cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Pediatric Oncology Nurses' Experiences With Prognosis-Related Communication.

Objectives To examine nurses' experiences of prognosis-related communication (PRC) with parents of children with cancer. Sample & setting Cross-sectional, correlational study in the pediatric oncology setting involving 316 members of the Association of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Nurses. Methods & variables Online survey regarding individual nurse factors, PRC, interprofessional collaboration, moral distress, and perceived quality of care. Results Nurses strongly agreed that prognostic disclosure is critical for decision making, but they are challenged in determining their role. Nurses with more years of experience and training in PRC, those working in an outpatient setting, and those with higher levels of nurse-physician collaboration reported more positive experiences with PRC. Positive experiences with PRC and collaboration were significantly associated with higher nurse-perceived quality of care and reduced nurse moral distress. Implications for nursing Nurses should work to be active participants in the process of PRC by collaborating with physician colleagues. When nurses sense that prognostic discussions have been absent or unclear, they should feel confident in approaching physician colleagues to ensure parent understanding and satisfaction with communication.
Risk of Postoperative Complications Among Inflammatory Bowel Disease Patients Treated Preoperatively With Vedolizumab.

Risk of Postoperative Complications Among Inflammatory Bowel Disease Patients Treated Preoperatively With Vedolizumab
Exploitative competition of invaders differentially influences the diversity of neutral, lumpy and intransitive phytoplankton assemblages in spatially heterogeneous environments

Abstract Recent theoretical research suggested that species-supersaturated phytoplankton assemblages sustained through neutrality, lumpy coexistence or intransitivity were sensitive to immigration, quickly losing diversity following invasions. The presence of source patches, however, may facilitate persistence of species-supersaturation in the face of invaders. We explore that notion here through simulation analyses of more detailed spatially explicit models depicting one- and two-dimensional systems (“pipe” and “two-eddy” models, respectively) where water circulation is governed over a range of advection and turbulent diffusion. For the pipe model, when advection and turbulent diffusion are low, and when advection is high and turbulent diffusion is low, resident assemblages are more resistant to invaders. But at intermediate rates of advection and with increases to turbulent diffusion, assemblages are more quickly impacted by invaders. For the two-eddy model, when advection and turbulent diffusion are low, resident assemblages are again resistant to invaders, but only for lumpy assemblages. In contrast to the “pipe” model, resistance to invaders of neutral and lumpy assemblages is high when advection and turbulent diffusion are high. For both model configurations, intransitive assemblages were much more sensitive to invaders, suggesting that intransitivity might not be as prevalent a biodiversity-sustaining mechanism in spatially heterogeneous plankton systems.
Concerns and hopes of patients with type 1 diabetes prior to islet cell transplantation: A content analysis.

Abstract Aims Islet cell transplantation can functionally cure type 1 diabetes complicated by hypoglycemia unawareness (HU), but requires immunosuppression. This study identified the lived experiences and risk/benefit considerations of patients pre-transplant. Methods Content analysis identified themes from four open-ended questions pre-transplant in an islet transplant clinical trial. The sample included 23 (19 female) patients, with a mean age = 48.3 and diabetes duration = 29.3 years. Results Lack of control due to diabetes and HU was the overarching theme pre-transplant. Four sub-themes were also identified: fear of hypoglycemia, diabetes-related complications, hopes/expectations after transplant, and transplant outcomes. Patients expressed fear of HU and long-term complications pre-transplant, and hoped islet transplant would improve diabetes management. Patients further emphasized anxiety over burdening others, and hopes of advancing research. In addition, other patients emphasized frustrations regarding the impact of HU on themselves, such as the inability to perform activities of daily living. Many patients were primarily worried about immunosuppressive side effects rather than islet transplant success. Conclusions Patients viewed islet transplantation as a means to gain autonomy and control over their lives. They desired reduced anxiety associated with HU, despite concerns over immunosuppressive side-effects. These findings need confirmation, but may help to further improve patient education and patient-provider communication.
Salivary Pubertal Hormones, Sleep Disturbance, and an Evening Circadian Preference in Adolescents: Risk Across Health Domains.

