cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A randomized study on eversion versus standard carotid endarterectomy: Study design and preliminary results: The Everest Trial

Abstract Purpose: The EVEREST Trial was designed to determine whether the surgical technique influences the durability and complications of carotid endarterectomy (CEA). The current report focuses on the study design and preliminary results. Methods: EVEREST is a randomized multicenter trial. A total of 1353 patients with carotid stenosis requiring surgical treatment were randomly assigned to received standard (n = 675) or eversion (n = 678) CEA. Primary end points included carotid occlusion, major stroke, death, and restenosis rate. Results: The rate of perioperative major stroke and death (1.3 for each study group) and the incidence of early carotid occlusion (0.6% for eversion vs 0.4% for standard) were similar. No significant differences were found between eversion and standard CEA with respect to incidence of perioperative transient ischemic accident, minor stroke, cranial nerve injuries, neck hematoma, myocardial infarction, or surgical defects as detected with intraoperative quality controls. Clamping time was significantly shorter for eversion CEA compared with patch standard procedures (31.7 ± 15.9 vs 34.5 ± 14.4 minutes, p = 0.02). A shunt was inserted in 11% of patients undergoing eversion CEAs and in 16% of patients undergoing standard procedures. Overall 30-day events occurred in 13.3% of the eversion group and in 11.4% of the standard group ( p = 0.3). At a mean follow-up of 14.9 months (range, 1 to 38 months), 16 (2.4%) restenoses occurred in the eversion group and 28 (4.1%) occurred in the standard group (odds ratio, 0.56; 95% confidence interval, 0.3 to 1.1; p = 0.08). Conclusion: The preliminary results of the EVEREST Trial suggest that eversion CEA is a safe and rapid procedure with low major complication rates. No significant differences in restenosis rates were observed between eversion and standard CEA at the available follow-up. Longer-term results are necessary to assess whether the eversion technique influences the durability of CEA. (J Vasc Surg 1998;27:595-605.)
Laser-induced fluorescence detection of atmospheric NO2 with a commercial diode laser and a supersonic expansion.

Routine observations of atmospheric NO2 at concentrations ranging from 0.1 to 100 parts per billion are needed for air quality monitoring and for the evaluation of photochemical models. We have designed, constructed, and field tested a relatively inexpensive and specific NO2 sensor using laser-induced fluorescence. The instrument combines a commercial cw external-cavity tunable diode laser (640 nm) and a continuous supersonic expansion. The total package is completely automated, has a modest size of 0.5 m3 and 118 kg, and could be manufactured at competitive prices with the current generation of instruments. The sensitivity of the instrument is 145 parts per trillion by volume min-1 (signal-to-noise ratio of 2), which is more than adequate for monitoring purposes.
Cloaking a circular cylinder in water waves

Abstract In the diffraction of water waves by fixed bodies, the scattered waves propagate outward in the far field and attenuate with increasing distance from the structure. ‘Cloaking’ refers to the reduction in amplitude or complete elimination of the scattered waves. The possibility of cloaking is of both scientific and practical interests. Cloaking is considered here for a circular cylinder on the free surface, surrounded by one or more additional bodies. Linearized time-harmonic motion is assumed. A numerical procedure is used to optimize the geometry of the surrounding bodies, so as to minimize the energy of the scattered waves. Values of the scattered energy are achieved which are practically zero at a specific wavenumber, within the estimated numerical accuracy. This provides tentative support for the existence of perfect cloaking, and conclusive evidence that structures can be designed to have very small values of the mean drift force.
Deep-submicron CMOS design of high-performance low-power flash/folding analog-to-digital converters

High speed embedded ADC designs are a fundamental component of mobile applications. However, low-power and low-voltage constraints, as well as fast conversion rates are required for these systems, particularly for battery-powered devices. To meet these requirements, folding and interpolating ADC are widely used in embedded ADC for communications IC. This paper presents the design procedure of a 6-bit folding and interpolating analog-to-digital converter (ADC) operating at a conversion rate of 1 Gsamples/s while only dissipating 8 mW. Design challenges and potential solutions are presented and verified through an implementation of this ADC in 1.8 V 0.18 /spl mu/m standard CMOS technology.
On strategies for identifying neurochemical correlates of hypnotic analgesia: a brief communication.

