3 perovskite: a combined synchrotron Mossbauer and X-ray emission spectroscopy study up to 100 GPa

We investigated the valence state and spin state of iron in an Al-bearing ferromagnesian silicate perovskite sample with the composition (Mg0.88Fe0.09) (Si0.94Al0.10)O3 between 1 bar and 100 GPa and at 300 K, using diamond cells and synchrotron Moss- bauer spectroscopy techniques. At pressures below 12 GPa, our Mossbauer spectra can be sufficiently fitted by a ''two-doublet'' model, which assumes one ferrous Fe 2+ -like site and one ferric Fe 3+ -like site with distinct hyperfine parameters. The simplest interpre- tation that is consistent with both the Mossbauer data and previous X-ray emission data on the same sample is that the Fe 2+ -like site is high-spin Fe 2+ , and the Fe 3+ -like site is high-spin Fe 3+ . At 12 GPa and higher pressures, a ''three-doublet'' model is necessary and sufficient to fit the Mossbauer spectra. This model assumes two Fe 2+ -like sites and one Fe 3+ -like site distinguished by their hyperfine parameters. Between
Exploratory Analysis of Nonuniform Plug Nozzle Flowfields

A method is presented by which the plug nozzle flowfield is calculated for the "closed wake" condition. The assumed flow model is divided into two basic components: the separated region or near wake and the inviscid flow adjacent to this near wake. The solution to the near wake is obtained by means of an integral analysis, and the rotational method of characteristics solution is employed in the adjacent inviscid region. Parametric studies for representative nozzle configurations are also included. These parameters include the effects of: plug truncation for an internal-external-expansion truncated plug nozzle, shroud truncation for an expansion-deflection nozzle, the over-all nozzle area ratio, nonisoenergetic mixing, the variation of the ambient pressure, base bleed, and boundary-layer thickness approaching separation. Comparison with a limited amount of experimental data is also presented. Nomenclature A = area H = nondimensional bleed number, Refs. 1, 5 or 6 L = plug length measured from geometric throat M = Mach number m = mass flow rate n = power law profile exponent P = pressure r = radius T — temperature u = velocity X,Y = coordinates of the reference (inviscid) coordinate system x,y = coordinates of the intrinsic (viscous) coordinate system y = ratio of specific heats 8 = boundary-layer thickness $** = boundary-layer momentum thickness e = 0 for planar flows; = 1 for axisymmetric flows 17 = dimensionless coordinate (=crylx) 0 = streamline angle p = density a = jet spread parameter (f> = velocity ratio, u/ui Subscripts
ACE inhibitor co-therapy in patients with heart failure: Rationale for the Randomized Aldactone Evaluation Study (RALES)

Angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor therapy in conjunction with loop diuretics and, possibly, digoxin, is associated with a relatively high incidence of recurrent heart failure and death. Even high doses of ACE inhibitors may not completely suppress the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system; aldosterone "escape' may occur through non-angiotensin II dependent mechanisms involving corticotropin, atrial natriuretic peptide, serum potassium, and deficient high-density lipoprotein cholesterol concentrations. Addition of spironolactone (an aldosterone receptor blocker) to an ACE inhibitor regimen causes marked diuresis and symptomatic improvement. The Randomized Aldactone Evaluation Study (RALES) was organized to explore the role of combination therapy with spironolactone in patients with heart failure. Patients with New York Heart Association Functional Class II-IV heart failure and left ventricular ejection fractions < or = 40% who were on regimens comprising an ACE inhibitor, loop diuretic, and, possibly, digoxin were randomized to receive placebo or spironolactone in doses of 12.5, 25, 50, or 75 mg per day. Eve at the lowest dose of spironolactone, a significant decrease in plasma N-terminal pro-atrial natriuretic peptide occurred, with concomitant increase in concentrations of plasma renin and urinary aldosterone. As prophylaxis for heart failure, a daily dose of 25 mg of spironolactone and monitoring of serum potassium concentrations are recommended; symptomatic therapy in refractory or severe heart failure may require doses as high as 100 mg b.i.d. The RALES Mortality Trial will follow up 1400 similar patients for 3 years to determine the effect of the addition of spironolactone on combined mortality and hospitalization for heart failure.
The dentition and occlusal development in children of african american descent.

