cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A Nyquist-rate pixel-level ADC for CMOS image sensors

A multichannel bit-serial (MCBS) analog-to-digital converter (ADC) is presented. The ADC is ideally suited to pixel-level implementation in a CMOS image sensor. The ADC uses successive comparisons to output one bit at a time simultaneously from all pixels. It is implemented using a 1-bit comparator/latch pair per pixel or per group of neighboring pixels, and a digital-to-analog-converter/controller shared by all pixels. The comparator/latch pair operates at very slow speeds and can be implemented using simple robust circuits. The ADCs can be fully tested by applying electrical signals without any optics or light sources. A CMOS 320/spl times/256 sensor using the MCBS ADC is described. The chip measures 4.14/spl times/5.16 mm/sup 2/. It achieves 10/spl times/10 /spl mu/m/sup 2/ pixel size at 28% fill factor in 0.35 /spl mu/m CMOS technology. Each 2/spl times/2 pixel block shares an ADC. The pixel block circuit comprises 18 transistors. It operates in subthreshold to maximize gain and minimize power consumption. The power consumed by the sensor array is 20 mW at 30 frames/s. The measured integral nonlinearity is 2.3 LSB, and differential nonlinearity is 1.2 LSB at eight bits of resolution. The standard deviation of the gain and offset fixed pattern noise due to the ADC are 0.24 and 0.2%, respectively.
The Great Recession and Attitudes Toward Homebuying

The report finds that almost 80 percent of American households believe that now is a good time to buy a home, despite high unemployment, slow economic growth and problems plaguing the economy. This positive attitude is attributable to low house prices and low mortgage interest rates. The data shows that the pattern of home-buying sentiment during the current recession looks similar to that of past recessions and is consistent with the long-run average level. What is different about the current recession is that positive home-selling sentiment is at a historic low, dominated by deeply negative sentiment, which is strongly related to difficulty in finding buyers at desired sales prices, as well as the large overhang of mortgages past due or in foreclosure. The study utilizes 30 years of data from the University of Michigan's "Survey of Consumer Attitudes" to examine public sentiment regarding home-ownership before, during and after the financial crisis. In particular, it measures the extent to which the most recent recession has changed consumer sentiment toward home buying and selling.
What distinguishes a novice from an expert mixed methods researcher

Mixed methods research is growing in use throughout countries and disciplines. Consequently, more people are learning methodology and providing training. Yet, only a paucity of empirical studies addresses the topic of teaching and learning mixed methods. Our current understanding of how to distinguish novices from experts at mixed methods, an important question for instructors and mentors, is anecdotal. While related literature tends to focus on teaching mixed methods research, this study took a different perspective. I used a proficiency framework to explore the skills needed to conduct mixed methods research as identified by experienced researchers, mixed methods curricula, and the mixed methods literature and to develop a typology of mixed methods proficiency. Data collection involved multiple data sources: qualitative interviews (n = 8) with individuals highly regarded for their expertise in mixed methods research and documents in the form of course syllabi, curricula materials, and workshop materials. I then conducted theme-based and type-building text analysis of the data. Four themes emerged: mixed methods skills, knowledge, researcher characteristics, and professional experiences. This article presents a typology of descriptors at three levels of mixed methods proficiency: novices, researchers, and methodologists. The proficiency typology and resultant understanding of what distinguishes mixed methods experts will be useful to learners, instructors, and mentors in developing courses, workshops, and professional development plans.
Parametric Frugal sensing of autoregressive power spectra

Estimating the power spectrum of a wide-sense stationary stochastic process is a core component of several signal processing tasks. Distributed spectrum sensing problems naturally emerge in cases where measurements of different realizations of a stochastic process are collected at multiple spatial locations. This paper describes a distributed power spectrum sensing scheme for stochastic processes which are well represented by an autoregressive (AR) process. The sensing model comprises a network of scattered low-end sensors which transmit randomly filtered, one bit quantized power measurements to a fusion center. The problem of AR power spectrum estimation from such binary power measurements is cast as a non-convex optimization problem, and an alternating minimization algorithm is proposed to obtain a stationary point. Simulations showcase the effectiveness of this scheme when the AR parametrization is valid.
Chronic constrictive pericarditis; a practical discussion.

The diagnosis of constrictive pericarditis is frequently confused with that of mitral stenosis as well as other diseases. This paper presents clues for the early recognition of constrictive pericar...
Challenges Facing Released Prisoners and People with Criminal Records: A Focus Group Approach

ABSTRACTThree rounds of guided focus group sessions were held in 2014, with a total of 27 participants, all of whom had at some point within the past seven years been released from incarceration, with some serving short terms in local jails and others having been incarcerated for periods ranging from a few months to 8–10 years. The focus group sessions were held in a nonresidential facility in Charlotte, North Carolina that assists former inmates and other people with criminal records with transitioning or adjusting to the community. The intention was to discover barriers and challenges associated with reentering the community after a period of incarceration and/or living with the stigma of a criminal record. Various theoretical underpinnings are discussed.
Closer to Town