Abstract A test was made of the general hypothesis that central cholinergic mechanisms underlie hypnotic analgesia. Ss were given the cold pressor pain test under waking and 3 drug conditions. 6 Ss who scored very high on the tailored Stanford Hypnotic Susceptibility Scale, Form C (SHSS:C-T) of E.R. Hilgard, Crawford, Bowers, and Kihlstrom (1979) were given atropine, propantheline. and placebo in double-blind and counterbalanced conditions. to determine if atropine would disrupt hypnotic analgesia. The study was replicated using Ss who scored lower on SHSS:C - T. The results showed only a nonsignificant tendency for atropine to interfere with hypnotic analgesia in the most hypnotizable group of Ss. and for both atropine and propantheline similarly to disrupt hypnotic analgesia for Ss in the less highly hypnotizable group. Alternative strategies are described for identifying the neurotransmitter(s) involved in the trance state.
Estimating regional forest cover in East Texas using Enhanced Thematic Mapper (ETM+) data

The USDA Forest Service, through its Forest Inventory and Analysis (FIA) program, periodically estimates forest/non-forest area at the county level using aerial photographs. Satellite-based remotely sensed data and digital image processing techniques could substantially reduce the time required to generate this information. Satellites collect data on a repeat basis and with higher frequency than the aerial photos that are currently used for this purpose. In addition to the forest cover estimates, the USDA could use satellite data to generate maps depicting the spatial distribution of forest cover. However, few studies have tested the utility of medium-resolution satellite data for FIA purposes. We tested the potential for using LANDSAT satellite data to obtain forest cover estimates for a six-county region in East Texas. Satellite data were processed using a combination of image classification techniques that could be repeated in other regions of the USA. Results were compared with the results of traditional photo-based estimation techniques and were comparable within a 95% confidence interval. Based on this study we recommend that medium-resolution satellite data can be used for obtaining county-level forest cover estimates.
College Women's Perception and Knowledge of Human Papillomavirus (HPV) and Cervical Cancer

Human papillomavirus (HPV) infections are one of the most common types of sexually transmitted infections in the United States. The highest rates of HPV infection are found in adult’s ages 18-28 years. This study utilizes the Health Belief Model to assess knowledge and perception of HPV infection and cervical cancer in college-age women and their intent to reduce their numbers of sex partners and request that their partner wear a condom during their next sexual encounter to prevent HPV infection. Even though most college women have heard of HPV, it appears that 79.5% of women in this study rated their subjective knowledge of HPV as poor, and only 58% knew that a vaccine now exists to prevent HPV infection. HPV health promotion campaigns should do more to incorporate HPV vaccine education in STD and HPV educational interventions.
Multicentric glioblastoma multiforme determined by positron emission tomography: a case report

Abstract The actual incidence of true multicentric glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) varies between 2.4 and 4.9% of all GBMs. True multicentric tumors are described as widespread lesions in different lobes or hemispheres, which cannot be explained by spreading along the cerebrospinal fluid or blood pathways. We present here a case of multicentric GBM identified with positron emission tomography. Case report: A 73-year-old woman with sudden onset headaches, balance problems, and one episode of syncope was diagnosed as having an irregular, contrast-enhancing, space-occupying lesion in the left-temporal–parietal region on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The tissue diagnosis was confirmed as GBM, and she received stereotactic radiosurgery using the Leksell Gamma Knife® (Elekta Instruments, Atlanta, GA). A 3-month, follow-up, MRI scan showed a remarkable decrease in the size of the contrast-enhancing area that was targeted during radiosurgery. A suspicious area of enhancement was detected on the right side, although no surrounding edema was evident. Fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG)-PET scanning revealed a large irregular neoplasm extending from the inferior left-temporal lobe into the deep parietal lobe with extremely intense FDG uptake, suggesting a very aggressive tumor. A smaller lesion was also discovered in the deep right-frontal lobe, representing a second neoplastic focus. The patient refused any further treatment. Conclusion: PET scans, in conjunction with MRI scans, allow for the best possible and most comprehensive diagnosis and treatment plans.
Carbohydrate-based cocktails that decrease the population of Salmonella and Campylobacter in the crop of broiler chickens subjected to feed withdrawal

Abstract The efficacy of various carbohydrate-based cocktails in reducing the number of enteropathogens in the crops of broilers subjected to feed withdrawal was examined. Market-aged broilers that had been orally challenged with Salmonella typhimurium were provided the cocktails during a 12-h feed withdrawal. After feed withdrawal, the broilers were processed, and their crops were aseptically removed and weighed. Crops were then blended in distilled water, and the pH of the suspensions was measured electronically. Populations of S. typhimurium, Campylobacter, and lactic acid bacteria in the crop suspensions were enumerated. Findings indicated that significantly fewer S. typhimurium and Campylobacter were recovered from the crops of broilers that had been provided cocktails supplemented with sucrose than from the (Key words: crop, carbohydrate, feed crops of broilers provided cocktails supplemented with equal concentrations (wt/vol) of glucose. Furthermore, significantly fewer S. typhimurium were recovered from the crops of broilers provided cocktails supplemented with 2 to 10% sucrose than from the crops of broilers provided water or cocktails that were not supplemented with carbohydrates. The pH of the crop contents of broilers provided carbohydrate cocktails were lower than the pH of the crops of broilers provided water or cocktails that were not supplemented with carbohydrates. Consumption of the cocktails did not produce significant changes in the crop weights. Findings indicate that altering the composition of carbohydrate-based cocktails provided to broilers during feed withdrawal may affect the efficacy of cocktails in reducing the number of enteropathogens recovered from the crops of broilers.
Diffraction of nonlinear random waves by a vertical cylinder in deep water