Abstract Objective: The objectives of this study were to (1) determine normative dental arch dimensions (arch length [AL], arch width [AW], arch perimeter [AP], and amount of interdental space [IDS]) in the primary dentition of African American (AA) children; (2) compare the established normative arch dimensions in AA children with their European American (EA) cohorts; and (3) contrast a theoretical construct of mandibular transitional occlusal development between children of AA and EA descent on the basis of normative values. Materials and Methods: Two hundred seventeen sets of AA primary dental casts (110 boys, 107 girls) made from alginate impressions were measured and compared with historical EA standard values. Independent group t-tests were used to analyze sample differences. Results: AA children showed significant (P = .001) sex differences in each respective dental arch dimension with the exception of the mandibular canine AW. AA boys and girls revealed statistically larger (P = .001) arch dimensi...
Medicolegal Aspects of Prenatal Diagnosis

New medical techniques inevitably evolve through several stages. Clinical trials generate modifications and refinements until, eventually, a boundary is crossed and use becomes routine. Initial acceptance of a new technique occurs when competent physicians become willing to explain the significant risks and obtain an informed consent from patients. As more and more physicians become familiar with a new technique, it gradually becomes routine. The publication of the United States and Canadian collaborative studies in the fall of 1976 (NICHD, 1976; Simpson et al., 1976) indicates that amniocentesis and prenatal diagnosis can now be used routinely.
Usage of Revision Control Tools in Capstone Senior Design Courses

The capstone project serves as the culminating experience of most engineering programs. Collaborative design and documentation tools are an integral component of a modern product design and development environment. The Engineering Design Guide and Environment (EDGE), is a web-based system which provides engineers with tools for collaboration on multidisciplinary projects. The EDGE system includes version-controlled repositories for project documentation and design files. By examining the history of changes to these repositories, it is possible to view the usage trends of the system and their relationship to curriculum structure. This paper explores these usage trends with respect to the transition from a quarter-based to a semester-based calendar, the cycle of project deliverables within an academic term, and the transition from a one-day-per-week meeting pattern to a two-day-per-week meeting pattern.Copyright © 2015 by ASME
Identification of Amines in Anaerobic Kidney Extracts

SummaryThe pressor effects of anaerobic kidney extracts prepared according to the method of Victor. Steiner, and Weeks are probably due to pressor amines. Tyramine and isoamylamine have been identified in the extracts and the probable presence of phenylethylamine has been shown.
Plant Species Utilization by Different Life Stages of the Range Caterpillar, Hemileuca oliviae (Lepidoptera: Saturniidae)

The selection of plant species used by the range caterpillar, Hemileuca oliviae Cockerell, for feeding, pupation, and oviposition in the short-grass prairie habitat of Lincoln County, N.Mex., was studied in relation to the assortment of plants available in three plant communities found along a hillside. Larvae were polyphagous; feeding larvae were distributed randomly on grasses in two of the three communities, with only small departures from randomness found in the third community. Major departures from random distributions during pupation and oviposition were due to selection by larvae and adults of structures that would provide adequate physical support for these stages. Selection during pupation and oviposition did not reflect any broad taxonomic associations among the plant species, but rather certain physical attributes, such as a stiff upright habit.
37-GHz Modulation via Resonance Tuning in Single-Mode Coherent Vertical-Cavity Laser Arrays

We show a significant improvement of modulation bandwidth from $2\times 1$ photonic crystal vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser arrays. Control of injection bias conditions to array elements enables resonance tuning of each element with variation of the phase relation and coherence of the array, resulting in the ability to tailor the modulation response. A bandwidth of 37 GHz is obtained under highly single-mode coherent operation with narrow spectral width and increased output power while the laser array is biased at low current density. Lasers with such performance characteristics may greatly enhance high-rate data transfer in computer server, data center, and supercomputer applications with potentially long device lifetime.
Diagnosis and Control of Viral Diseases of Reproductive Importance: Infectious Bovine Rhinotracheitis and Bovine Viral Diarrhea.