A glimpse into the life of a social worker. Although the account is fictitious, the story reflects the author’s experiences as a Social Services caseworker in the 1970s.
Multi-source translation methods

Multi-parallel corpora provide a potentially rich resource for machine translation. This paper surveys existing methods for utilizing such resources, including hypothesis ranking and system combination techniques. We find that despite significant research into system combination, relatively little is know about how best to translate when multiple parallel source languages are available. We provide results to show that the MAX multilingual multi-source hypothesis ranking method presented by Och and Ney (2001) does not reliably improve translation quality when a broad range of language pairs are considered. We also show that the PROD multilingual multi-source hypothesis ranking method of Och and Ney (2001) cannot be used with standard phrase-based translation engines, due to a high number of unreachable hypotheses. Finally, we present an oracle experiment which shows that current hypothesis ranking methods fall far short of the best results reachable via sentence-level ranking.
Neurochemical Aspects of β-Amyloid Cascade Hypothesis for Alzheimer’s Disease: A Critical Evaluation

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is an age-associated neurodegenerative disorder that causes severe impairment of cognitive function, leading to a drastic decline in the quality of life. Neuropathological features of AD include the accumulation of β-amyloid (Aβ) and deposition of extracellular senile plaques and accumulation of intraneuronal tangles that consist of aggregated and hyperphosphorylated Tau protein. According to the Aβ cascade hypothesis of AD, the overproduction of Aβ is a consequence of the disruption of homeostatic processes that regulate the proteolytic cleavage of the amyloid precursor protein (APP). These hallmarks are accompanied by oligomerized soluble Aβ [Aβ-derived diffusible ligands (ADDL)]-mediated loss of neurons, ADDL-mediated impairment of neuronal functions, synaptic dysfunction, onset of oxidative stress, induction of neuroinflammation, loss of Ca 2+ homeostasis, and brain atrophy. Less than 5% of AD cases are of genetic origin (familial) and are caused by mutations in the APP gene or genes [APP, presenilin 1 (PSEN1), PSEN2, and APOE] that affect amyloid processing. The vast majority of AD cases are sporadic and characterized by late onset. Recent studies indicate that a direct correlation between ADDL and dementia severity has not been clearly established, since some patients without amyloid deposition show severe memory deficits, whereas other patients with cortical Aβ deposits have no dementia symptoms. These observations along with the failure of some anti-Aβ therapies to preserve or rescue cognitive function suggest that Aβ may not be the only neurotoxin but that other mechanisms (activation of kinases, modulation of cholesterol transport, or alterations in neural membranes) may also contribute to the pathogenesis of AD.
Reconstitution of Nucleosomes

There is something satisfying, in dealing with molecular assemblies, in being able to reconstruct them from their component parts. Furthermore, such reassembly often teaches us much about the way in which they are put together, and allows us to learn more by varying the proportions and properties of components.
Incidence, Risk Factors, and Clinical Implications of Pneumonia After Surgery for Geriatric Hip Fracture.

Abstract Background Little is known regarding the occurrence of pneumonia after hip fracture surgery. The purpose of this study is to determine the incidence, risk factors, and clinical implications of pneumonia after surgery for geriatric hip fracture. Methods The American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program was used to retrospectively study geriatric patients undergoing surgery for hip fracture during 2006-2014. Independent risk factors for developing pneumonia within 30 days of surgery were identified using multivariate regression. Results Of the 29,377 patients meeting inclusion criteria, 13,736 (46.8%) underwent hemiarthroplasty, 9468 (32.2%) intramedullary fixation, 4294 (14.6%) plate and/or screw fixation, 1299 (4.4%) total joint arthroplasty, and 580 (2.0%) percutaneous fixation. In total 1191 patients developed pneumonia, an incidence of 4.1%. The strongest risk factors for pneumonia were male sex, older age (especially ≥90 years), low body mass index, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Patients who developed pneumonia had a higher readmission rate (79.1% vs 8.2%, P Conclusion Pneumonia is a serious complication after geriatric hip fracture surgery, which increases the readmission and mortality risks. Evidence-based pneumonia prevention programs should be implemented among high-risk patients—males, patients ≥90 years, body mass index
Christian College Students and Emerging Adulthood: Exploring or Lost?:

Students in college today are experiencing a life stage—emerging adulthood—that previous generations did not experience. Society has not provided clear social expectations and boundaries on this li...
FeatureNet: Machining feature recognition based on 3D Convolution Neural Network

Abstract Automated machining feature recognition, a sub-discipline of solid modeling, has been an active research area for last three decades and is a critical component in digital manufacturing thread for detecting manufacturing information from computer aided design (CAD) models. In this paper, a novel framework using Deep 3D Convolutional Neural Networks (3D-CNNs) termed FeatureNet to learn machining features from CAD models of mechanical parts is presented. FeatureNet learns the distribution of complex manufacturing feature shapes across a large 3D model dataset and discovers distinguishing features that help in recognition process automatically. To train FeatureNet, a large-scale mechanical part datasets of 3D CAD models with labeled machining features is automatically constructed. The proposed framework can recognize manufacturing features from the low-level geometric data such as voxels with a very high accuracy. The developed framework can also recognize planar intersecting features in the 3D CAD models. Extensive numerical experiments show that FeatureNet enables significant improvements over the state-of-the-arts manufacturing feature detection techniques. The developed data-driven framework can easily be extended to identify a large variety of machining features leading to a sound foundation for real-time computer aided process planning (CAPP) systems.
Adapting to Changing Climate: Exploring the Role of the Neighborhood

