cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Regulation of Chloride Transport in Epithelia

In a number of epithelia, overall electrolyte absorption and secretion are highly regulated (8, 25, 66). The absorptive and secretory states are character­ ized by the movement of fluids and electrolytes toward the serosa or toward the lumen, respectively. Although most epithelia are not thought of primarily as secretory, secretion plays a critical role in the normal functioning of epithelia and in the pathophysiology of disease affecting such physiologically distinct tissues as large airways, sweat gland, pancreas, and intestinal tract. Transport processes involved in secretion and absorption are regulated short­ term by neurohormones, mediators, and local hormones, or long-term by steroid hormones, such as mineralocorticoids (25). This discussion focuses on short-term regulatory agents and looks specifically at second messenger systems that regulate CIsecretion in epithelia affected by the genetic disease Cystic Fibrosis (CF) and by secretory diarrhea. Recent excellent reviews provide details on trachea (99) and intestine (8, 25); hence, in this article, current reports on epithelial Cltransport regulation are reviewed.
Genome Sequences of Pseudoalteromonas Strains ATCC BAA-314, ATCC 70018, and ATCC 70019

The assembly and annotation of the draft genome sequences for Pseudoalteromonas strains ATCC BAA314, ATCC 700518, and ATCC 700519 reveal candidates for promoting symbiosis between Pseudoalteromonas strains and eukaryotes. Groups of genes generally associated with virulence are present in all three strains, suggesting that these bacteria may be pathogenic under specific circumstances.
Evaluation of a grapevine-derived reporter gene system for precision breeding of Vitis

A grapevine-derived VvMybA1 transcription factor was evaluated for its efficiency as a reporter gene by comparing it with existing reporter genes, the green fluorescent protein (GFP) and β-glucuronidase (GUS). Embryogenic cultures of Vitis cultivars Thompson Seedless and Bronx Seedless were initiated from leaves of in vitro grown micropropagation cultures and somatic embryos were used as explants for Agrobacterium-mediated transformation. Transient and stable expression of the MybA1 gene was characterized by intense red pigmentation in co-cultivated explants, callus tissues and secondary embryos lines compared to GFP and GUS that exhibited green fluorescence and blue coloration following a substrate assay. No differences were observed in transient gene expression frequencies between the MybA1 gene and GUS among the two compared reporter genes. Visual levels of stable gene expression were higher in GFP and GUS expressing cultures compared to MybA1 expressing cultures. The presence of the inserted genes and their expression in regenerated plant lines was confirmed by PCR and RT-PCR. Embryo and plant lines expressing the MybA1 gene accumulated varying levels of anthocyanin pigment in plant tissues and organs, and were characterized by slower growth compared to plant lines expressing GFP and GUS. Scanning electron microscopy analyses revealed a significant change in abaxial and adaxial leaf epidermal cells of MybA1-expressing plant lines compared to those expressing GFP and GUS, and non-transformed control plants. The study demonstrated the utility of the VvMybA1 transcription factor as a reliable reporter gene for identification of gene insertion events in cell culture and regeneration of modified plants.
A Fuller View of China: Chinese Art in the Seattle Art Museum (Yiu)

This work is a book review considering the title A Fuller View of China: Chinese Art in the Seattle Art Museum by Josh Yiu.
Using Six Sigma and Lean in the Library

Businesses have long relied on a variety of strategies to improve quality, efficiency, and service. Some ideas that have persisted over time are Six Sigma and Lean. While Six Sigma, originally intended for manufacturing, focuses on quality and Lean mainly addresses waste, many of the tools and principles involved can also apply to libraries. This article will review the literature on Lean and Six Sigma as they are used in business and then as they have been used in libraries. The resulting discussion will cover how the principles can be applied to better connect with stakeholders by mapping processes and discovering what is value added (VA) versus nonvalue added (NVA), anticipating failure modes using the failure mode and effects analysis (FMEA) framework, and implementing control plans to maintain quality processes and service.
High-Altitude Medicine

Individuals may seek the advice of medical providers when considering travel to high altitude. This article provides a basic framework for counseling and evaluating such patients. After defining "high altitude" and describing the key environmental features at higher elevations, the physiologic changes that occur at high altitude and how these changes are experienced by the traveler are discussed. Clinical features and strategies for prevention and treatment of the main forms of acute altitude illness are outlined, and frameworks for approaching the common clinical scenarios that may be encountered regarding high-altitude travelers are provided.
Does Public Reporting Improve Care

In 2009, the Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) began public reporting on risk-standardized hospital readmission rates for specific conditions that affect significant numbers of Medicare beneficiaries: acute myocardial infarction, heart failure, and pneumonia. In this issue of the Journal
Measures of Non-Repetition in Transitional Justice