Abstract Purpose Puberty influences biological and psychological development during adolescence. This includes a shift toward an evening circadian preference, which is characterized by greater physical and mental activity at night compared to the morning. This study examines how pubertal hormones are related to risk across key health domains among adolescents with an evening circadian preference. Methods Participants were adolescents with an evening circadian preference (n = 165, 96 female and 69 male, mean age = 14.8) from an NICHD-funded study. Hormones included testosterone, dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), and estradiol (females only). Sleep measures included weeknight total sleep time and weeknight bedtime. Circadian preference was assessed with the Children's Morningness-Eveningness Preferences Scale. Health domains included emotional, cognitive, behavioral, social, and physical health. Results For female adolescents, estradiol was related to higher risk in the emotional domain. Among female adolescents with later bedtimes, higher estradiol was associated with higher behavioral domain risk (specifically alcohol and substance use). For male adolescents with a more extreme evening circadian preference, higher DHEA and testosterone were associated with higher behavioral domain risk, specifically greater alcohol and substance use or sensation seeking (DHEA only). Among female adolescents with a more extreme evening circadian preference, higher DHEA was associated with greater physical health risk. Conclusions Pubertal hormones may be associated with heightened risk across select health domains. Specifically, higher levels of hormones may contribute to increased risk for alcohol and substance use as well as sensation seeking in the context of an evening circadian preference.
A Simple Approach to Measuring the Share of Early Childbirths Likely Due to Child Marriage in Developing Countries

Child marriage has large negative effects on the girls who marry early and their children, as well as communities and societies as a whole. Ending child marriage is a target under the Sustainable D...
Making work visible for electronic phenotype implementation: Lessons learned from the eMERGE network

Abstract Background Implementation of phenotype algorithms requires phenotype engineers to interpret human-readable algorithms and translate the description (text and flowcharts) into computable phenotypes – a process that can be labor intensive and error prone. To address the critical need for reducing the implementation efforts, it is important to develop portable algorithms. Methods We conducted a retrospective analysis of phenotype algorithms developed in the Electronic Medical Records and Genomics (eMERGE) network and identified common customization tasks required for implementation. A novel scoring system was developed to quantify portability from three aspects: Knowledge conversion, clause Interpretation, and Programming (KIP). Tasks were grouped into twenty representative categories. Experienced phenotype engineers were asked to estimate the average time spent on each category and evaluate time saving enabled by a common data model (CDM), specifically the Observational Medical Outcomes Partnership (OMOP) model, for each category. Results A total of 485 distinct clauses (phenotype criteria) were identified from 55 phenotype algorithms, corresponding to 1153 customization tasks. In addition to 25 non-phenotype-specific tasks, 46 tasks are related to interpretation, 613 tasks are related to knowledge conversion, and 469 tasks are related to programming. A score between 0 and 2 (0 for easy, 1 for moderate, and 2 for difficult portability) is assigned for each aspect, yielding a total KIP score range of 0 to 6. The average clause-wise KIP score to reflect portability is 1.37 ± 1.38. Specifically, the average knowledge (K) score is 0.64 ± 0.66, interpretation (I) score is 0.33 ± 0.55, and programming (P) score is 0.40 ± 0.64. 5% of the categories can be completed within one hour (median). 70% of the categories take from days to months to complete. The OMOP model can assist with vocabulary mapping tasks. Conclusion This study presents firsthand knowledge of the substantial implementation efforts in phenotyping and introduces a novel metric (KIP) to measure portability of phenotype algorithms for quantifying such efforts across the eMERGE Network. Phenotype developers are encouraged to analyze and optimize the portability in regards to knowledge, interpretation and programming. CDMs can be used to improve the portability for some ‘knowledge-oriented’ tasks.
Beyond the Black Study Abroad Experience: Developing the Young AfricanA Leadership Initiative at Howard University

The lack of participation in study abroad programs by Black students is a persistent concern in international higher education. The Penn Center for Minority Serving Institutions (Gasmen, 2016), reported three main obstacles facing students of color: financial burdens, fear of anticipated racism, and finding study abroad programs of interest to them. While most scholarship on Black students studying abroad concentrates solely on increasing the number of opportunities, this article was determined to shift the focus onto the cultural gap. This paper describes the development of the 2014 Young African Leadership Initiative (YAALI) fellowship that aims to go beyond the typical study abroad experience for Black students by providing travel opportunities to Africa, combatting fear with education and mapping a collective self-reflective experience. Over 4 years of the YAALI fellowship successfully increased Black students’ participation in study abroad experiences.
Cerebral Vascular Thrombosis Associated With Ulcerative Colitis and Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis.