Climate change adaptation is local and place-based. Local places are often heterogeneous with respect to a number of elements that include geography, infrastructure, culture, economics, politics, and ethnicity. Neighborhoods in large cities and metropolitan complexes reflect this diversity. Thus, it seems to us that climate change adaptation planning should take into account the peculiarities, vulnerabilities, and assets for building resilience of each neighborhood. We suggest that neighborhood climate change adaptation plans should be developed through a consensus seeking, participatory process in collaboration with and guided by a comprehensive city-wide planning process. We examine the city of Boston, Massachusetts in this light.
Sarah McCleave, Dance in Handel’s London Operas: Eastman Studies in Music. Ralph P. Locke, general editor. Rochester, NY: University of Rochester; Woodbridge, Suffolk: Boydell & Brewer, 2013. xiii, 266 pp. ISBN 978-1-58046-420-8. Hardcover, $80.00

Dance has traditionally been perceived as playing only a minor role in eighteenth-century Italian opera seria, including those by Handel, before mid-century. In fact, one of the distinctions common...
Non-targeted screening of disinfection by-products in desalination plants using mass spectrometry: A review

Abstract Future reliance on desalination and water reuse to provide suitable drinking water is expected globally. The formation of disinfection byproducts (DBPs) during drinking water chlorination and the compounding factors presented by different sources of fresh water, such as high levels of dissolved organic matter (DOM), is well recognized. However, during the chlorination of seawater, hundreds of brominated and iodinated compounds are formed, few of which have been characterized, some of which are already known to be highly toxic. Detailed reviews exist on the known DBPs formed during the desalination process but the purpose of this review is to highlight the many unknown/yet to be identified DBPs, with a focus non-targeted mass spectrometry (MS). The impact of diverse DOM sources in coastal/estuarine waters (e.g. terrestrial, algal) on DBP formation is also discussed because to date, limited data exists of the impact of these DBPs in the environment.
Vaginal co-colonization with multiple Group B Streptococcus serotypes.

Group B Streptococcus (GBS) is a neonatal pathogen frequently transmitted from maternal asymptomatic vagino-rectal colonization. Co-colonization with multiple GBS serotypes, which has implications for type-specific vaccination strategies, is difficult to detect with standard microbiologic techniques. We designed a nested real-time PCR assay to detect vaginal co-colonization in samples from a cohort of non-pregnant women (N = 433). 6/91 (6.6%) GBS-positive samples harbored ≥2 GBS serotypes, with over-representation of serotype V among co-colonized samples. Serotype IV GBS was more prevalent (>10%) in this cohort than in previously reported United States studies. Ongoing surveillance of GBS serotype epidemiology and co-colonization is indicated.
Private Equity Acquisition of Physician Practices.

Private equity firms have been buying physician practices at increasing rates during the past few years with little scrutiny from outsiders. This article briefly examines this phenomenon.
Abstract WP7: Does Administration of IV Contrast Impact Outcomes on Acute Ischemic Stroke Patients? A Propensity Score Matched Single Center Study

Introduction: The AHA/ASA strongly recommend urgent noninvasive vascular imaging for suspected LVO patients.1 There remains concern about developing acute kidney injury (AKI) and/or contrast induce...
Recycling of Post-Consumer PET Plastic Waste Bottles in Non-Cement Composites for Construction Applications

This study focused on developing and evaluating non-cement composites for construction applications using post-consumer polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastic bottles. A total of two types of non-cement composites, namely, pervious PET composite (PPC) and PET soil composite (PSC), were developed. In addition, nine PPC mixes and five PSC mixes were designed using different PET and soil contents. Using the mix designs, cylindrical samples of PPC and PSC were produced in mold by compacting a mixture containing molten PET and heated soil or aggregates or both in accordance with proportions determined from mix design. Dry cylindrical samples of PPC were tested for indirect tensile strength and permeability in a unique manner. On the other hand, dry PSC samples were tested for compressive strength and moisture susceptibility tests. A PET content of 7.5 % PET was found to provide maximum tensile strength values among all PPC samples tested in this study. It was also found that using PET alone in PPC mix is not strong enough in binding aggregates and, therefore, 10 % soil was found to provide maximum strength. Permeability values of PPC mix decreased with an increase in both PET and soil content. The developed PSC mixes produced higher compressive strength values as compared to control samples containing up to 10 % cement; 25 % PET content provided strength of approximately 4,690 psi. Increase in PET content made PSC samples more ductile and moisture resistant. Overall, findings from this study indicate that PPC and PSC could potentially be used for construction applications and offer an effective technique for diverting a large amount of PET plastic from landfills and incinerators.
Abstract 696: Transgelin in Aortic Abdominal Aneurysm and its Potential Link in Electronic Cigarette Vapor Mediated Cardiovascular Disease

Introduction: The E-cigarette form of smoking (e-cig) has rapidly increased. Potential adverse cardiovascular effects are unknown. We sought to determine if e-cig use affects Transgelin (TAGLN), an...
Recent patterns of vagal nerve stimulator use in the United States: Is there a racial disparity?