The international transitional justice soft law framework breaks the obligations of states to combat impunity and provide reparation into a number of discrete tasks, including truth-seeking/telling, accountability, and reparations for victims. The most amorphous of these tasks is ‘guarantees of non-repetition.’ While the basic idea is clear - whatever measures are needed to prevent a recurrence of the serious human rights violations or international crimes committed in the past - the content of this idea has been unduly narrowed over the years. In practice, it generally means vetting or restructuring of security forces, and measures to increase the independence and effectiveness of the formal judiciary. The chapter explores the possibility of expanding the view of what is meant, to encompass a more transformative non-repetition of the conditions likely to lead to renewed conflict. It looks at several attempts to do just that, through peace accords, truth commission recommendations or other means. It briefly considers the Philippines and Colombia as examples of how such an approach might work. It explores whether, given the risks of a broad “transformative” approach, a more fulsome view of measures of non-repetition could serve to both expand and appropriately limit the concept.
Differential Toxicity of Pesticides to Diadegma insulate (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae) and Its Host, the Diamondback Moth (Lepidoptera: Plutellidae)

Laboratory studies were done to evaluate differential toxicity of pesticides to adult Diadegma insulare (Cresson) and its host, the diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella (L.). Leaf-dip and direct-dip bioassays (diamondback moth larvae) and residual (adult diamondback moth and D. insulare ) bioassays were used. None of the pesticides caused 100% mortality to diamondback moth larvae or adults at 1.0 mg (AI)/ml concentrations (except Bacillus thuringiensis var. kurstaki and esfenvalerate on larvae and adults, respectively). However, at 1.0 mg (AI)/ml, all insecticides except B. thuringiensis kurstaki were extremely toxic to D. insulare within 30 min after treatment. Chlorothalonil was not toxic to diamondback moth larvae or adults or to D. insulare at concentrations tested. Methomyl was the least toxic insecticide to diamondback moth larvae and adults, but caused 100% mortality of D. insulare 24 h after the insects were exposed (1.0mg [AII/ml). An integrated approach for control of diamondback moth with B. thuringiensis and D. insulare might permit control of diamondback moth without directly affecting D. insulare . The use of chlorothalonil for controlling crop diseases is compatible with management of diamondback moth because this fungicide does not affect D. insulare . However, it may affect entomopathogenic fungi that attack diamondback moth larvae or adults in the field.
Two Approaches to Diverting the Course of a Free-Radical Cyclization: Application of Cyclopropylcarbinyl Radical Fragmentations and Allenes as Radical Acceptors†

Free radical cyclization of 4 and 7 gave the expected cyclization-reduction products (5 and 8) along with considerable amounts of products derived from a cyclization-atom transfer-secondary cyclization process (6 and 9). Two approaches to avoiding these unexpected products were explored. Use of a cyclopropylcarbinyl fragmentation avoided the secondary cyclization reaction (25 or 43 --> 26 or 44), whereas use of an allene as a radical acceptor avoided the atom-transfer reaction altogether (49 --> 52).
Race, Mortgage Lending and Loan Rejections in a U.S. City

Abstract The negative effect of neighborhood racial composition on mortgage lending has been documented in recent years in several cities, even after controlling for income, condition of housing and related neighborhood and housing characteristics. Lending industry officials maintain that the racial distribution of mortgage lending is the unintended consequence of profit-based lending activities. In contrast, community activists and civil rights groups claim that racial discrimination is the motivating force underlying mortgage lending practices. Data from the 1991 Home Mortgage Disclosure Act (HMDA) for the Kansas City metropolitan area are used to measure trends in mortgage lending and loan rejection ratios by local lenders. This study finds that Kansas City lenders reject minority applicants at higher rates than whites and reject high-income minorities as often as low-income whites. More importantly, results show that high-income African Americans are rejected at a higher rate than low-income whites, i...
Altering light availability to the plant host determined the identity of the dominant ectomycorrhizal fungal partners and mediated mycorrhizal effects on plant growth

Variation in light availability likely impacts the processes that determine the identity of ectomycorrhizal fungi associated with the host plant, and the resulting changes in fungal composition may...
Photocatalysis of a Commercial Naphthenic Acid in Water Using Fixed-Film TiO2

Photolysis or photocatalysis may provide a process for mitigating ecological risks of naphthenic acids (NAs) contained in energy-derived waters such as refinery effluents and process waters. If effective, fixed-film TiO2 photocatalysis of NAs could decrease operational expenses as well as capital costs for water treatment. The overall objective of this study was to measure rates and extents of photolysis and photocatalytic degradation of commercial NAs using bench-scale fixed-film TiO2 and confirm changes in NA concentrations using sensitive vertebrate (fish = Pimephales promelas) and invertebrate (Daphnia magna) species. Specific objectives were to (1) measure rates and extents of degradation of commercial (Fluka) NAs throughout an 8-h duration of natural sunlight (“photolysis”) and natural sunlight in the presence of fixed-film TiO2 (“photocatalysis”) and (2) measure changes in toxicity in terms of mortality with sentinel fish and microinvertebrate species. Bench-scale chambers using thin-film TiO2 irradiated with natural sunlight were used to measure photocatalysis, and HPLC was used to quantify NAs. After 4 h in photocatalysis treatments, >92 % decline was observed with an average removal rate of 15.5 mg/L/h and half-life of 2 h. After 5 h of photocatalysis, there was no measurable NA toxicity for fish (P. promelas) or microinvertebrates (D. magna). Photocatalytic degradation achieved efficacious rates and extents of removal of Fluka NAs and eliminated acute toxicity to sentinel aquatic organisms, indicating the potential for application of this technology for mitigating ecological risks. Coupled with existing treatment processes (i.e., aerobic biodegradation), photocatalysis can augment rates and extents of NA removal from impacted waters.
Comparative Research on Two Test Methods to Recent HIV-1 Infection