ABSTRACT We report a case of a sudden death of a 23-year-old man with a history of ulcerative colitis and primary sclerosing cholangitis due to cerebral vascular thrombosis. He was found supine in bed with no signs of trauma or drug use. Three days before being found, he had complained of fever and excessive diarrhea. At autopsy, the brain was markedly edematous with diffuse subarachnoid hemorrhage over the left cerebral hemisphere. The vessels at the base of the brain were unremarkable, and there was no significant hemorrhage over the inferior surfaces. On sectioning, clotted blood was identified in the left frontal lobe and lateral ventricles. Microscopically, the left cerebral hemisphere showed extensive intraparenchymal hemorrhage, necrosis, and numerous thrombosed leptomeningeal vessels. Sections of the transverse and descending colon showed changes consistent with the history of ulcerative colitis.Cerebral venous and sinus thrombosis represents approximately 1% of all strokes and is a known rare complication associated with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Symptoms of cerebral venous thrombosis are highly variable and may manifest as headache, focal neurological deficits, seizure, or encephalopathy. In addition to acquired hypercoagulability risk factors patients develop during active disease flares (eg, dehydration), studies suggest that IBD itself represents an independent risk factor for thrombosis. It is important for the forensic pathologist to consider thrombotic complications, particularly those in the cerebral venous system, as potential manifestations of known or undiagnosed IBD.
Near-perfect photon utilization in an air-bridge thermophotovoltaic cell.

Thermophotovoltaic cells are similar to solar cells, but instead of converting solar radiation to electricity, they are designed to utilize locally radiated heat. Development of high-efficiency thermophotovoltaic cells has the potential to enable widespread applications in grid-scale thermal energy storage1,2, direct solar energy conversion3–8, distributed co-generation9–11 and waste heat scavenging12. To reach high efficiencies, thermophotovoltaic cells must utilize the broad spectrum of a radiative thermal source. However, most thermal radiation is in a low-energy wavelength range that cannot be used to excite electronic transitions and generate electricity. One promising way to overcome this challenge is to have low-energy photons reflected and re-absorbed by the thermal emitter, where their energy can have another chance at contributing towards photogeneration in the cell. However, current methods for photon recuperation are limited by insufficient bandwidth or parasitic absorption, resulting in large efficiency losses relative to theoretical limits. Here we demonstrate near-perfect reflection of low-energy photons by embedding a layer of air (an air bridge) within a thin-film In0.53Ga0.47As cell. This result represents a fourfold reduction in parasitic absorption relative to existing thermophotovoltaic cells. The resulting gain in absolute efficiency exceeds 6 per cent, leading to a very high power conversion efficiency of more than 30 per cent, as measured with an approximately 1,455-kelvin silicon carbide emitter. As the out-of-band reflectance approaches unity, the thermophotovoltaic efficiency becomes nearly insensitive to increasing cell bandgap or decreasing emitter temperature. Accessing this regime may unlock a range of possible materials and heat sources that were previously inaccessible to thermophotovoltaic energy conversion. An air gap embedded within the structure of a thermophotovoltaic device acts as a near-perfect reflector of low-energy photons, resulting in their recovery and recycling by the thermal source, enabling excellent power-conversion efficiency.
Differences in JUUL Appeal Among Past and Current Youth JUUL Users.