OBJECTIVE Patients with refractory epilepsy are at a high risk of complications but may not receive the same level of care across racial groups. We aimed to ascertain racial inequalities and trends in the use of a vagal nerve stimulator (VNS) among adult patients with refractory epilepsy. METHODS A total of 24 159 adults (18 years and older) with refractory epilepsy from the National Inpatient Sample between the years 2006 and 2014 were included in this analysis. We used a multivariate logistic regression analysis to evaluate independent predictors of VNS use among patients with refractory epilepsy. Covariates included gender, age, insurance type, and household income. In addition, we evaluated for trends in VNS use over the 9-year period of data collection. RESULTS A total of 1.56% of patients with refractory epilepsy had used a VNS between 2006 and 2014. Overall, there was a trend of decreased use of a VNS between 2006-2008 (2.1%) and 2012-2014 (0.9%). In the adjusted multivariate logistic regression analysis, blacks (odds ratio [OR] = 0.52, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.35-0.77) were significantly less likely to have used a VNS relative to non-Hispanic whites. Additional factors independently associated with a decreased likelihood of VNS use were age > 65 years (OR = 0.51, 95% CI = 0.28-0.95) and years 2012-2014 (OR = 0.44, 95% CI = 0.28-0.67). SIGNIFICANCE There was a trend toward a decrease in the use of a VNS among adult patients with refractory epilepsy. Our results also suggest that black patients with refractory epilepsy were less likely to receive a VNS independently of other variables. Increased work toward effectively reducing racial disparities in access to quality epilepsy care is crucial.
Terrestrial Gastropod Grazing on Macrolichens in a Northern Broadleaf–Conifer Forest

Herbivory by terrestrial gastropods, particularly Arion spp. (a slug), can alter epiphytic lichen communities; however, little is known about this interaction in forests of North America. We used 3 lines of evidence to explore this interaction: field grazing assessments on lichen thalli, a 10-y re-measure of gastropod abundance, and gastropod feeding trials in a montane forest at Hubbard Brook Experimental Forest (HBEF) in northern New Hampshire. Grazing damage by terrestrial gastropods was widespread, though few sites had severe grazing. Grazing damage was significantly higher on flatter terrain and on broadleaf trees. Slug densities were significantly lower in 2016 than in earlier surveys (1997–2006) on 4 of 6 plots. In feeding trials, 2 common lichens, Hypogymnia physodes and Platismatia glauca, were grazed more heavily by both native and non-native slugs than other lichen species. However, the Succineidae (amber) snails preferred Lobaria pulmonaria, a lichen that has been declining at HBEF in the last decade. Overall, lichen communities in the HBEF were moderately impacted by terrestrial gastropod grazing, but potential effects of the non-native slugs at higher elevations and impacts on lichen health of widespread, moderate grazing deserve further study.
Going beyond "bad news": A surgical case report and systematic review of the literature surrounding futile care

Abstract Introduction Surgeons frequently deliver “bad news” to patients, but do they know how to address situations where further surgery is considered futile? Is there a clear definition of futile care in the literature? This paper explores these questions and seeks to start a conversation about how we can train future surgeons to deliver news of futile care. Presentation of case This paper describes how one surgical team handled a difficult case of futile care and provides an interview from the perspective of a surgical resident. Discussion The case report gives one example of how the news of futile care was delivered and how appropriate steps were taken to provide continued management of the patient and support to the family. A systematic review of the literature surrounding futile care reveals no consensus on how to define futile care within the medical community. Conclusion There is a paucity of information surrounding how surgeons should manage cases of futile care. The literature focuses on the physician-patient relationship and includes methods for delivering bad news, yet it fails to identify a consensus definition of futile care and does not provide guidelines that future surgeons can follow when they encounter these cases. With this paper we seek to open a discussion about how to define futile care and how to teach future surgeons best practices when managing these cases.
It Is There in the Beginning: Melancholia, Time, and Death

This essay ventures a dialogue between Julia Kristeva’s Black Sun and Lars Von Trier’s film, Melancholia on the grounds that in each, melancholia (or narcissistic depression) is figured through planetary compulsion. Utilizing Kristeva’s singular approach to Freud’s distinction between mourning and melancholia to read the film, I argue that a particular form of depression characterizes the style of living (and dying) embodied in each of the two sisters who together form the film’s emotional center. Consideration of philosophy and film in dialogue yields a final insight into the phenomenon of melancholia as it relates to human temporality and lived finitude: melancholia demonstrates an extremity of psychic loss, underscoring that death is not merely the end; it is there in the beginning.
Photoemission studies of high-temperature superconductors YBa 2 Cu 3 O 7-δ , GdBa 2 Cu 3 O 7-δ , and EuBa 2 Cu 3 O 7-δ