Both bovine viral diarrhea virus and bovine herpesvirus 1 can have significant negative reproductive impacts on cattle health. Vaccination is the primary control method for the viral pathogens in US cattle herds. Polyvalent, modified-live vaccines are recommended to provide optimal protection against various viral field strains. Of particular importance to bovine viral diarrhea control is the limitation of contact of pregnant cattle with potential viral reservoirs during the critical first 125 days of gestation.
Laser Nanofabrication beyond the Diffraction Limit

In laser nanofabrication, we need to overcome the diffraction limit of the laser wavelengths. Different approaches have been explored to overcome the diffraction limit and to achieve feature sizes down to 10 nm order.
High-fidelity simulations of blast loadings in urban environments using an overset meshing strategy

Detailed blast propagation and evolution through multiple structures representing an urban environment were simulated using the code Loci/BLAST, which employs an overset meshing strategy. The use of overset meshes simplifies mesh generation by allowing meshes for individual component geometries to be generated independently. Detailed blast propagation and evolution through multiple structures, wave reflection and interaction between structures, and blast loadings on structures were simulated and analyzed. Predicted results showed good agreement with experimental data generated by the US Army Engineer Research and Development Center. Loci/BLAST results were also found to compare favorably to simulations obtained using the Second-Order Hydrodynamic Automatic Mesh Refinement Code (SHAMRC). The results obtained demonstrated that blast reflections in an urban setting significantly increased the blast loads on adjacent buildings. Correlations of computational results with experimental data yielded valuable insights into the physics of blast propagation, reflection, and interaction under an urban setting and verified the use of Loci/BLAST as a viable tool for urban blast analysis.
Approximate and Hierarchical Path Planning

We consider the problem of planning a path for a point robot from a source point s to a destination point d so as to avoid a set of polygonal obstacles in plane. We are interested in planning paths faster at the cost of settling for sub-optimal paths in terms of the distance traversed. We are also interested in the performance of well-known heuristic path planning algorithms. Using known methods, an optimal path, in terms of the path length, can be computed with a time complexity of O (n 2) where n is the total number of obstacle vertices. We present approximate path planning algorithms based on Voronoi diagrams, trapezoidal decomposition and triangulation, which compute an approximate path in time with preprocessing costs of O (n logn), O (n 2) and O (n logn) respectively. We also show that well-known algorithms of unknown terrains can adapted to the present problem to run in O (n logn) time. For all our algorithms, we estimate the upperbounds on the lengths of the generated paths as functions of the length of a shortest path, and parameters such as maximum clearance, perimeters of the obstacles, etc. Then we present a hierarchical path planning method which has a worst-case complexity of for path planning after preprocessing in O (n logn) time. This algorithm has a good average-case performance in that simple paths can be planned faster than complicated ones.
Annealing bounds to prevent further Charge Transfer Inefficiency increase of the Chandra X-ray CCDs

Abstract After the front-illuminated CCDs on board the X-ray telescope Chandra were damaged by radiation after launch, it was decided to anneal them in an effort to remove the defects introduced by the irradiation. The annealing led to an unexpected increase of the Charge Transfer Inefficiency (CTI). The performance degradation is attributed to point defect interactions in the devices. Specifically, the annealing at 30 °C activated the diffusion of the main interstitial defect in the device, the carbon interstitial, which led to its association with a substitutional impurity, ultimately resulting in a stable and electrically active defect state. Because the formation reaction of this carbon interstitial and substitutional impurity associate is diffusion limited, we recommend a higher upper bound for the annealing temperature and duration of any future CCD anneals, that of −50 °C for one day or −60 °C for a week, to prevent further CTI increase.
Napster: The Story Behind the Controversy