Abstract A solution, exact to second-order, is presented for the nonlinear diffraction of random waves by a fixed, surface-piercing vertical circular cylinder in deep water. The incident wave field is considered as a stationary random process, and the nonlinear diffraction problem is analyzed utilizing the Stokes perturbation expansion procedure combined with a Fourier-Stieltjes spectral representation of the stationary random wave kinematics. The second-order velocity potential is explicitly obtained by applying a modified form of Weber's Integral Theorem to invert the inhomogeneous second-order free-surface condition. Particular attention is directed towards the second-order diffraction forces on the cylinder. The spectral description of the second-order diffraction forces involves a complicated integral expression with highly oscillatory wave-wave interaction kernels and multiple convolutions of the linear wave spectrum. The present approach provides a complete spectral description of the second-order diffraction forces, and yields the spectral densities of the diffraction forces at the sum and difference frequencies. Numerical results are presented which illustrate the spectral content of the diffraction force due to an incident wave field represented by a superposition of waves described by band-limited white noise processes centered at different frequencies.
Leg clubs: A new approach to patient-centred leg ulcer management

Abstract Loneliness is a significant health-care issue for many elderly patients in the community. The correlation between social isolation, poor compliance to treatment, and low healing rates for patients suffering from leg ulcers is well documented. Pain, odour, bandages etc. contribute to low self-esteem, depression and social stigma. Home visits by community nurses cannot provide the social and psychological support required by these patients. Responding to the holistic needs of this client group, the author set up Debenham Leg Club in 1995 to provide leg ulcer management in an informal, non-medical setting, where the emphasis is on social interaction, participation, empathy and peer support. This social model was conceived as a unique partnership between the district nurses and the local community, in which patients are empowered, through a sense of ownership, to become stakeholders in their own treatment. The value of the ‘club’ concept is evident in the happy, welcoming, uninhibited atmosphere that characterizes the clinic. Non-compliance to treatment has been virtually eliminated and evidence of greater healing rates has been illustrated through many patients whose long-standing ulcers have healed or greatly improved as a direct result of this change in approach. Patients' willingness to attend for systematic ‘well leg’ checks and ongoing health education has dramatically reduced the incidence of recurrence.
Quantification of force abnormalities during passive and active-assisted upper-limb reaching movements in post-stroke hemiparesis

The authors evaluated a method for measuring abnormal upper-limb motor performance in post-stroke hemiparetic subjects. A servomechanism (MIME) moved the forearm in simple planar trajectories, directly controlling hand position and forearm orientation. Design specifications are presented, along with system performance data during an initial test of 13 stroke subjects with a wide range of impairment levels. Performance of subjects was quantified by measuring the forces and torques between the paretic limb and the servomechanism as the subjects relaxed (passive), or attempted to generate force in the direction of movement (active). During passive movements, the more severely impaired subjects resisted movement, producing higher levels of negative work than less-impaired subjects and neurologically normal controls. During active movements, the more severely impaired subjects produced forces with larger directional errors, and were less efficient in producing work. These metrics had significant test-retest repeatability. These motor performance metrics can potentially detect smaller within-subject changes than motor function scales. This method could complement currently used measurement tools for the evaluation of subjects during recovery from stroke, or during therapeutic interventions.
Investigations into free tropospheric new particle formation in the central Canadian arctic during the winter/spring transition as part of TOPSE

[1] In this paper, we investigate the role of in situ new particle production in the central Canadian sub-Arctic and Arctic as part of the TOPSE experiment. Airborne measurements conducted primarily in the free troposphere were made from 50° to 90°W longitude and 60° to 85°N latitude during the period from February to May 2000. Data pertinent to this paper include 3–4 nm diameter (Dp) particles, ultrafine condensation nuclei (Dp > 3 nm), fine particles (0.2 < Dp < 3 μm), and the possible nucleation precursor, sulfuric acid, and its precursor, sulfur dioxide. For data averaged over this period, most species showed little evidence for a latitudinal trend. Fine aerosol number concentrations, however, showed a slight increase with latitude. The evolution of various species concentrations over the period of the study show that fine particles also had a consistent temporal trend, increasing at all altitudes from February to May, whereas sulfur dioxide at the surface tended to peak in late March. Ultrafine condensation nuclei and 3–4 nm particles showed no temporal trends. Little evidence for in situ new particle production was observed during the study, except for one atypical event where SO2 concentrations were 3.5 ppbv, 2 orders of magnitude higher than typical levels. This paper cannot address the question of whether the observed condensation nuclei were produced in situ by a low particle production rate or transported from lower latitudes.
Fundamental studies of nanoscale sensing and actuation based on nanomanipulation and assembly