The electronic structures of three high-temperature superconducting materials, ${\mathrm{YBa}}_{2}$${\mathrm{Cu}}_{3}$${\mathrm{O}}_{7\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}\mathrm{\ensuremath{\delta}}}$, ${\mathrm{GdBa}}_{2}$${\mathrm{Cu}}_{3}$${\mathrm{O}}_{7\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}\mathrm{\ensuremath{\delta}}}$, and ${\mathrm{EuBa}}_{2}$${\mathrm{Cu}}_{3}$${\mathrm{O}}_{7\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}\mathrm{\ensuremath{\delta}}}$, were studied with angle-integrated photoemission. The effects of sample treatment and preparation, including mechanical scraping, ion sputtering, and temperature cycling, were examined. High-resolution spectra were obtained from samples prepared by mechanical scraping at 90 K in the vacuum chamber to minimize contamination and the loss of oxygen. The resonance behavior of the various valence and core states in the photoemission spectra was investigated to identify the atomic origin of the states. The Cu- and O-derived states dominated the valence-band region at low photon energies, as shown by a comparison of the energy distribution curves for all three compounds. The measured density of states at the Fermi edge was very low. All of the spectral features, including the valence bands, core levels, Fermi-edge emission, and the Cu 3d satellites did not show any noticeable changes as a function of sample temperature between 20 and 300 K.
In-Class Attention, Spatial Ability, and Mathematics Anxiety Predict Across-Grade Gains in Adolescents' Mathematics Achievement.

Identifying meaningful cognitive and noncognitive predictors of mathematical competence is critical for developing targeted interventions for students struggling with mathematics. Here, 317 students’ short-term verbal memory, verbal and visuospatial working memory, complex spatial abilities, intelligence, and mathematics attitudes and anxiety were assessed, and their teachers reported on their attentive behavior in 7th-grade mathematics classrooms. Bayesian regression models revealed that complex spatial abilities and in-class attention were the most plausible predictors of 7th-grade mathematics, but not word reading achievement, controlling for prior mathematics achievement. These results were confirmed with multilevel models that revealed interactions between these factors and prior achievement. The largest gains were among students with strong mathematical competencies in 6th grade, and average or better in-class attention in 7th grade as well as above average spatial abilities. High mathematics anxiety was associated with lower attention and through this indirectly influenced achievement gains. These results have implications for how to best target interventions for students at risk for long-term difficulties with mathematics. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved)
Experimental Study on the Design and Behavior of Concrete Pavement Joint Sealants

Joints in concrete pavement are intended to provide freedom of movement in a concrete slab relative to the volumetric effects. Changes such as this can occur owing to drying shrinkage, temperature ...
Epithelial/mesenchymal heterogeneity of high-grade serous ovarian carcinoma samples correlates with miRNA let-7 levels and predicts tumor growth and metastasis.

Patient-derived samples present an advantage over current cell line models of high-grade serous ovarian cancer (HGSOC) that are not always reliable and phenotypically faithful models of in vivo HGSOC. To improve upon cell line models of HGSOC, we set out to characterize a panel of patient-derived cells and determine their epithelial and mesenchymal characteristics. We analyzed RNA and protein expression levels in patient-derived xenograft (PDX) models of HGSOC, and functionally characterized these models using flow cytometry, wound healing assays, invasion assays, and spheroid cultures. Besides in vitro work, we also evaluated the growth characteristics of PDX in vivo (orthotopic PDX). We found that all samples had hybrid characteristics, covering a spectrum from an epithelial-to-mesenchymal state. Samples with a stronger epithelial phenotype were more active in self-renewal assays and more tumorigenic in orthotopic xenograft models as compared to samples with a stronger mesenchymal phenotype, which were more migratory and invasive. Additionally, we observed an inverse association between microRNA let-7 (lethal-7) expression and stemness, consistent with the loss of let-7 being an important component of the cancer stem cell phenotype. We observed that lower let-7 levels were associated with the epithelial state and a lower epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT) score, more efficient spheroid and tumor formation, and increased sensitivity to platinum-based chemotherapy. Surprisingly, in these HGSOC cells, stemness could be dissociated from invasiveness: Cells with lower let-7 levels were more tumorigenic, but less migratory, and with a lower EMT score, than those with higher let-7 levels. We conclude that let-7 expression and epithelial/mesenchymal state are valuable predictors of HGSOC proliferation, in vitro self-renewal, and tumor burden in vivo.
Traditional Cardiopulmonary Criterion of Death is the Only Valid Criterion of Human Death