Napster and the peer-to-peer technology it introduced to mainstream America have changed the way people communicate on the Internet and have forced careful consideration of the future of copyright law and its interpretation in the United States. This paper presents a historical background of Napster, an explanation of the technology that made it controversial, the differing views of artists affected by the site, and why Napster has quite possibly changed forever the fate of copyright law. While Napster itself has been shut down, it serves as an important example of how changing technology is forcing a reevaluation and reformulation of related law.
Temperature-dependent regulation of rDNA condensation in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Chromatin condensation during mitosis produces detangled and discrete DNA entities required for high fidelity sister chromatid segregation during mitosis and positions DNA away from the cleavage furrow during cytokinesis. Regional condensation during G1 also establishes a nuclear architecture through which gene transcription is regulated but remains plastic so that cells can respond to changes in nutrient levels, temperature and signaling molecules. To date, however, the potential impact of this plasticity on mitotic chromosome condensation remains unknown. Here, we report results obtained from a new condensation assay that wildtype budding yeast cells exhibit dramatic changes in rDNA conformation in response to temperature. rDNA hypercondenses in wildtype cells maintained at 37°C, compared with cells maintained at 23°C. This hypercondensation machinery can be activated during preanaphase but readily inactivated upon exposure to lower temperatures. Extended mitotic arrest at 23°C does not result in hypercondensation, negating a kinetic-based argument in which condensation that typically proceeds slowly is accelerated when cells are placed at 37°C. Neither elevated recombination nor reduced transcription appear to promote this hypercondensation. This heretofore undetected temperature-dependent hypercondensation pathway impacts current views of chromatin structure based on conditional mutant gene analyses and significantly extends our understanding of physiologic changes in chromatin architecture in response to hypothermia.
Microbiological characteristics and shelf life of corn tortillas with and without antimicrobial agents

Commercial corn tortillas were assayed for pH, moisture, aw, aerobic plate count (APC) and mold and yeast count (MYC). The shelf life of commercial tortillas ranged from 3 to 60 days, depending on the amount and type of preservative added. High initial APCs of commercial tortillas were associated with poor sanitary conditions at the plants, airborne contamination and improper storage practices. Shelf life of tortillas was greatly enhanced by refrigerated storage with or without the use of antimicrobials. For tortillas stored at 25°C, substantial increases in shelf life were attained by acidification (0.45% fumaric acid) plus addition of K-sorbate or Ca-propionate, but particularly by combination of these two antimicrobials. For tortillas stored at 4°C, shelf life of non-acidified samples was somewhat enhanced by addition of parabens and combinations of K-sorbate and Ca-propionate. Shelf life of acidified tortillas at 4°C was somewhat enhanced by addition of parabens and K-sorbate but increased substantially by addition of Ca-propionate and combinations of K-sorbate and Ca-propionate.
Technology and Bioethics: What Can Scientists and Engineers Do and What Should They Do?

There is great potential for scientific and technological development to improve the quality of life and health. However, history has catalogued several instances of the misuse of science and technology and has prompted ethical and moral concerns about possible future abuses. The newest techniques of genetic manipulation have awe-inspiring power to control the growth and development of humans. Decisions made by physicians and patients who are confronting end of life are also replete with ethical questions and uncertainty. For example, should physicians assist patients who wish to commit suicide?
Settling in or moving out? Exploring the effect of mobility intentions on public housing exits

This paper seeks to understand how public housing residents’ mobility intentions affect their actual exits. The results suggest that mobility intentions do have a significant effect on public housi...
Microspectroscopy and Flow Cytometry

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the involvement of Bo Thorell in the development of microspectroscopy. Thorell's had a deep curiosity in the dynamics of cell function. Thorell developed the split-beam spectrophotometer to have adequate sensitivity for the detection of the bands of oxyhemoglobin at the progression from the reticulocyte to erythrocyte. By combining the measurement of nucleic acids with that of the gene product hemoglobin, he showed clearly their dynamic interrelationships over the maturation from stem cell to red blood cell. Thorell and Lenart Akerman joined forces at the Johnson Research Foundation to construct an optimized version of the wavelength scanning spectrophotometer, incorporating high-speed light chopping, and improved optics. For further localization in microspectroscopy, Thorell undertook cryomicrospectrophotometry in order to realize the 7- to 15-fold enhancement of absorption at liquid nitrogen temperatures. The cryotechnique opened up a whole new range of resolution in microspectroscopy. Studies of single cells in the stationary state with high-resolution microspectrophotometry and fluorometry laid the basis for criteria and methods that could be applied to a flowing stream of cells for sorting according to metabolic and functional activities.
Late Quaternary Deep Circulation in the Western Equatorial Atlantic