Objective Comparative analysis the Micro Liquid HIV PA method and BED-CEIA method in recent HIV-1 infection test by practical application. To supply the clinical data of using ML-PA to detect the HIV-1 recent infection. Methods A total of 300 newly reported positive samples and 132 previous positive samples were detected by BED-CEIA method and ML-PA method. Obtain the proportions of recent HIV infections among newly reported HIV cases, IDUs, MSM between 2009 and 2011. Results Three hundred newly reported positive samples were tested by the ML-PA and BED-CEIA methods,among them 4 samples was determined as recent HIV infections and 259 samples was determined as previous HIV infections, the uniform rate was low(P=0.0120.05, Kappa=0.127). 132 previous positive samples wear also tested by the ML-PA and BED-CEIA methods,among them 131 and 128 samples was determined as previous HIV infections. The results of two methods to test newly reported positive samples between 2009 and 2011, IDUs, MSM, which showed the same prevalence trend. Conclusion Although two methods had difference on test recent HIV-1 infection, prevalence trend analysis was feasible. The ML-PA method had applicative value.
Continuous-Time MASH Architectures forWideband DSMs

BW = f s/(2 OSR). As this equation indicates, wideband ΣΔ ADCs having bandwidths in the hundreds of MHz require clock frequencies in the GHz range even to obtain a relatively low OSR of ten. In such low-OSR systems, MASH architectures achieve better power efficiency than traditional single-loop ΣΔ ADCs. Nanometer CMOS process technologies enable continuous-time ΣΔ ADCs operating at GHz clock frequencies. However, the combination of continuous-time and low-OSR at a GHz clock frequency presents new challenges. In this paper, ΣΔ ADCs including the traditional single-loop and MASH, are reviewed in the context of wideband wireless applications with out-of-band blockers. A unique circuit block in continuous-time MASH, a continuous-time residue generation circuit, is discussed in detail. Two wideband MASH implementations in a 28 nm CMOS process are compared and their properties and performances are discussed based on the architectural differences.
Impact ejecta-induced melting of surface ice deposits on Mars

Abstract Fluvial features present around impact craters on Mars can offer insight into the ancient martian climate and its relationship to the impact cratering process. The widespread spatial and temporal distribution of surface ice on Mars suggests that the interaction between impact cratering and surface ice could have been a relatively frequent occurrence. We explore the thermal and melting effects on regional surface ice sheets in this case, where an impact event occurs in regional surface ice deposits overlying a regolith/bedrock target. We provide an estimate for the post-impact temperature of martian ejecta as a function of crater diameter, and conduct thermal modeling to assess the degree to which contact melting of hot ejecta superposed on surface ice deposits can produce meltwater and carve fluvial features. We also evaluate whether fluvial features could form as a result of basal melting of the ice deposits in response to the thermal insulation provided by the overlying impact ejecta. Contact melting is predicted to occur immediately following ejecta emplacement over the course of hundreds of years to tens of kyr. Basal melting initiates when the 273 K isotherm rises through the crust and reaches the base of the ice sheet ∼0.1 to ∼1 Myr following the impact. We assess the range of crater diameters predicted to produce contact and basal melting of surface ice sheets, as well as the melt fluxes, volumes, timescales, predicted locations of melting (relative to the crater), and the associated hydraulic and hydrologic consequences. We find that the heat flux and surface temperature conditions required to produce contact melting are met throughout martian history, whereas the heat flux and surface temperature conditions to produce basal melting are met only under currently understood ancient martian thermal conditions. For an impact into a regional ice sheet, the contact and basal melting mechanisms are predicted to generate melt volumes between ∼10−1 and 105 km3, depending on crater diameter, ice thickness, surface temperature, and geothermal heat flux. Contact melting is predicted to produce fluvial features on the surface of ejecta and the interior crater walls, whereas basal melting is predicted to produce fluvial features only on the interior crater walls. Before basal melting initiates, the ice-cemented cryosphere underlying the crater ejecta is predicted to melt and drain downwards through the substratum, generating a source of water for chemical alteration and possibly subsurface clay formation. These candidate melting processes are predicted to occur under a wide range of parameters, and provides a basis for further morphologic investigation.
Cranial Dural AV Fistulas: Making Sense of Who to Treat and How