In recent time the critique of the whole brain death as the criterion of human death, that was introduced in 1968, has been growing. The paper aims to show in systematically that there are good reasons based on empirical findings combined with Thomistic Christian anthropology to accept the traditional cardiopulmonary criterion as the criterion of human death. This will be shown through a systematic critique of other criteria of death: whole brain death, higher brain death, brain stem death, and controlled cardiac/circulatory death. The traditional cardiopulmonary criterion of death provides the opportunity to maintain the dead donor rule for organ transplantation. This also affirms the respect for human life required by the ethics of the sanctity of human life. The paper further provides a justification of dead donor rule. The paper proposes 35 minutes period after cardiac arrest to declare the patient dead, since at that time there is no possibility to autoresuscitate the heart.
Grid-connected Self-synchronizing Cascaded H-Bridge Inverters with Autonomous Power Sharing

Cascaded inverters are widely applied in applications where elevated ac voltages are required while using semiconductor devices with lower voltage ratings. Here, we focus on structures that require localized power transfer between low-voltage sources/loads dispersed across inverter dc links and the inverter ac-sides are series-connected across a three-phase medium-voltage ac grid. To date, decentralized controllers that allow for bi-directional power transfer in such systems are limited. To fill this gap, we propose a virtual oscillator controller which modulates the power processed by each inverter in a purely decentralized manner. The proposed controller uses only locally measured current, provides communication-free synchronization of the inverter modules, and enables control of power transfer in both directions. Moreover, it is implemented purely in time domain as opposed to phasor-domain based droop controllers. Stability is analyzed and a design procedure for the oscillator parameters is provided alongside relevant simulation and experimental results for a system of five series-connected inverters.
Building Software, Building Community: Lessons from the rOpenSci Project

rOpenSci is a developer collective originally formed in 2011 by graduate students and post-docs from ecology and evolutionary biology to collaborate on building software tools to facilitate a more open and synthetic approach in the face of transformative rise of large and heterogeneous data. Born on the internet (the collective only began through chance discussions over social media), we have grown into a widely recognized effort that supports an ecosystem of some 45 software packages, engages scores of collaborators, has taught dozens of workshops around the world, and has secured over $480,000 in grant support. As young scientists working in an academic context largely without direct support for our efforts, we have first hand experience with most of the the technical and social challenges WSSSPE seeks to address. In this paper we provide an experience report which describes our approach and success in building an effective and diverse community.
Hemolysin and Peroxide Activity of Mycoplasma Species

Various methods for the detection of hemolysin production by Mycoplasma species were compared. Inoculation of blood-agar by the push-block method and by use of concentrated mycoplasma cell suspensions was compared with the agar-overlay technique. The preferred method was direct surface inoculation of concentrated suspensions onto the blood-agar. Among the conditions tested, refrigeration of 48-hr cultures gave the best results. A wide variety of mycoplasma species were tested for hemolytic activity towards rabbit, sheep, guinea pig, duck, and chicken bloods. Guinea pig erythrocytes were found to be the most susceptible to lysis by mycoplasma, and rabbit erythrocytes were found to be the least susceptible. A sensitive technique for the detection of peroxide production by mycoplasma strains, employing agar containing benzidine and sheep blood, was used. With this method, peroxide production could be correlated with hemolysis on blood-agar. Peroxidase and catalase inhibited both the benzidine reaction and hemolysis. It was concluded that the major hemolysin of the Mycoplasma species examined is a peroxide. Images
SUCCESSFUL TREATMENT OF C. DIPHTHERIAE SUBACUTE BACTERIAL ENDOCARDITIS WITH PENICILLIN AND STREPTOMYCIN

C. diphtheriae is an unusual causative organism in subacute bacterial endocarditis as only 17 cases have been recorded and none of these has survived. The 8 year old girl in this report is the first patient to have recovered. This child had two positive blood cultures for virulent intermedius strain of C. diphtheriae which was sensitive to 0.05 u./ml. of penicillin and to 3.0 u/ml. of streptomycin. The patient received penicillin therapy for one month and responded poorly. When streptomycin was also administered there was dramatic improvement. This clinical experiment tends to substantiate Hewitt9s work in animals which demonstrates that streptomycin is much more effective than penicillin in saving guinea pigs injected with C. diphtheriae. In vitro tests with the organism isolated in this patient revealed neither evidence of synergism nor antagonism when studied with combinations of penicillin, streptomycin, sodium sulfadiazine and aureomycin. It is suggested in future cases that a combination of penicillin and streptomycin be used and that sensitivity tests be performed on the organism so that the physician may determine the proper dosage of antibiotic.
Participation Versus Consumption Decisions: A Case of Snack Peanuts

Abstract This study examines the effect of a consumer's socioeconomic characteristics on market participation and frequency of purchase of snack peanuts. Data are from a household survey of 2,880 U.S. households collected by Gallup in 1997. A hurdle Poisson model is used to represent consumers' participation and purchase level decisions in the snack peanut market. The results indicate that household income, presence of children in the households, geographic location of households, and gender of household meal planner have significant effects on the participation decisions. Along with the variables that affect participation decisions, race, education level, age of household meal planners have significant impact on purchase frequency of snack peanuts. Promotion of snack peanuts on the basis of household characteristics is important to increase participation and purchase frequency in the snack peanuts market.
Light microscope observations on actin distribution during morphogenetic movements in the chick embryo