Variations in benthic foraminiferal δ13C from a suite of cores located in the equatorial western Atlantic document that the production rate of North Atlantic Deep Water has varied considerably during the last 400,000 years. The cores are located on the eastern slope of Ceara Rise and monitor the chemical variation in deep waters over the depth range of 3200 to 4300 m. Peak production apparently occurred during interglacial stages with isotopic stage 7.3 (216ka) exhibiting the greatest bathymetric extent of NADW. Minima in NAD W bathymetric range occurred during glacial maxima, when significant northward penetration of deep water from the Southern Ocean occupied large portions of the western Atlantic. Minimum production of NADW and maximum penetration of southern-source deep water occurred during glacial stages 4, 8 and 10. During these periods, there is no evidence for NADW at depths below 3200 m.
Metallic Metal-Organic Frameworks Predicted by the Combination of Machine Learning Methods and Ab Initio Calculations.

Emerging applications of metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) in electronic devices will benefit from the design and synthesis of intrinsically, highly electronically conductive MOFs. However, very few are known to exist. It is a challenging task to search for electronically conductive MOFs within the tens of thousands of reported MOF structures. Using a new strategy (i.e., transfer learning) of combining machine learning techniques, statistical multivoting, and ab initio calculations, we screened 2932 MOFs and identified 6 MOF crystal structures that are metallic at the level of semilocal DFT band theory: Mn2[Re6X8(CN)6]4 (X = S, Se,Te), Mn[Re3Te4(CN)3], Hg[SCN]4Co[NCS]4, and CdC4. Five of these structures have been synthesized and reported in the literature, but their electrical characterization has not been reported. Our work demonstrates the potential power of machine learning in materials science to aid in down-selecting from large numbers of potential candidates and provides the information and guidance ...
Spontaneous intracranial hypotension complicated by refractory subdural hematomas in a patient with coagulation factor XIII deficiency

Abstract Spontaneous intracranial hypotension (SIH) is often secondary to an occult cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leak in the neuroaxis. It is sometimes associated with chronic subdural hematomas (SDH). The authors present the case of a 61 year-old male who presented with SIH from an occult CSF leak and complicated by refractory SDH. The patient underwent treatment for SIH with multiple epidural blood patches, hydration and bed rest. In addition, he underwent evacuation of his SDH twice, once via burr hole drainage and the second via craniotomy. Once the diagnosis of coagulation factor XIII (CFXIII) deficiency was made, the patient was treated with recombinant factor XIII followed by an epidural blood patch. He subsequently made a complete recovery. In this report, the authors propose management strategies for treating patients with SIH complicated by refractory SDH and coagulopathies by reviewing the literature.
Parcellating the structure and function of the reading circuit.

Reading is a uniquely human skill, learned through extensive experience during childhood, with literacy becoming widespread only in the past few hundred years. Consequently, the neural circuitry underlying language could not have evolved to have circuitry genetically predefined for reading; this is unlike other expert skills such as face recognition, which can be seen in some of our evolutionary ancestors. Therefore, understanding the nature of the reading circuit strikes at the heart of the nature versus nurture debate about how expert skills shape, and are shaped by, brain circuitry. The PNAS article by Lerma-Usabiaga et al. (1) focuses on understanding the specialization of a particular brain territory, the left ventral occipitotemporal cortex (vOTC), known to be critical for visual word recognition. The study uses a combination of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and behavioral methods to carefully dissect two functionally and structurally distinct regions located within the vOTC that contribute to reading. Lerma-Usabiaga et al. (1) were motivated by previous studies that have used functional MRI to localize the “visual word form area” (VWFA). Conceptually, the VWFA is a brain region within the left vOTC that responds preferentially to printed words and word-like stimuli. This orthographic selectivity emerges with the acquisition of literacy, indicating that reading experience tunes this region for skilled reading (2). Indeed, individuals with poorer reading ability exhibit reduced selectivity in the vOTC (3), and damage in adulthood causes acquired alexia, in which printed words can no longer be recognized automatically (4). While researchers agree on these broad facts about the VWFA, they disagree on the precise location of the VWFA and its specific role in reading (4⇓–6). These disagreements could arise because different types of stimulus comparisons weight differentially for perceptual versus linguistic aspects of visual word recognition. Thus, like the proverbial men … [↵][1]1To whom correspondence should be addressed. Email: fiez{at}pitt.edu. [1]: #xref-corresp-1-1
Development of a Picture-Based Measure for “Not Just Right” Experiences Associated with Compulsive Sorting, Ordering, and Arranging