An approach based on versatile nanomanipulation and assembly has been taken to investigate the fundamental properties of nanomaterials of various types for their potential applications in sensing and actuation. A nanomanipulation system with many degrees of freedom was developed for use inside a field emission scanning electron microscope. This system is capable of nanometer resolution motion, and free-space manipulation/characterization of nanostructures by the multiple probes controlled by the high precision manipulators. Specifically, the manipulation and basic construction capabilities in free space were demonstrated with nanomaterials, such as nanotubes and nanowires having diameters around tens of nanometers and length around a few microns; mechanical and electrical characterization of such individual nanoscale objects were realized with the introduction of new techniques and methods; and finally, mechanical resonance and high order parametric resonances in a nanowire mechanical system were realized using oscillating electric field induced oscillation.
Measurements of turbulent flow development in tubes and annuli with square or rounded entrances

Entrance-region studies, based on static-pressure measurements, were carried out with water flowing in annuli and a circular tube fitted with interchangeable square or rounded entrance sections. The tests covered the Reynolds number range from 16,000 to 70,000. For the annuli, the length of duct required to approach to within 5% of the fully developed pressure gradient was about 20 to 25 hydraulic diameters. This is in general accord with entrance length results for circular tubes and parallel-plate channels but differs from prior results for the annulus which had indicated entrance lengths larger by a factor of ten. The results for the sharp entrance showed a definite effect of separation and were characterized by high loss coefficients. For the rounded entrance, the initial part of the flow development was laminar; the entrance-region pressure drop did not substantially exceed (and in one case was less than) the corresponding fully developed pressure drop. Also for the rounded entrance, flow stability was improved and a monotonically decreasing pressure gradient obtained when a turbulent boundary layer was induced by means of a trip. Fully developed friction factors were calculated and compared with theory.
MPLP @ 5: More Access, Less Backlog?

Mark Greene and Dennis Meissner published their influential article “More Product, Less Process: Revamping Traditional Archival Processing” five years ago. This study assesses the impact of the methodologies expounded by Greene and Meissner on processing and reference in the archival profession. A broad survey of American archivists conducted in the fall of 2009 is the basis for our exploration of the extent to which the “MPLP” principles have thus far generally decreased collection backlogs and increased researcher access to collections.
Resuscitation and resurrection: The ethics of cloning cheetahs, mammoths, and Neanderthals

Recent events and advances address the possibility of cloning endangered and extinct species. The ethics of these types of cloning have special considerations, uniquely different from the types of cloning commonly practiced. Cloning of cheetahs (and other endangered or vulnerable species) may be ethically appropriate, given certain constraints. However, the ethics of cloning extinct species varies; for example, cloning mammoths and Neanderthals is more ethically problematic than conservation cloning, and requires more attention. Cloning Neanderthals in particular is likely unethical and such a project should not be undertaken. It is important to discuss and plan for the constraints necessary to mitigate the harms of conservation and extinct cloning, and it is imperative that scientific and public discourse enlighten and guide actions in the sphere of cloning.
Comparing homeless and domiciled pregnant substance dependent women on psychosocial characteristics and treatment outcomes

The present study compared pregnant drug-dependent women reporting homelessness (n=117) or being domiciled (n=118) at treatment enrollment on initial psychosocial functioning and subsequent drug treatment outcome. Homeless pregnant women presented with greater drug use and medical problems, less social service income, and more family/social difficulties than domiciled women. Homeless women had greater rates of psychiatric problems including suicidality and higher rates of physical, emotional and sexual abuse than their domiciled counterparts. Treatment retention was poorer for homeless than domiciled pregnant women. Results suggest that treatment should address the housing needs of pregnant drug abusers as well as their related social and psychiatric problems.
Distinctions between Athletic Training Education Programs at the Undergraduate and Graduate Levels

Objective: To provide a historical perspective on factors that have shaped the current structure of athletic training education, and to advocate development of a new conceptual framework for a continuum of professional education in athletic training. Background: Athletic training is a relatively young profession that has undergone significant planned change in education and credentialing to enhance the practitioner knowledge and to promote the credibility of the profession within the healthcare community. However, comparison of the prevailing model for basic and advanced professional education in athletic training to those of other health professions reveals major structural differences. In an effort to promote an integrated approach to the spectrum of athletic training education, and to be consistent with terminology used by other health professions, the term professional education is used to designate entry-level education and the term post-professional education is used to designate post-certification,...
Proofs for Sect. 3.3: Finding Points with Local Minimizers