The cellular distribution of actin during two morphogenetic processes in the chick embryo has been observed, using a high-resolution fluorescent technique, with heavy meromyosin as a probe. These cytoskeletal elements have been implicated in all cell and tissue movements in the embryo. It is now commonly accepted that microfilaments are necessary to provide the motive force for morphogenesis. Two morphogenetic movements in the early embryo have been studied at the light microscope level. During somitogenesis, the mesenchymal segmental plate becomes transformed into a meristic series of transient epithelial vesicles. Again, actin distribution is diffuse and random before the morphogenetic event. During epithelialization, actin becomes prominent in the apical regions of the epithelial cells. Cells in the somitic epithelial vesicles, the core cells, appear to be passive participants in this process, and consequently show no distinct cellular localization of actin.
Revisions in Need of Revising: The Uniform Disclaimer of Property Interests Act

The article critiques the new Uniform Disclaimer of Property Interests Act of 1999. This Uniform Act -- due soon to be grafted into the Uniform Probate Code -- provides a legal framework for the rejection (or "disclaimer") of a gratuitous transfer by a beneficiary. The article identifies a host of technical glitches and doubtful policy choices made by drafters of the Act; the article also offers an original analysis of all of the principal policy issues surrounding the law of disclaimer. Finally, the conclusion of the article offers suggestions for reform of the law-modelling process by the National Conference of Commissioners in order to avoid structural difficulties with Uniform Acts that have arisen before and that crop up again in connection with the Act under consideration here.
A test of RET theory using an RET theory-based mood induction procedure: The rationality of thinking rationally

Affective consequences of rational-emotive therapy (RET) theory-based self-statements were assessed in a manner which controlled for demand characteristics. Subjects exposed to irrational self-statements evidenced more subjective anxiety, more automatic negative thoughts, and greater physiological arousal than all other subjects. Subjects exposed to type A self-statements evidenced greater physiological arousal than subjects exposed to rational self-statements, who evidenced greater physiological arousal than subjects exposed to neutral statements. Finally, subjects exposed to rational self-statements were the only group to decrease in physiological arousal over time. These results, while generally consistent with RET theory, indicate that some modifications may be necessary.
When electrons and protons get excited.

The coupling of electron and proton transfer reactions is central to a broad range of biological and chemical processes, including photosynthesis, respiration, and various solar energy devices. Elucidation of the fundamental physical principles underlying proton-coupled electron transfer (PCET) reactions (1⇓⇓⇓–5), in which both electrons and protons are transferred, is critical for a complete understanding of these energy conversion processes. This level of understanding is particularly important for the development of alternative renewable energy sources. The detailed mechanistic study of PCET reactions is challenging because of the complexity of the biological and chemical systems associated with such reactions. As illustrated by a study in PNAS (6), however, the application of modern spectroscopic techniques to relatively simple model systems provides an unprecedented level of mechanistic detail about PCET reactions. This pioneering work lays the foundation for future experimental and theoretical investigations to further unravel the intricacies of coupled electron and proton motions. The report by Westlake et al. (6) in PNAS centers on the PCET reactions induced by optical excitation of hydrogen-bonded dyes. One of the model systems studied is a phenol molecule hydrogen-bonded to an amine base, as depicted in Fig. 1 A . Optical excitation of this system induces intramolecular charge transfer (ICT), which can be viewed as an electron transfer from the oxygen to the nitro group within the phenol molecule. This shifting of the electron density away from the oxygen decreases the strength of the O-H bond and leads to proton transfer from the oxygen to the nitrogen in the base. The experiments implicate two different mechanisms for this PCET process. The first mechanism is sequential, where the intramolecular electron transfer is followed by proton transfer. The second mechanism is a concerted electron–proton transfer (EPT) mechanism in which the electron and proton transfer reactions … [↵][1]1E-mail: shs{at}chem.psu.edu. [1]: #xref-corresp-1-1
Initial description of a tumor enhancing activity produced by murine splenocytes.

Abstract We have shown that certain murine tumors grow more slowly and spread less readily in immune deficient animals. We have also demonstrated that immunologic factors explain certain aspects of this difference. In the work presented we demonstrate that a subpopulation of splenocytes produce a factor(s) that enhances tumor cell proliferation in vitro. We also describe an in vitro model to determine the level of tumor stimulatory activity. We found that the tumor cell growth-enhancing activity (TEA) is heat stable but sensitive to trypsin digestion, low pH and β-mercaptoethanol. TEA production is found to be insensitive to mitogen stimulation such as concanavalin A, lipopolysaccharide, and phytohemagglutinin. Among the known growth factors and interleukins we have tested (interleukin 1–7, basic FGF, EGF, TGF-β PDGF, GM-CSF, and MCSF), none appear to account for TEA activity.
The relationship between the sequencing and timing components of a skill.