Cranial dural arteriovenous fistulas are aberrant intracranial vascular lesions involving a direct connection between dural arteries on the arterial side and dural sinuses and/or cortical veins on the venous side. DAVFs are classified based on the pattern of venous outflow and the presence of cortical venous reflux (Borden types 1–3 or Cognard types I–V). High-quality imaging with MRI and digital subtraction angiography are crucial to decipher the grade and dynamic flow characteristics of DAVFs. This will subsequently guide the most appropriate next steps in the management of the patient, whether observation or treatment. The treatment modalities for DAVF obliteration are traditionally discussed in terms of three main categories: endovascular, microsurgical, and radiosurgical. Yet it is paramount to recognize that such an approach has the tendency to compartmentalize management, while in reality, patients with DAVF are best served by a multimodal, multidisciplinary approach. Successful DAVF obliteration and follow-up care is ensured with proper patient selection and strategic use of transarterial or transvenous embolization, microsurgery, and/or radiosurgery either alone or in various combinations. This chapter addresses these important issues in diagnosis, grading, patient selection, and treatment of cranial DAVFs.
The Human Erythrocyte as a Model System for Understanding Membrane Cytoskeleton Interactions

The prevailing view of membrane structure presented in many undergraduate textbooks is that of proteins floating in the plane of a fluid phospholipid bilayer (Singer and Nicolson, 1972). Many observations in the last 10 years indicate, however, that biological membranes do not behave as simple two-dimensional solutions of proteins. Measurements of the rates of lateral diffusion of membrane proteins in a variety of systems have revealed populations of proteins that are not mobile. The proteins that are mobile move at rates 10- to 100-fold slower than predicted on the basis of membrane viscosity (reviewed by Cherry, 1979). The diffusion constants of these slowly diffusing proteins are increased 200-fold in areas of the cell where the membrane is separated from the cytoplasm (Tank et al., 1982). Furthermore, diffusion of proteins may be nonrandom in some cells (Smith et al., 1979) and can require metabolic energy as in formation of caps of surface-labeled proteins in lymphocytes (Unanue and Karnovsky, 1973). These examples indicate possibilities for long-range interactions and organization in cell membranes and have led to proposals that at least some membrane proteins have direct interactions with underlying cytoplasmic proteins (Singer, 1974; Nicolson, 1974; Edelman, 1976; Bourguignon and Singer, 1977).
Cut-ups: Jacobs, Chytilova and the politics of slapstick modernism

This essay formulates the concept of a slapstick modernism in order to designate a cultural mutation that occurred in the US and elsewhere in the world from the 1950s through the 1970s. It was duri...
Time-resolved signatures across the intramolecular response in substituted cyanine dyes.

The optically populated excited state wave packet propagates along multidimensional intramolecular coordinates soon after photoexcitation. This action occurs alongside an intermolecular response from the surrounding solvent. Disentangling the multidimensional convoluted signal enables the possibility to separate and understand the initial intramolecular relaxation pathways over the excited state potential energy surface. Here we track the initial excited state dynamics by measuring the fluorescence yield from the first excited state as a function of time delay between two color femtosecond pulses for several cyanine dyes having different substituents. We find that when the high frequency pulse precedes the low frequency one and for timescales up to 200 fs, the excited state population can be depleted through stimulated emission with efficiency that is dependent on the molecular electronic structure. A similar observation at even shorter times was made by scanning the chirp (frequencies ordering) of a femtosecond pulse. The changes in depletion reflect the rate at which the nuclear coordinates of the excited state leave the Franck–Condon (FC) region and progress towards achieving equilibrium. Through functional group substitution, we explore these dynamic changes as a function of dipolar change following photoexcitation. Density functional theory calculations were performed to provide greater insight into the experimental spectroscopic observations. Complete active space (CAS) self-consistent field and CAS second order perturbation theory calculated potential energy surfaces tracking twisting and pyramidalization confirm that the steeper potential at the FC region leads to the observation of faster wave packet dynamics.
The West Wide Drought Tracker: Drought Monitoring at Fine Spatial Scales

AbstractDrought monitoring in the western United States (US) is particularly challenging due to complex terrain that creates sharp gradients in precipitation and atmospheric demand and corresponding fine-scale hydroclimatic variability. Coarse scale climate data and drought indices are valuable for large scale regional assessments, but often provide insufficient detail for local application of drought information and decision-making in the West. The current ongoing severe drought in California and increased water scarcity across much of the southwestern US over the past couple decades have prompted demand for accessible drought decision-making information at fine spatial scales. The West Wide Drought Tracker (WWDT) is a web application that responds to the needs of drought monitoring across the western US by providing a suite of current and historical monthly drought indices including the Palmer Drought Severity Index, Standardized Precipitation Index, and Standardized Precipitation Evapotranspiration Ind...
Methods and challenges to locating legacy wells in western Pennsylvania: Case study at Hillman State Park

This study demonstrates the application of aeromagnetic surveys for locating late 1800s-era oil and gas wells in Hillman State Park. The study area in southwestern Pennsylvania offered several unique challenges to locating legacy wells. Location records for many of Pennsylvania’s legacy wells do not exist. Those that do exist are often incomplete and inaccurate, and old wells were commonly abandoned without effective plugging. Now, unplugged legacy wells may serve as vertical migration pathways for fluids and gas associated with modern oil and gas operations. Wells in Hillman State Park were abandoned in the early 1900s, leaving little evidence of a well site. However, the steel well casing commonly remained at the site. Between 1940 and 1960, 50% of the land area at Hillman State Park was surface mined for coal. The removal of coal overburden also removed the upper well casings in surface-mined areas to the depth of the coal. The wells were then buried under mine spoil during regrading operations. Today, much of Hillman State Park is covered in trees and dense vegetation, and locating wells with ground-level searches is difficult, time consuming, and often futile. The airborne magnetic survey used in this study identified well locations, including buried wells in mined areas, based on the unique magnetic signature of vertical, steel well casing. The results of the aeromagnetic survey were combined with aerial photography, historic maps, and high-resolution topographic data in a geographic information system to refine well locations prior to verification with a ground search.
Minding Ps and Qs: The Political and Policy Questions Framing Health Care Spending