Introduction JUUL, a closed system e-cigarette with disposable pods, is popular among youth, with positive attributes of this product linked to current use by youth. However, many youth try JUUL and do not continue using; understanding differences in the appeal of this device between current users and those who chose not to continue use can inform regulation and prevention efforts. The aim of the current study is to compare JUUL appeal in youth among past users (i.e. used, but not in past month) and current users (i.e. used in past month). Methods A cross-sectional survey was conducted in four Connecticut high schools in Spring 2018. This survey assessed JUUL use and reasons for liking/disliking JUUL, including its' pharmacological effects (e.g., nicotine "buzz"), product characteristics (e.g., flavors), peer influence, appeal compared to other e-cigarettes, and concealability. Logistic regressions were conducted to examine differences in liking/disliking JUUL by use status (past vs. current). Results Among JUUL users (N=1374; 43% of total sample), 30.4% were past users and 69.6% were current users. Compared to current users, past users were less likely to like JUUL for positive pharmacological effects (e.g. nicotine "buzz"), product characteristics (e.g. flavors), and peer use and more likely to dislike JUUL for the adverse pharmacological effects (e.g. headache), product characteristics (e.g. flavors), and for "other" reasons (open-ended response; e.g., perceived harm). Conclusions Findings suggest that altering JUUL appeal through regulating nicotine content and flavors may be key in policy aimed at shifting youth to become past JUUL users. Implications The current study investigates how current and past youth JUUL users differ in their report of the appeal of JUUL. Past users are less likely to report experiencing positive pharmacological effects and product characteristics of JUUL and are less likely to report appeal due to peer use. Understanding how appeal of JUUL may differ among past and current users can aid in our understanding of how to regulate these products so that they are less appealing to current youth users.
Socio-Ecological Networks: A Lens That Focuses Beyond Physics

Contemporary systems ecology has long been occupied with mechanical explanations of behavior; however, the physical theory that undergirds such explanations has certain limits. It’s not that the physical force laws are ever violated, but with heterogeneous, irreversible relationships subject to aleatoric influences, physical laws can only constrain, but not determine, outcomes. Such complex systems are better treated in the framework of quantified networks of interrelations. The application of simple information theory to networks reveals that ecosystems cannot achieve maximal efficiency without growing vulnerable to novel disturbances. A degree of inefficient redundancies is always necessary to sustain ecological and social functioning; and, if they are to function reliably, such non-optimal features become requisite in the design of infrastructures like power grids, water distribution networks, traffic patterns and supply chains. In particular, the postulate that economic market efficiency should never be compromised must be re-examined if society is to remain sustainable. Furthermore, the capability of networks to represent distributed causalities allows one to rationalize behaviors like endogenous selection, centripetal acquisition of resources and the precedence of indirect mutualism over competition in living systems – all phenomena that challenge conventional evolutionary dogma.
Gap-Opening Transition in Dirac Semimetal ZrTe_{5}.

We apply $^{125}\mathrm{Te}$ nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy to investigate the Dirac semimetal ${\mathrm{ZrTe}}_{5}$. With the NMR magnetic field parallel to the $b$ axis, we observe significant quantum magnetic effects. These include an abrupt drop at 150 K in spin-lattice relaxation rate. This corresponds to a gap-opening transition in the Dirac carriers, likely indicating the onset of excitonic pairing. Below 50 K, we see a more negative shift for the ${\mathrm{Te}}_{z}$ bridging site, indicating the repopulation of Dirac levels with spin polarized carriers at these temperatures. This is the previously reported 3D quantum Hall regime; however, we see no sign of a charge density wave as has been proposed.
Comparison of continuous intravenous lidocaine versus TAP block for kidney transplant: an infographic.

As Hanson et al [1][1] described in their recent study, renal transplant surgery can be associated with moderate to severe pain. Transversus abdominis plane (TAP) blocks can provide effective postoperative analgesia but require expertize in regional anesthesia and can lead to some complications. In
Calculated and experimental 1 H and 13 C NMR assignments for cannabicitran.

Cannabicitran is an important cannabinoid natural product produced by Cannabis sativa and is often found at surprisingly high levels (up to ~10%) in "purified" commercial cannabidiol (CBD) extract preparations. Despite the prevalence of this molecule in CBD oil and other cannabinoid-related products, and the rapidly expanding interest in cannabinoids for treatment of a wide range of physiological conditions, only unassigned 1 H NMR data and partial unambiguous 13 C assignments have been published. Herein we report the complete 1 H and 13 C NMR assignments of cannabicitran and comparatively evaluate the performance of several DFT methods with varying levels of theory for the calculation of NMR chemical shifts.
Optimal Prediction of Moving Sound Source Direction in the Owl.