This chapter contains the proofs of our three criteria—Propositions 3.16, 3.23, and 3.25—for showing that a given point has local minimizers. In the process we develop some valuable tools for working with admissible manifolds, and we prove a powerful inequality that bounds the length of a curve above by its action.
Targeting NOTCH1 in T-ALL: Starving the dragon

Oncogenic activation of NOTCH1 signaling as result of gain of function mutations in the NOTCH1 gene plays a central role in the pathogenesis of T-ALL.1 Accordingly, γ-secretase inhibitors (GSI), wh...
Molecular and Genetic Insights into Shoot Control of Nodulation in Soybean

Mutants of soybean were used to study autoregulation of nodulation. Supernodulation resulted from mutations in the nts-1 gene, which was mapped next to two RFLP markers. Supernodulation resulted from the absense of autoregulation nodulation and led to nitrate tolerant nodulation. Grafting experiments revealed that autoregulation functions through the shoot of the plant. Specifically, early cell division steps in the root activate a yet undefined process, which leads to the production of an inhibitory response from young leaves, which, transmitted systemically to the roots, prevents further cell divisions and nodule meristem maturation. However, meristems of sufficient size and independence progress to form nodules. Autoregulation is seen as a mechanism by which legume plants limit mitogenic stimulation from ubiquitous factors produced by rhizobia. The mechanism may have similarities to that controlling lateral root number, reflecting onto- and phylogenetic links between nodule and root formation.
Safety and efficacy of rivastigmine in children with Down syndrome: A double blind placebo controlled trial

Individuals with Down syndrome (DS) have decreased cholinergic function and an uneven profile of cognitive abilities, with more pronounced deficits in learning, memory, and expressive language. Cholinesterase inhibitors may improve cognitive function in adults and adolescents with DS, but studies in children with DS have been limited. This study aimed to: (i) investigate the safety and efficacy of rivastigmine treatment; (ii) build upon our open-label studies in children with DS in a double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial; and (iii) investigate specific cognitive domains that may respond to rivastigmine treatment. We conducted a 20-week double-blind, placebo-controlled trial to investigate the safety and efficacy of rivastigmine in 22 children and adolescents with DS aged 10-17 years. Safety measures included reports of adverse events, laboratory parameters, and electrocardiograms. Efficacy measures included parental assessments of adaptive behavior and executive function, and direct measures of language and memory. No group differences were found on safety measures and 22 of 24 participants that passed study screening completed the study. The results did not demonstrate evidence for significant improvement in aspects of cognition, language, or overall function in the children receiving rivastigmine. Our results suggest that rivastigmine is safe and well-tolerated for children and adolescents with DS, but may not be effective for improving performance on the selected measures in this study. However, larger samples and/or alternate measures could possibly reveal improvements in cognitive function with rivastigmine treatment. Further research is needed to define a battery of cognitive measures that is sensitive to treatment effects in DS. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Effects of juniper removal and rainfall variation on tree transpiration in a semi‐arid karst: evidence of complex water storage dynamics

Brush removal is widely practiced as a tool for increasing groundwater recharge, but its efficacy depends greatly on the way in which the removed species interact with the hydrological system relative to the vegetation replacing it. We examined the effects of Ashe juniper removal in the recharge zone of the Edwards Aquifer, Texas, USA, a karst aquifer. The study was conducted in an Ashe juniper (Juniperus ashei)–live oak (Quercus fusiformis) woodland on a hill slope composed of rocky, shallow soils over fractured limestone bedrock. Ashe juniper is a native species that has been encroaching grasslands and savannas over the past century. In September 2008, a plot was cleared of 90% of its juniper trees. Tree transpiration, predawn water potentials and vegetation cover across the cleared plot and an adjacent reference site were measured from May 2009 to December 2011. Stand-level tree transpiration from May 2009 to March 2010 was diminished by a severe summer drought in 2009, from which trees were slow to recover. Subsequently, tree transpiration was 5–10× higher in the woodland compared to the clearing. For all of 2011, also a drought year, tree transpiration in the woodland exceeded precipitation inputs, indicating a high capacity for water storage at the study site. However, site differences for oak trees were generally larger than for juniper trees. While juniper removal accounted for a 431 mm year−1 difference in tree transpiration between sites, vegetation cover in the clearing increased from 42% to 90% over two years, suggesting that understory growth was increasingly compensating for the loss of juniper transpiration. We conclude that the removal of a relatively shallow-rooted tree, when replaced with herbaceous vegetation and low shrubs, has little effect on deep recharge. By contrast, successive years of precipitation extremes may be more effective increasing recharge by lowering the water transport capacity of trees in the aftermath of severe drought. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Recognition systems and biological invasions