Tracing the evolution of political conversations about health care spending and their relationship to the formation of policy is a valuable exercise. Health care spending is about science and ethics, markets and government, freedom and community. By the late 1980s the unique upward trajectory of post-Medicare U.S. health care spending had been established, recessions and tax cuts were eroding federal and state budgets, and efforts to harness market forces to serve policy goals were accelerating. From the initial writings on "managed competition," through the failed Clinton health reform effort in the early 1990s, to the passage of the Affordable Care Act in 2010, the policy narrative of health spending acquired a superficial consistency. On closer examination, however, it becomes apparent that the cost problem has been repeatedly reframed in political discourse even during this relatively brief period. The clearest transition has been from a narrative centered on rationing necessary care to one committed to reducing wasteful care - although the role of accumulated law and regulation in perpetuating waste remains largely unrecognized and the recently articulated commitment to population health seems an imperfect proxy for explicitly developing social solidarity with respect to health and health care in the United States.
Strengthening of porous alumina bodies using carboxylate-alumoxane nanoparticles

Aqueous solutions of acetate-functionalized alumina nanoparticles (A-alumoxane), with an average particle size of 28 nm, have been used as alumina precursors for the infiltration of porous α-alumina bodies in order to produce composite structures with homo-interfaces between substrate and infiltrate. Alternatively, if metal doped-methoxy(ethoxyethoxy)acetic acid-functionalized alumina nanoparticles (M-doped MEEA-alumoxane; M = Ca, Er, La, Ti, and Y), with an average particle size of 67 nm, are used in combination with A-alumoxane, a hetero-interface is formed between substrate and infiltrate. Samples were characterized by SEM, BJH, hardness and bend strength measurements. The bulk hardness of the α-alumina substrates increases with sintering temperature, but this increase is significantly smaller than the effect of infiltration. The composite hardness generally increases with decreased average pore size although the exceptions to this trend suggest that the identity of the infiltrate is of equal or greater importance. Overall the hetero-interfaces show higher strength than the homo-interface; the latter showing only slightly better performance than high temperature sintering. For the samples fired at 1000°C, the MgAl2O4/Al2O3 and CaAl12O19/Al2O3 combinations appear to provide the greatest enhancement, with both the LaAl11O18/Al2O3 and Y3Al5O12/Al2O3 hetero-interface samples show marked increase in hardness between 1000 and 1400°C. The elastic modulus and bend strength of the α-alumina substrate increases significantly for the Er6Al10O24/Al2O3 and LaAl11O18/Al2O3 infiltrates. The identity of the hetero-interface has a significant effect on the bulk properties of the composite.
Second Primary Tumors in Retinoblastoma

Advances in the diagnosis and treatment of retinoblastoma have vastly improved patient outcomes. In developed countries, the most common cause of death in patients with heritable retinoblastoma is now a second primary tumor occurring in retinoblastoma survivors; many of these second primaries can be avoided by the reduced use of radiation. Mesenchymal tumors including primitive neuroectodermal tumors, bone and soft tissue sarcomas, leiomyomas, lipomas, cutaneous melanomas, and gliomas are the most common types of the second primary tumors in retinoblastoma survivors. Osteogenic sarcoma is the most common type of second primary tumor particularly in younger patients.
Sensory Receptor Transduction

Isaac Newton wrote that “We no other way know the extension of bodies than by our senses” (Principles Book III, rule III). This chapter will consider the ways we use our senses to know the extension of bodies and to further determine many other relevant dimensions of the world that we inhabit.
Technology Adoption by Older Adults: Findings From the PRISM Trial.

Background and objectives There is growing evidence of the benefits of computers for older adults. Yet, adoption rates are lower compared with younger adults. Extant theoretical models of technology acceptance are limited in their application to older adults-studies on which these models are based included a limited sample of older adults or none at all; none assessed use of a technology specifically designed for older adults; and most only measured intention to use a technology or short-term use, rather than longer-term use (i.e., adoption). We assessed adoption of a computer system specifically designed for older users, for a diverse sample, over an extended period of time. Research design and methods We analyzed archival data from 150 ethnically diverse older adults (65-98 years of age) who participated in the Personal Reminder Information and Social Management (PRISM) randomized controlled trial (Czaja SJ, Boot WR, Charness N, Rogers WA, Sharit J, Fisk AD,…Nair SN. The personalized reminder information and social management system (PRISM) trial: Rationale, methods and baseline characteristics. Contemp Clin Trials. 2015;40:35-46; Czaja SJ, Boot WR, Charness N, Rogers WA, Sharit J. Improving social support for older adults through technology: Findings from the PRISM randomized controlled trial. Gerontologist. 2017;58:467-477). We examined the extent to which attitudes, personal characteristics (e.g., age, gender, and personality), and cognitive abilities predicted mid-term and long-term adoption of a computer system designed for older adults. Results There were individual differences in PRISM use over time. Regression analyses indicated that individual differences in earlier use of the system, executive functioning, and computer efficacy predicted long-term use. Discussion and implications These data provide insights for broader-based models of technology acceptance to guide design, instruction, and deployment of products for older adults. Specifically, the provision of opportunities to foster efficacy and gain positive experience with computer technologies may play a critical role in the likelihood that older adults adopt such technologies. Trial registration NCT01497613.
Mechanics of light-activated self-healing polymer networks