Capturing nature’s statistical structure in behavioral responses is at the core of the ability to function adaptively in the environment. Bayesian statistical inference describes how sensory and prior information can be combined optimally to guide behavior. An outstanding open question of how neural coding supports Bayesian inference includes how sensory cues are optimally integrated over time. Here we address what neural response properties allow a neural system to perform Bayesian prediction, i.e., predicting where a source will be in the near future given sensory information and prior assumptions. The work here shows that the population vector decoder will perform Bayesian prediction when the receptive fields of the neurons encode the target dynamics with shifting receptive fields. We test the model using the system that underlies sound localization in barn owls. Neurons in the owl’s midbrain show shifting receptive fields for moving sources that are consistent with the predictions of the model. We predict that neural populations can be specialized to represent the statistics of dynamic stimuli to allow for a vector read-out of Bayes-optimal predictions.
Changes in Corporate Focus, Ownership Structure, and Long-RunMerger Returns

This study examines the impact of the degree of merger-related change in corporate focus on the long-run return to investors in mergers and acquisitions executed since 1977. Using a sample of 204 completed acquisitions, selected to be free of post-merger contaminating events, and a continuous measure of merger-related change in corporate focus, we find that long-run returns are strongly positively related to the change in focus. On average, focus-decreasing mergers result in over a 25% relative loss in stockholder wealth by the third post-merger year, and every 10% decrease in focus results in a 9% loss in stockholder wealth. We also find that entering entirely new lines of business is the most detrimental action for acquiring firm shareholders ? resulting in a relative wealth loss of 31% by the third post-merger year. We examine managers? incentives to pursue diversification and find that acquirers with low levels of managerial ownership appear more likely to pursue focus-decreasing activities financed with stock than are their counterparts with higher managerial ownership levels. Our results are robust across payment method, attitude of target management, and acquirers? pre-merger book-to-market ratio.
Robust rendezvous maneuver point conditions

This study develops rendezvous maneuver point conditions that are robust to one dimensional errors in state estimation and burn execution. Allowing small deviations in the time of intercept provides a degree of freedom that can be used to compensate for these errors. The direction of allowable burn deviation is developed for errors in state estimation and burn execution. The maneuver points for which the error is aligned with the insensitive direction provide excellent rendezvous initiation points. The method is applied to sample rendezvous for vehicles in circular and elliptic orbits. Robust maneuver points are selected and the vehicles' relative motion plotted, demonstrating the validity of the maneuver points. Finally, a graphical illustration of the error focusing effect is demonstrated by means of a Monte Carlo simulation.
Ontology based framework using a semantic web for addressing semantic reconciliation in construction

Exchanging, sharing, or integrating information in the construction industry involve the reconciliation of multiple data formats, structures and schemas with minimal human interaction. Approaching interoperability employing these models via integration, mapping or merging information forces the use of purely syntactical layers with heavy human intervention. Enhancing our ability to explicitly model information and to find methods that consistently harmonize the construction participant's use of common language will allow interoperability to be moved to new levels of flexibility and automation by structuring the information upon semantic levels. These levels must have conceptualization aspects to define knowledge, a common vocabulary that covers the syntax, symbols, grammars, and axiomatization that captures inference. Our approach inherits the ability of enhancing interoperability at the syntactic and semantic levels of the Semantic web and proposes onto-semantic schemas, which are ontology constructs of concepts of the construction domain. The approach produces an analysis from the primitives to more refined concepts using the Semantic Web's power of representation with the purpose of enhancing interoperability at semantic and syntactic levels.
Hyperventilating about Intrinsic Value

Plato, Aristotle, Kant, Brentano, Moore, and Chisholm have suggested ’’marks‘‘ or criteria of intrinsic goodness. I distinguish among eight of these. I focus in this paper on four: (a) unimprovability, (b) unqualifiedness, (c) dependence upon intrinsic natures, and (d) incorruptibility. I try to show that each of these is problematic in some way. I also try to show that they are not equivalent – they point toward distinct conceptions of intrinsic goodness. In the end it appears that none of them is fully satisfactory. Insofar as none of these succeeds, a fundamental problem remains for those who make use of the concept of intrinsic value. Precisely what do we have in mind when we say that some sort of value is “intrinsic”?
Systematic applications of gas-liquid chromatography in toxicology: IV. The tranquilizers