Recognition systems are an integral component of the biology of all species. The highly tuned nature of many recognition systems may make them particularly sensitive to environmental and genetic changes. In this review, we examine how biological invasions influence recognition systems and discuss how plasticity in recognition systems may contribute to the success of species in new environments. Specifically we discuss how demographic and genetic consequences of the invasion process may influence allorecognition, intraspecific, and interspecific interactions. Possible research directions are discussed including the value of comparing species' recognition systems between native and introduced populations.
Analysis of the Tibial Epiphysis in the Skeletally Immature Knee Using Magnetic Resonance Imaging: An Update of Anatomic Parameters Pertinent to Physeal-Sparing Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction

Background:Physeal-sparing anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction is being performed increasingly in skeletally immature knees.Purpose:To determine normal values for the maximum oblique le...
God Will Help You: Sadaka Gifting in Northern Ghana

In Northern Ghana, sadaka is a form of ritualized gifting that is cloaked in anonymity and secrecy, making it extremely difficult to recognize even as it is taking place. The idea of sadaka, or obligatory almsgiving, undoubtedly arrived in northern Ghana with Muslim traders during medieval times, but today it is a syncretic practice that blends traditional and Muslim beliefs. In keeping with the original idea of sadaka, the recipients of sadaka gifts are generally the most vulnerable members of society, but unlike the Islamic practice, sadaka in northern Ghana is primarily undertaken by individuals seeking an immediate, and often material solution to their problems. The materials offered as sadaka gifts are primarily small amounts of food, kola, or money—mundane items that are readily available in the market and the household. The gifts are given anonymously, often by a third party. Consequently, although a sadaka gift is materialized the moment it exchanges hands, it is meant to be invisible to all but the people involved in the transaction and meant to be consumed and therefore to leave no lasting trace. Despite its invisibility, sadaka is an essential part of daily life in Northern Ghana. It is the primary way in which people alleviate the stress of things that are out of their control, and it channels food and other goods toward children and other vulnerable members of society.
EEG in Late Infantile Neuronal Ceroid Lipofuscinosis

The clinical and electroencephalographic findings in 18 cases (8 girls, 10 boys) with late infantile neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis (NCL) are reported from the University of Genova, and University of Siena, Italy.
Palladium-Mediated Synthesis of a Near-Infrared Fluorescent K+ Sensor

Potassium (K+) exits electrically excitable cells during normal and pathophysiological activity. Currently, K+-sensitive electrodes and electrical measurements are the primary tools to detect K+ fluxes. Here, we describe the synthesis of a near-IR, oxazine fluorescent K+ sensor (KNIR-1) with a dissociation constant suited for detecting changes in intracellular and extracellular K+ concentrations. KNIR-1 treatment of cells expressing voltage-gated K+ channels enabled the visualization of intracellular K+ depletion upon channel opening and restoration of cytoplasmic K+ after channel closing.
Frequency and distribution of incidental findings deemed appropriate for S modifier designation on low-dose CT in a lung cancer screening program.

Abstract Purpose To describe the frequency, distribution and reporting patterns of incidental findings receiving the Lung-RADS S modifier on low-dose chest computed tomography (CT) among lung cancer screening participants. Methods This retrospective investigation included 581 individuals who received baseline low-dose chest CT for lung cancer screening between October 2013 and June 2017 at a single center. Incidental findings resulting in assignment of Lung-RADS S modifier were recorded as were incidental abnormalities detailed within the body of the radiology report only. A subset of 60 randomly selected CTs was reviewed by a second (blinded) radiologist to evaluate inter-rater variability of Lung-RADS reporting. Results A total of 261 (45%) participants received the Lung-RADS S modifier on baseline CT with 369 incidental findings indicated as potentially clinically significant. Coronary artery calcification was most commonly reported, accounting for 182 of the 369 (49%) findings. An additional 141 incidentalomas of the same types as these 369 findings were described in reports but were not labelled with the S modifier. Therefore, as high as 69% (402 of 581) of participants could have received the S modifier if reporting was uniform. Inter-radiologist concordance of S modifier reporting in a subset of 60 participants was poor (42% agreement, kappa = 0.2). Conclusions Incidental findings are commonly identified on chest CT for lung cancer screening, yet reporting of the S modifier within Lung-RADS is inconsistent. Specific guidelines are necessary to better define potentially clinically significant abnormalities and to improve reporting uniformity.
Electrochemical Evaluation of the Number of Au Atoms in Polymeric Gold Thiolates by Single Particle Collisions.