The relationship between the sequencing and timing components of a skill was investigated in a serial reaction-time task. Two groups received extensive training on an identical sequence of events. For one group there was a constant timing interval between events, while in the other group the length of the timing interval varied from trial to trial. Following training, the sequence was occasionally broken by an event occurring out of its proper order or time. Although there was no difference between the two groups in the speed of responding to unexpected events, the group for which timing was an integral part of the skill showed higher error rates to certain types of unpredictable event. The results suggest that relative timing is an integral part of the motor program representation. The research reported in this paper is part of a Ph.D. thesis submitted to the University of Oregon under the direction of S. W. Keele, supported by an Office of Naval Research Contract No. N00014-67-A-0446-004 to S.W. Keele.
Quantitation of estolides by fourier transform infrared spectroscopy.

Estolides were produced from meadowfoam oil fatty acids, oleic, linoleic, petroselinic, andcis-5,cis-13 docosadienoic acids. Estolide reaction mixtures were quantitated by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and compared to the area percentages determined by high-performance liquid chromatography. The absorbance frequency of estolide carbonyl (1737 cm−1) is different than the lactone carbonyl (1790 cm−1) and the acid carbonyl (1712 cm−1). Estolide standards were obtained by wiped-film molecular-still distillations and column chromatography.
Opacification of the right heart complicating left ventricular angiography

Abstract Two cases of transventricular septal extravasation of contrast medium with opacification of the right heart following left ventricular angiography are presented. The presence of myocardial infiltration or of opacification of the cardiac venous system is useful in differentiating this complication from true congenital ventricular septal defect. No serious consequences developed.
A cis-acting viral protein is not required for the replication of a coronavirus defective-interfering RNA.

Abstract Mouse hepatitis virus (MHV), a coronavirus, generates defective-interfering (DI) RNAs of different sizes during passages at high multiplicities of infection. All MHV DI RNAs characterized so far contain an open reading frame (ORF) encoding a fused viral protein; in addition, DI RNAs with a long ORF have a competitive advantage over those with a shorter ORF. These findings suggest that DI RNA replication may require an ORF encoding a cis -acting viral protein. In this study, we used a naturally occurring DI RNA and inserted a 12-nucleotide (nt) amber-mutation linker at various positions to truncate the ORF. Most of the mutants replicated as well as the wild-type DI RNA, irrespective of the presence or absence and the length of the ORF in the RNA. Sequence analysis showed that all of the mutants retained the insertional mutations even after two viral passages in tissue culture, establishing that the mutant DI RNAs replicated. We have further introduced two 3-nucleotide substitutions of the first two AUG codons of the ORF, thus completely closing the ORF. This DI RNA replicated as well as the wild-type DL but, after a single passage, the majority of the mutant RNAs was replaced by recombinant RNAs which contain a restored functional ORF. However, an additional insertion of a 12-nt amber-mutation linker downstream of the AUG substitutions prevented recombination, and the DI RNA still replicated. These data indicate that DI RNA replication does not require a DI-specific ORF encoding cis -acting viral proteins and that a 12-nucleotide insertion could prevent or delay the occurrence of RNA recombination, suggesting the importance of direct or indirect RNA alignment in homologous RNA recombination.
Enhanced motivational interviewing versus brief advice for adolescent smoking cessation: results from a randomized clinical trial.

Abstract Background Motivational interviewing (MI) is widely used for adolescent smoking cessation but empirical support for this approach is mixed. Methods Adolescent cigarette smokers 14–18 years old ( N = 162) were recruited from medical, school, and community settings and randomly assigned to enhanced MI or brief advice (BA) for smoking cessation. MI comprised an in-person individual session, a telephone booster session one week later, and a brief telephone-based parent intervention. BA consisted of standardized brief advice to quit smoking. Assessments occurred at baseline, post-treatment and at 1-, 3-, and 6-month follow ups. Results Biochemically-confirmed 7-day point prevalence abstinence rates were low (e.g., 4.5% for MI; 1.4% for BA at 1 month) and did not differ significantly by group at any follow up. Only those in MI reported significant decreases in cigarettes smoked per day (CPD) from baseline to 1 month. At 3 and 6 months, smokers in both groups reported significantly reduced CPD with no differences between groups. MI reduced perceived norms regarding peer and adult smoking rates, while BA had no effect on normative perceptions. No group differences emerged for self-reported motivation or self-efficacy to quit smoking. Conclusions Findings support the efficacy of MI for addressing normative misperceptions regarding peer and adult smoking and for modestly reducing CPD in the short-term; however, these effects did not translate to greater smoking abstinence. MI may have more promise as a prelude to more intensive smoking intervention with adolescents than as a stand-alone intervention.
Is mRNA transcribed from the strand complementary to it in a DNA duplex

WE have tested the assumption that the messenger RNA sequence is uniquely determined by the DNA sequence complementary to it. Because RNA is usually transcribed from a DNA duplex, there is the possibility that the DNA strand that is not complementary to the mRNA influences the RNA base selection. This possibility exists in models that postulate like-with-like base pairs1–3, triple helix models of DNA-DNA-RNA4, triple base interactions such as those described in tRNA5, and models in which RNA polymerase may confer a special type of specificity (non-Watson–Crick) to RNA base–DNA duplex interactions, as well as in experiments in which separated are compared with non-separated strands6–7.