Abstract Optically healable polymers represent an interesting stimuli-responsive self-healing material as the healing process can be controlled on-demand and remotely. The fundamental mechanism of the light-activated interfacial self-healing process has not been theoretically understood. Here, we present a theoretical framework to understand the light-activated interfacial self-healing of soft polymers with light-responsive photophores. We consider that the light propagation through the material matrix triggers the production of free radicals that facilitate the interfacial self-healing process. The self-healing process is considered as a coupled behavior that polymer chains diffuse across the interface and re-form the dynamic bonds assisted by the free radicals. We theoretically relate the light property to the interfacial self-healing strength of the polymers. We predict that the interfacial self-healing strength of the polymer increases with the light illumination time until reaching a plateau. We theoretically explain the effects of the light intensity, light wavelength, and photoinitiator concentration on the self-healing performance. We then apply the theory to two types of soft polymers with inorganic and organic photophores, respectively. The experimentally measured stress–strain behaviors of the original and self-healed samples can be consistently explained by the theory. The experimentally measured relationships between the healing strength and the healing time also agree well with the theoretical results.
The Opportunity and Obstacles for Smartwatches and Wearable Sensors

In September 2017, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) made a striking announcement. Transforming its current regulatory practice for approving and certifying medical devices—the FDA announced a bold new plan, the Digital Health Software Precertification (Precert) Program, to offer an entirely new regulatory model to assess smartphone apps, wearables, sensors, and software. This transformation and medicalization of the consumer health market present both opportunities and obstacles, by opening up large markets for health monitoring and diagnosis using inexpensive mass-market, off-the-shelf devices. It also raises challenges, both related to privacy and effective uses of the devices to promote health. The Fitbit and Apple Watch are examples.
Technical Note: Evaluation of the skill in monthly-to-seasonal soil moisture forecasting based on SMAP satellite observations over the southeastern US

Abstract. Providing accurate soil moisture (SM) conditions is a critical step in model initialization in weather forecasting, agricultural planning, and water resources management. This study develops monthly-to-seasonal (M2S) top layer SM forecasts by forcing 1- to 3-month-ahead precipitation forecasts with Noah3.2 Land Surface Model. The SM forecasts are developed over the southeastern US (SEUS), and the SM forecasting skill is evaluated in comparison with the remotely sensed SM observations collected by the Soil Moisture Active Passive (SMAP) satellite. Our results indicate potential in developing real-time SM forecasts. The retrospective 18-month (April 2015–September 2016) comparison between SM forecasts and the SMAP observations shows statistically significant correlations of 0.62, 0.57, and 0.58 over 1-, 2-, and 3-month lead times respectively.
Frequency of cervical spine injuries in patients with midface fractures

Abstract The aim of this retrospective cohort study was to determine the frequency and risk factors for cervical spine injury (CSI) in patients with midface fractures. Patients ≥18 years of age entered in the Massachusetts General Hospital Trauma Registry from 2007 to 2017 were identified. Those with a midface fracture, computed tomography and/or magnetic resonance imaging of the cervical spine, and complete medical records were included. There were 23,394 patients in the registry; 3950 (16.9%) had craniomaxillofacial fractures and 1822 (7.8%) had a CSI. Craniomaxillofacial fractures included fractures of the midface (n = 2803, 71.0%), mandible (n = 873, 22.1%), and midface plus mandible (n = 274, 6.9%). The overall frequency of CSI in patients with midface fractures was 11.4% (350/3077). Patients with midface fractures had a higher risk for CSI compared to patients without a midface fracture (odds ratio 2.4, 95% confidence interval 2.1–2.4, P
Crystallographic orientation of orthorhombic aragonite using reflection generalized ellipsometry