Polymeric gold thiolates, [Au(I)SR]n, are common synthetic intermediate precursors of gold nanoclusters and larger nanoparticles. The size and dispersity of the precursors strongly influence the properties of the synthesis products. Evaluating the size of the precursors is not straightforward because they are irregularly shaped (nonspherical) and hard to isolate from solution. Herein, we propose an effective method for determining the number of Au atoms in polymeric thiolate particles from current transients resulting from single precursor collisions, where individual [Au(I)SR]n species are electrochemically reduced at the collector ultramicroelectrode. The developed approach can lead to a better control over the mean size and dispersity of colloidal metal nanoclusters and nanoparticles.
The Conditional CAPM and Time Varying Risk Premium for Equity REITs

Given the recent much interest in REITs, we investigate if REITs have provided investors with superior risk/return trade off. Utilizing a conditional CAPM, we find that equity REITs have outperformed the market with an average abnormal annual return of 2.25% with a low time-varying beta of around .24 during June 1995 to December 2003 period. We utilize time-varying risk premium models for equity REITs with GARCH specifications and find that both the ARCH and GARCH effects are significant in our estimated models. In addition, the volatility shocks are quite persistent. Our results show that the market returns and the first order autocorrelation help explain the excess returns of equity REITs. However, the movement of interest rates contributes to equity REIT returns only when the market return is not present in our models.
Narrative Structures, Narratives of Abuse, and Human Rights

A number of late 20th- early 21st century political and intellectual movements put a spotlight on the value of listening to silenced voices. Picking up on these trends, philosophers have addressed a number of pertinent themes, including respect, empathy, and credibility. Less thoroughly explored is the relation between victims’ stories and normativity. This paper examines two theories of narrative – one by Hayden White and the other by Anthony Amsterdam and Jerome Bruner – and argues that neither adequately accounts for the capacity of victims’ stories of abuse to advance understanding of and increase respect for human rights. To better appreciate the contribution of victims’ stories to human rights advocacy, I propose an account of the relation between normativity and a type of fractured story that traumatized victims often tell.
A characterization of laminar architecture in mouse primary auditory cortex

Laminar architecture of primary auditory cortex (A1) has long been investigated by traditional histochemical techniques such as Nissl staining, retrograde and anterograde tracings. Uncertainty still remains, however, about laminar boundaries in mice. Here we investigated the cortical lamina structure by combining neuronal tracing and immunofluorochemistry for laminar specific markers. Most retrogradely labeled corticothalamic neurons expressed Forkhead box protein P2 (Foxp2) and distributed within the laminar band of Foxp2-expressing cells, identifying layer 6. Cut-like homeobox 1 (Cux1) expression in layer 2-4 neurons divided the upper layers into low expression layers 2/3 and high expression layers 3/4, which overlapped with the dense terminals of vesicular glutamate transporter 2 (vGluT2) and anterogradely labeled lemniscal thalamocortical axons. In layer 5, between Cux1-expressing layers 2-4 and Foxp2-defined layer 6, retrogradely labeled corticocollicular projection neurons mostly expressed COUP-TF interacting protein 2 (Ctip2). Ctip2-expressing neurons formed a laminar band in the middle of layer 5 distant from layer 6, creating a laminar gap between the two laminas. This gap contained a high population of commissural neurons projecting to contralateral A1 compared to other layers and received vGluT2-immunopositive, presumptive thalamocortical axon collateral inputs. Our study shows that layer 5 is much wider than layer 6, and layer 5 can be divided into at least three sublayers. The thalamorecipient layers 3/4 may be separated from layers 2/3 using Cux1 and can be also divided into layer 4 and layer 3 based on the neuronal soma size. These data provide a new insight for the laminar structure of mouse A1.
The Rise of Oxygen and the origin of the Eukaryotic Cell

Oxygenic photosynthesis started out locally, but its considerable advantage over organisms requiring externally produced food molecules resulted in its global expansion. The need for carbon dioxide might initially have been met by such CO2 as was contained in the atmosphere and dissolved in the oceans. When this was consumed, all photosynthesizers had to depend on new CO2 produced by geologic process, such as subduction of organic sediments followed by reaction of reduced carbon compounds in the sediment with water under magmatic conditions in the upper mantle of Earth. This supply of new carbon dioxide lasted for a billion years or more, and in fact is still producing some CO2 at present, though probably not in amounts comparable to the early Precambrian. Oxygenic photosynthesis opened up an enormous new energy supply for life. In parallel with this, oxidative metabolism using available molecular oxygen resulted in much more efficient cells. These could be larger since nutrient supply to the interior parts of the cells was now more efficient. The increase in cell size may have made it possible for cells to isolate their DNA into separate compartments (nuclei) in which the DNA would be more protected from the surroundings, and thus a more stable and reliable storage vehicle for genetic information. More stable genomes could also become larger, perhaps yielding more complex cells. Eukaryote cells, with numerous intracellular bodies doing specialized work in the cell, may have arisen by capture of smaller prokaryotic cells by the larger, possibly nucleated cells. These more sophisticated cells were able to thrive using the contributions of their internal partners, such as mitchondria and chloroplasts, and eventually became the basis for multicellular organisms.
Determinants of students’ entrepreneurial intention to compete in a fast-pitch competition

AbstractDespite the heightened popularity of entrepreneurship education, there remain open questions regarding best practices in co-curricular programs. Using the theory of planned behavior, the au...
Testing Accommodations and the Measurement of Student Academic Growth.