Many individuals with obsessive-compulsive disorder report that obsessional thoughts and compulsive behaviors are often motivated by “not just right” experiences (NJREs). Individuals who experience NJREs often report symptoms related to symmetry, order, and arrangement (SOA). The current study sought to develop a brief picture-based measure of NJREs (PIC-NR10) within the context of SOA. Three independent studies were conducted to assess the psychometric properties of PIC-NR10 and its relationship with existing NJRE questionnaires, obsessive-compulsive-symptom relevant measures, and in vivo behavioral NJRE tasks. Across studies, the results provide promising initial evidence that PIC-NR10 is a psychometrically sound measure of NJREs. Clinical implications and future directions of research are discussed.
UNIT 8.2 Immunoaffinity Chromatography

This unit describes the isolation of soluble or membrane-bound protein antigens from cells or homogenized tissue by immunoaffinity chromatography. The technique involves the elution of a single protein from an immunoaffinity column after prior elution of nonspecifically adsorbed proteins. To elute the bound antigen from the immunoaffinity matrix, the antibody-antigen interaction is destabilized by brief exposure to high-pH or low-pH buffer. The use of batch purification of antigens is an alternate procedure and results in shorter column loading times. The detergent octyl β-D-glucoside can be used instead of Triton X-100 for elution. Because octyl β-D-glucoside has a high critical micelle concentration (CMC), it can be readily removed by dialysis, as described.
Ritual as the Creation of Social Reality

Societies are marked by rituals, performative acts that are explicit and implicit, formal and informal. This chapter argues that rituals create and mark social reality in four principal ways. First, by creating a social reality, rituals establish or reinforce expectations, relationships, and roles; they create a web of social bonds. Second, by inviting participation in a social reality, rituals maintain social stability and harmony; they create sustaining social structures. Third, rituals by placing individuals within a social reality enable individuals to understand themselves as part of specific groups invested in particular activities, commitments, and traditions; rituals by creating social reality allow individuals to understand their position within the social geography of the world. Fourth, rituals by placing humans within a social reality disclose the significance and meaning of time, including the passages of human life, from reproduction, birth, marriage, and suffering to death. Rituals declare social boundaries.
Change‐of‐Shift Nursing Handoff Interruptions: Implications for Evidence‐Based Practice

Background The importance of change-of-shift handoffs in maintaining patient safety has been well demonstrated. Change-of-shift handoff is an important source of data used in surveillance, a nursing intervention aimed at identifying and preventing complications. Surveillance requires the nurse to acquire, process, and synthesize information (cues) encountered during patient care. Interruptions in handoff have been observed but there is a gap in the evidence concerning how interruptions during nurse-to-nurse handoff impact the change-of-shift handoff process. Aims To describe registered nurses' perceptions of interruptions experienced during change-of-shift handoff at the bedside in critical care units and analyze the number, type, and source of interruptions during change-of-shift handoff at the bedside. Methods An exploratory descriptive design was used. One hundred nurse-to-nurse handoffs were observed, and four focus groups were conducted. Observation data were analyzed with descriptive statistics and quantitative content analysis. Focus group data were analyzed with qualitative content analysis. Results and findings Of the 1,196 interruptions observed, 800 occurred in the communication between the two nurses involved in the handoff. Over 80% (645) of these interruptions were from the nurse receiving handoff and included questions or clarification of information received. About half of the nurses reported that interruptions occurred during handoff. Focus group findings revealed that whether or not something is an interruption is determined by the individual nurse's appraisal of value added to their knowledge of the patient and/or plan of care at the time of handoff. Linking evidence to action Interruptions during handoff are evaluated as useful or disruptive based on the value to the nurse at the time. Strict structuring or mandating of handoff elements may limit nurses' ability to communicate information deemed most relevant to the care of a specific unique patient.
Roadblocks to PrEP: What Medical Records Reveal About Access to HIV Pre-exposure Prophylaxis

Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) has been shown to be efficacious in preventing HIV; however, its uptake remains modest. Given that there are fewer cost barriers to receiving PrEP within VHA than via commercial insurance, VHA represents an ideal setting in which to study other barriers that may impact patients seeking PrEP. We sought to understand potential barriers to obtaining PrEP within the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) through examination of documentation in electronic medical records. Retrospective structured chart review, including chart abstractions of notes, referrals, and communications; content analysis of charts from a subsample of patients receiving PrEP in VHA. One hundred sixty-one patients prescribed PrEP at 90 sites varying in PrEP prescribing rates. We extracted descriptive information and conducted a qualitative analysis of all PrEP-relevant free-text notes including who initiated the PrEP conversation (patient vs. provider), time interval between request and prescription, reasons for denying PrEP, and patient responses to barriers. Patients initiated 94% of PrEP conversations and 35% of patients experienced delays receiving PrEP ranging from six weeks to 16 months. Over 70% of cases evidenced barriers to access. Barriers included provider knowledge gaps about PrEP, provider knowledge gaps about VHA systems related to PrEP, confusion or disagreement over clinic purview for PrEP, and provider attitudes or stigma associated with patients seeking PrEP. Although PrEP is recommended for HIV prevention in high-risk persons, many PrEP-eligible individuals faced barriers to obtaining a prescription. Current practices place substantial responsibility on patients to request and advocate for this service, in contrast to many other preventive services. Understanding the prevalence and content of PrEP knowledge gaps and attitudinal barriers can inform organizational interventions to increase PrEP access and decrease HIV transmission.
Conclusion: Policy and Organization Versus Economics

The myth of Black buying power suggests often that public policy or politics are to be sublimated to the importance of economic development. As a result significant damage is done to both an understanding of economics and to the development of strategies for addressing continuing inequalities. Public policy and politics movements must be engaged at greater levels making redistribution of created national wealth a priority and efforts which focus primarily or exclusively on Black capitalism, business, and buying power must be either abandoned entirely or redesigned within a more appropriate context or understanding of the relationship of public policy to matters often isolated as solely economic.
Chapter 10 – Safety and Security

Publisher Summary This chapter examines a few example problems concerning safety and security using computers in medical practice, as well as the general problem of implementing a modern computerized health care institution with a high degree of access and connectivity while maintaining adequate security and other controls. Two significant advances in computing technology have raised concerns about safety and security in building, buying, and using computers in medical practice. One is the invention of the microprocessor, or more generally, the microminiaturization of electronics, including digital electronics. The other is the invention of the Internet and its rapid expansion in the following decades. Failure to build in adequate safety engineering in the design and use of a radiation treatment machine led to several deaths and injuries. Many other device-related accidents with computer-controlled medical devices have been reported. The possibility of such failures is exacerbated by the fact that these medical devices are (and need to be) connected to hospital networks and the Internet. Beyond the issues around computerized medical devices, the adoption of electronic medical record systems has opened up problems with identity theft, inability to access critical systems because of intrusions or disruptions, theft of data, and a host of other problems.
Anisotropic Mesh Adaptation for Image Segmentation Based on Mumford-Shah Functional

As the resolution of digital images increase significantly, the processing of images becomes more challenging in terms of accuracy and efficiency. In this paper, we consider image segmentation by solving a partial differentiation equation (PDE) model based on the Mumford-Shah functional. We develop a new algorithm by combining anisotropic mesh adaptation for image representation and finite element method for solving the PDE model. Comparing to traditional algorithms solved by finite difference method, our algorithm provides faster and better results without the need to resizing the images to lower quality. We also extend the algorithm to segment images with multiple regions.