The 2-modulator generalized ellipsometry microscope (2-MGEM) has been used to study a natural crystal of aragonite. Like its polymorph calcite, aragonite has a large refractive index difference between light polarized parallel to the c-axis and light polarized perpendicular to the c-axis. Unlike calcite, aragonite is orthorhombic, so there is also a very small difference between the refractive indices polarized along the a- and b-directions. As a result, it is not possible to use the 2-MGEM to obtain a definitive map of the optic axis directions of a sample as was possible with calcite, but it is possible to determine approximately the orientation of the c-axis with respect to the surface normal. If the c-axis is in the sample surface plane, it is possible to measure very small deviations of the c-axis direction with an accuracy of ∼0.2°. If the c-axis is oriented normal to the sample surface, 2-MGEM data can be used to identify different crystallites due to rotations about the c-axis. For comparison, the orientations of some of the crystallites have also been measured using X-ray Laue and electron beam backscatter diffraction. In addition, spectroscopic generalized ellipsometry measurements have been used to determine the refractive indices of aragonite.The 2-modulator generalized ellipsometry microscope (2-MGEM) has been used to study a natural crystal of aragonite. Like its polymorph calcite, aragonite has a large refractive index difference between light polarized parallel to the c-axis and light polarized perpendicular to the c-axis. Unlike calcite, aragonite is orthorhombic, so there is also a very small difference between the refractive indices polarized along the a- and b-directions. As a result, it is not possible to use the 2-MGEM to obtain a definitive map of the optic axis directions of a sample as was possible with calcite, but it is possible to determine approximately the orientation of the c-axis with respect to the surface normal. If the c-axis is in the sample surface plane, it is possible to measure very small deviations of the c-axis direction with an accuracy of ∼0.2°. If the c-axis is oriented normal to the sample surface, 2-MGEM data can be used to identify different crystallites due to rotations about the c-axis. For comparison, th...
β 1, 3-Glucan in Cancer Treatment

Natural products, useful in preventing and/or treating various diseases, have been sought after throughout the man’s history. Despite some problems inherited from the natural source of glucans, there is extensive literature about their activities in animal tumor models. For the past 25 years, Japan has used several forms of mushroom-derived glucans in treating cancer patients. Additionally, close to twenty clinical trials are currently running in several countries, further suggesting the strong possibility of using glucans as an established anti-cancer drug.
Men's health: a rapidly changing landscape of healthcare delivery and treatment.

The subspecialty of “Men’s Health” is in the midst of an exponential growth spurt. Rapid change and opportunity in the field are promoting progress from the fundamental definition of men’s health and the conditions encompassed by the term, to the way that healthcare is delivered to men, down to how treatment of individual male conditions is being redefined. As such, identifying areas where innovation is needed, interpreting key findings, and understanding how healthcare delivery has become more challenging is becoming increasingly important.
E-069 Super-selective fistula point coil embolization for carotid-cavernous arteriovenous fistula

Background/Purpose Endovascular treatment of carotid-cavernous fistula (CCF) has evolved over the past two decades from using detachable balloons to Onyx and coil embolization. Nowadays, transvenous coil embolization is the mainstay of CCF management. Obliteration of the cavernous sinus with coils or liquid embolic agent can be time consuming and costly and potentially lead to cranial nerve injury. We report technical aspects and clinical outcome of a transvenous super-selective fistula point coil embolization. Methods We retrospectively reviewed consecutive patients with CCF who were treated by a single operator in our institution from January 2016 to December 2018. Patients’ demographics, type of CCF, endovascular embolization technique and clinical and angiographic outcome were analyzed. Super-selective fistula point embolization is a technique by which microcatheter exploration allows for definition of the fistula location within the cavernous sinus and targeted coiling at this point. Results A total of 11 patients were identified. All patients had type D dural arteriovenous CCF. Fifty percent of the patients were female. The mean age (±SD) of the patients were 61±13 years. All patients were treated with transvenous super-selective coil embolization of the fistula point (figure-1). The inferior petrosal sinus was used to access the fistula point at the cavernous sinus and superior ophthalmic vein junction in 9 patients. In the remaining 2 patients, the facial vein was used to access the fistula point. Ten patients had complete fistula obliteration in the final angiographic run at the end of the embolization procedure. One patient had small residual fistula which was completely obliterated by further super-selective coiling during follow up angiography. No procedure related morbidity or mortality was observed. All 11 patients had complete resolution of their clinical symptoms. A total of 7 patients had follow up cerebral angiography and 3 patients had follow up MRI/MRA at the 6 to 12 month timepoint which were all indicative of complete obliteration of the CCF. Conclusions Super-selective transvenous coil embolization of a focal fistula point in patients with CCF is safe and feasible and is associated with excellent durable clinical and angiographic outcome. Disclosures S. Majidi: None. I. Singh: None. J. Fifi: None.
Vascular mimicry: Triggers, molecular interactions and in vivo models

Vascular mimicry is induced by a wide array of genes with functions related to cancer stemness, hypoxia, angiogenesis and autophagy. Vascular mimicry competent (VM-competent) cells that form de novo blood vessels are common in solid tumors facilitating tumor cell survival and metastasis. VM-competent cells display increased levels of vascular mimicry selecting for stem-like cells in an O2-gradient-dependent manner in deeply hypoxic tumor regions, while also aiding in maintaining tumor cell metabolism and stemness. Three of the principal drivers of vascular mimicry are EphA2, Nodal and HIF-1α, however, directly or indirectly many of these molecules affect VE-Cadherin (VE-Cad), which forms gap-junctions to bind angiogenic blood vessels together. During vascular mimicry, the endothelial-like functions of VM-competent cancer stem cells co-opt VE-Cad to bind cancer cells together to create cancer cell-derived blood conducting vessels. This process potentially compensates for the lack of access to blood and nutrient in avascular tumors, simultaneously providing nutrients and enhancing cancer invasion and metastasis. Current evidence also supports that vascular mimicry promotes cancer malignancy and metastasis due to the cooperation of oncogenic signaling molecules driving cancer stemness and autophagy. While a number of currently used cancer therapeutics are effective inhibitors of vascular mimicry, developing a new class of vascular mimicry specific inhibitors could allow for the treatment of angiogenesis-resistant tumors, inhibit cancer metastasis and improve patient survival. In this review, we describe the principal vascular mimicry pathways in addition to emphasizing the roles of hypoxia, autophagy and select proangiogenic oncogenes in this process.
Characterization of mechanical degradation in an all-solid-state battery cathode