Using two states’ grades 3 through 8 state assessment databases, this study documents the extent to which students were assigned testing accommodations for ELA or mathematics in only one of two con...
Friction, snake oil, and weird countries: Cybersecurity systems could deepen global inequality through regional blocking

In this moment of rising nationalism worldwide, governments, civil society groups, transnational companies, and web users all complain of increasing regional fragmentation online. While prior work ...
The Emerging Role of Minimal Residual Disease Testing in Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma

Diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is characterized by clinical heterogeneity that is not fully accounted for by pathologic features. Furthermore, real-time treatment modifications and detection of relapse are typically guided by radiographic imaging modalities which are imperfect. Here, we review the potential utility of minimal residual disease (MRD) assessment for informing treatment decisions and detecting relapse. The most promising method of MRD detection is based on analysis of circulating tumor DNA in the peripheral blood of patients with DLBCL. This approach can predict outcomes and response to treatment as well as detect relapse prior to clinical signs of recurrent disease. While some studies of MRD in DLBCL have been in the prospective setting, the ability of this technology to alter clinical outcomes is currently unknown. MRD detection provides a non-invasive way to gather information about DLBCL at various time points throughout the disease course. Its role is evolving and should be incorporated into prospective studies in order to demonstrate an impact on patient outcomes.
MESOSCALE METEOROLOGY | Bow Echoes and Derecho

This article is reproduced from the previous edition, volume 1, pp 311–312, © 2003, Elsevier Ltd.
Outcomes of HIV patients treated with chemoradiotherapy (CRT) for squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN).

5531 Background: SCCHN with HIV is a challenging clinical situation in the medical arena due to limited data. We report our outcomes and the impact of chemotherapy (CT) and HPV on this patient (pt)...
Educational Case: Mitochondrial Myopathy.

Author(s): Lucas, Calixto-Hope G; Margeta, Marta | Abstract: The following fictional case is intended as a learning tool within the Pathology Competencies for Medical Education (PCME), a set of national standards for teaching pathology. These are divided into three basic competencies: Disease Mechanisms and Processes, Organ System Pathology, and Diagnostic Medicine and Therapeutic Pathology. For additional information, and a full list of learning objectives for all three competencies, see http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/2374289517715040.1.
Examining Entrepreneurial Intention of the Saudi Arabia’s University Students: Analyzing Alternative Integrated Research Model of TPB and EEM

Entrepreneurship is driving the growth of many countries in the world. Several studies have examined antecedents of theory of planned behavior (TPB) as the key factors influencing individual entrepreneurial intentions. However, some other studies have used entrepreneurial event model (EEM) to assess perceived desirability and feasibility as the antecedents of EI. Moreover, the meta-analysis and structural equation modeling of the existing literature using these models has provided a revised integrated model, which has been shown to outperform the individual models. Yet none of the empirical research has investigated this integrated model in any context in general and particularly in the Saudi Arabia’s context. This paper aims to examine the individual TPB and EEM models and investigate the integrated meta-analytic models by Schlaegel and Koenig (Entrep Theory Pract 38(2):291–332, 2014) and Alferaih (Int J Entrep Innov 18(3):195–209, 2017). It then tests the proposed combined model with some relevant additional variables such as innovativeness and business environment. The findings indicate that the new research model surpasses all four models using the same dataset. The results indicate that innovativeness emerged as the strongest predictor of entrepreneurial behavior. The study also provides contributions to theory and implications for practice toward the end.
Optimizing Computed Tomography for Detection of Pulmonary Thromboembolism in Patients With Fontan Circulation.

Congenital heart disease (CHD) patients who have undergone the Fontan procedure or one of its variants usually have altered vascular anatomy. Consequently, this poses a challenge when diagnosing pulmonary thromboembolism (PTE) with computed tomography (CT). Detailed review of the type of surgery performed and the person's individual anatomy beforehand can help in choosing the appropriate diagnostic CT modality and technique. It would also help reduce false-positive and false-negative test results that would otherwise result in unnecessary anticoagulation, as well as avoid needless radiation exposure and additional cost, respectively.
Programmable Metasurfaces Employing Phase-Change-Dielectric Materials Architecture

We experimentally demonstrate reconflgurable metasruface capable of high modulating of scattered light thanks to the interplay of electric and magnetic Mie resonance modes, due to the induced intermediate states of GST necessary for beaming applications.
Holy Problematics Fabman!: how current representations create a missed opportunity for superhero comics to aid in gay youth identity development

Current representations of gay male superheroes miss an opportunity to adequately provide positive representation to gay youth by following a heteronormative framework that promotes further margina...