Abstract The relative retention times of 23 tranquilizers determined at 220 ° and 250 °C on the 1% Hi-Eff-8B column are listed. The recovery results obtained from samples of bloods and phosphate buffer (pH 7.4) on adding known quantities of tranquilizers and extracting them with the organic solvents are also recorded in this work. It is demonstrated that at varying intervals the LD 50 and 2 × LD 50 doses of some of the common tranquilizers could be gas chromatographically detected in the bloods of rats. Analyses done on samples of bloods received from patients in a psychiatric clinic indicate that some of the administered drugs could also be detected, but this would depend further on the type of tranquilizer, dose level, and the duration of treatment.
Spatial organization of homopolymer chains inside spherical polybutadiene domains of styrene‐butadiene diblock copolymers

Blends of perdeuterated polybutadiene and a styrene-butadiene diblock copolymer (polystyrene-block-polybutadiene) were prepared by solution-casting techniques. Small-angle neutron scattering and transmission electron microscopy experiments on blends containing homopolymer with chain length smaller than the corresponding block sequence showed that homopolymer chains are solubilized by the spherical microdomains up to a homopolymer content of about 15 mol-percnt;. The solubilized homopolymer is distributed in a spatially uniform manner throughout the domain volume and the radius of gyration of the homopolymer is only slightly larger than that of an unperturbed chain in bulk. At about 18 mol-percnt;, pools of homopolymer appear outside the microdomains; the change in scattering intensities indicates that pool formation is a kinetic phenomenon rather than a thermodynamically controlled event. Experiments on blends containing longer homopolymer chains revealed a lower concentration, between 3 and 6 mol-percnt;, for the onset of homopolymer pool formation.
NGF rescues substance P expression but not neurofilament or tubulin gene expression in axotomized sensory neurons

A reduction in the supply of retrogradely transported NGF has been proposed as a possible signal for the axotomy response in dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons. Components of the axotomy response that have previously been well characterized in axotomized DRG cells include changes in cytoskeletal gene expression and changes in the expression of neurotransmitters/neuromodulators such as substance P. In this study, we examined the role of NGF in the axotomy response by examining protein synthesis and mRNA levels of the low-MW neurofilament protein (NF-L) and beta-tubulin in DRG cells at 1, 7, and 12 d after axotomy with and without continuous administration of exogenous NGF. We also examined substance P levels in the DRG by immunocytochemistry under the same experimental conditions. Sciatic nerves of adult male rats were unilaterally transected at the midthigh level, and the proximal nerve stumps were placed into Silastic tubes connected to osmotic minipumps that were filled with biologically active NGF. NGF (0.5 mg/ml in saline) was continuously infused (0.5 microliter/hr) onto the proximal stumps of transected sciatic nerves for 1–12 d. Control animals were prepared in an identical fashion except that the nerves were treated with saline alone. At death, DRGs were removed from the animals; the L4 experimental DRGs (axotomized) and contralateral L4 DRGs (uninjured) were used immediately for protein synthesis experiments, while the experimental and contralateral L5 DRGs were fixed in 4% paraformaldehyde and subsequently used for in situ hybridization and immunocytochemistry. From another set of experimental animals, the L4 and L5 DRGs were harvested and used for total RNA isolation and RNA blotting experiments. Immunocytochemical studies using a polyclonal antibody to substance P showed that the immunodetectable levels of this peptide decreased to undetectable levels in DRG neurons after axotomy and saline administration. However, in axotomized neurons treated with NGF, the level of immunodetectable substance P did not decrease, but instead, increased over even that present in normal DRG neurons. Pulse labeling of DRGs with 35S-methionine:cysteine followed by 2-dimensional (2D) gel electrophoresis and fluorography revealed that the synthesis of neurofilament (NF) proteins was decreased, while that of tubulin was increased, 12 d after sciatic nerve transection. NGF administration to axotomized neurons did not alter this pattern. Quantitative analysis of in situ hybridizations of DRG neurons and RNA blot analysis with cDNA probes specific for NF-L and beta-tubulin mRNAs showed that NGF treatment of axotomized DRGs did not significantly affect cytoskeletal gene expression at the mRNA level.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
Ecohydrological optimization of pattern and processes in water-limited ecosystems: A trade-off-based hypothesis