Solid-state batteries (SSBs) are considered promising next-generation energy storage devices but tend to suffer from rapid capacity fade. Here, we demonstrate that mechanical contact loss between the solid conductor and cathode, induced by its volume changes during cycling, plays a significant role in the observed capacity fade. Focused ion beam-scanning electron microscope (FIB-SEM) tomography with nanoscale resolution was used for 3D characterization of the composite electrode morphology before and after cycling. The tomography data demonstrates the development of voids and cracks near the cathode particles and significant contact loss between the cathode particles and solid electrolyte after cycling. The observed mechanical degradation in the electrode composite highlights the difficulty and importance of engineering mechanically stable SSBs. The application of large external pressure after long-term cycling led to recovery of lost capacity and reduced the cell resistance, confirming the effect of mechanical degradation.
OSPREY: A mmWave Approach to Tire Wear Sensing

Tire wear is a leading cause of accidents. Tire wear is measured either manually, or by embedding sensors in tires, or using off-tire sensors. Manual sensing is extremely tedious. Sensors embedded in tire treads are challenging to design and expensive to embed. Off-tire sensors like laser range finders are prone to debris that may settle in grooves. To overcome these shortcomings, we propose a mmWave radar based tire wear sensor, which is easy to install, and continuously provides accurate and robust tire wear measurements even in the presence of debris.
Acute Cardiometabolic and Perceptual Responses to Individual and Group-Based Body-Weight Resistance Exercise in Girls.

Girls' acute responses to group-based high-intensity interval exercise (HIIE) are not well characterized. PURPOSE To compare acute responses to treadmill-based HIIE (TM) and body-weight resistance exercise circuit (CIRC) and to CIRC performed in a small-group setting (group CIRC). METHOD Nineteen girls (9.1 [1.1] y) completed exercise testing on a TM to determine peak oxygen uptake, peak heart rate (HRpeak), and maximal aerobic speed. The TM involved eight 30-second sprints at 100% maximal aerobic speed. The CIRC consisted of 8 exercises of maximal repetitions performed for 30 seconds. Each exercise bout was followed by 30 seconds of active recovery. The blood lactate concentration was assessed preexercise and postexercise. The ratings of perceived exertion, affective valence, and enjoyment were recorded at preexercise, Intervals 3 and 6, and postexercise. RESULTS The mean heart rate was higher during group CIRC (92% [7%] HRpeak) than CIRC (86% [7%] HRpeak) and TM (85% [4%] HRpeak) (ηp2 = .49). The mean oxygen uptake equaled 76% (11%) of the peak oxygen uptake for CIRC and did not differ from TM (d = 0.02). The CIRC elicited a greater postexercise blood lactate concentration versus TM (5.8 [1.7] vs 1.4 [0.4] mM, d = 3.61). The perceptual responses were similar among conditions (P > .05), and only the rating of perceived exertion increased during exercise (ηp2 = .78). CONCLUSION Whether performed individually or in a small group, CIRC represents HIIE and may be a feasible alternative to running-based HIIE.
QE/PDE of VUV Photodetectors for BaF 2 Readout

Because of its ultrafast scintillation of less than 0.6 ns decay time barium fluoride (BaF 2 ) crystals have attracted a broad interest in the communities pursuing ultrafast detectors for future HEP experiments, GHz hard X-ray imaging for future XFEL facilities and medical imaging. A crucial issue of this application is photodetector response down to the VUV range. In this paper, we report quantum efficiency and photon detection efficiency measured for several photodetectors down to 200 nm and their corresponding figures of merit for detecting the ultrafast component and the ability of suppressing the slow component.
Monte Carlo Tree Search Methods for the Earth-Observing Satellite Scheduling Problem

This work explores on-board planning for the single spacecraft, multiple ground station Earth-observing satellite scheduling problem through artificial neural network function approximation of stat...
The Formation of Shock Waves in Smooth Solutions

From Corollary 2 of Theorem 2.2 in Chapter 2, we have learned that for smooth solutions u(x,t) of the system of conservation laws, $$ \frac{{\partial u}}{{\partial t}} + \sum\limits_{j = 1}^N {\frac{\partial }{{\partial {x_j}}}{\mkern 1mu} {F_j}(u){\mkern 1mu} = {\mkern 1mu} 0} ,u(x,0) = {u_0}(x) $$ (3.1) with initial data, uo ∈ Hs(RN), s > N/2 + 1 or more generally, u0 ∈ H ul S , two precise alternatives occur.