[1] The complex interactions between plants, soils, and climates in semiarid ecosystems make it difficult to define specific ecohydrological optimization mechanisms that underlie observed spatiotemporal patterns of vegetation structure. There remains a clear need to develop conceptual models that are capable of interpreting and predicting spatial pattern formation in savannas (and similar dry woodland ecosystems), as well as metrics for assessing optimization or organization of patterns, as one scales from individual canopies to landscapes and beyond. In this article, we propose a unifying hypothesis regarding ecohydrological optimization of pattern and processes, namely, that vegetation patterns in water-limited environments are constrained in their ability to maximize water use by a need to simultaneously minimize water stress. We use this trade-off-based hypothesis to infer the function of dryland ecosystems under a wide range of scales and applications. Specifically, we examine spatial and temporal aspects of ecohydrological organization of vegetation patterns for three different cases: (1) patterns of regional-scale temporal organization across a regional climate gradient, (2) patterns of landscape-scale spatial organization within a semiarid drainage basin, and (3) patterns of individual-scale structural organization across varying soil textures. Although the insight gained from each of these examples is derived from specific modeling approaches, each of which contains its own unique set of assumptions and limitations, they are unified by our proposed ecohydrological trade-off approach that simultaneously considers both plant water deficit and plant water use as a diagnostic tool for assessing vegetation patterns in water-limited environments. It is our hope that the ongoing development of coupled ecological and hydrological models capable of assessing a diversity of interactions between plants, soils, and climates will lead to the emergence of more generalized hypotheses regarding the manner by which ecological and hydrological patterns coorganize in landscapes.
YinzCam: experiences with in-venue mobile video and replays

YinzCam allows sport fans inside NFL/NHL/NBA venues to enjoy replays and live-camera angles from different perspectives, on their smartphones. We describe the evolution of the system infrastructure, starting from the initial installation in 2010 at one venue, to its use across a dozen venues today. We address the challenges of scaling the system through a combination of techniques, including distributed monitoring, remote administration, and automated replay-generation. In particular, we take an in-depth look at our unique automated replay-generation, including the dashboard, the remote management, the remote administration, and the resulting efficiency, using data from a 2013 NBA Playoffs game.
2‐Hydroperoxyhexafluoro‐2‐propanol

[32751-01-2] C3H2F6O3 (MW 200.05) InChI = 1S/C3H2F6O3/c4-2(5,6)1(10,12-11)3(7,8)9/h10-11H InChIKey = HIQGIIMAEPEBRI-UHFFFAOYSA-N (oxidizing agent capable of Baeyer–Villiger oxidation;1 selective alkene epoxidation;2 conversion of aldehydes to carboxylic acids;3 N-, S-, Se-oxidation;4 strong parallels in structure and function to biologically active flavin oxidants5-7) Alternate Name: HPHP. Physical Data: liquid at rt. Solubility: sol CH2Cl2. Preparative Method: prepared by the reaction of hexafluoroacetone (HFA)8 with either 30% or 90% Hydrogen Peroxide by the following representative procedure. A 250 mL roundbottomed flask is fitted with Claisen adapter, pressure-equalizing, graduated addition funnel, dry ice condenser, and CaCl2 drying tube. Anhydrous HFA (14 mL, 0.12 mol) is collected in the addition funnel and the roundbottom is charged with CH2Cl2 (100 mL) and 90% H2O2 (3.0 mL, 0.11 mol), and then cooled to −60 °C. After dropwise addition of HFA, the mixture is allowed to warm to rt and a clear, homogeneous solution results which can be titrated (NaI, Na2S2O3, ca. 0.7 M) and stored conveniently at −5 °C. Under these conditions, the reagent is stable for at least 2 months. Handling, Storage, and Precautions: slowly decomposes at rt to form CO2, O2, CF3OOH and other products. Hexafluoroacetone is a highly toxic, nonflammable gas and should only be handled in a fume hood. Concentrated solutions of hydrogen peroxide must be handled with care.
Climate Change Effects on Transportation Infrastructure

The potential effects of climate change on transportation infrastructure have been receiving attention in recent years. An especially useful and increasingly common approach to investigating the potential effects of climate change on infrastructure is the use of geographic information systems (GISs) for risk analysis because climate change effects are likely to occur in conjunction with other geographically specific impacts such as storm surge and traffic operations, whose vulnerability can be most effectively quantified with GIS-based tools. To demonstrate the efficacy of these tools, a scenario-based risk analysis approach is presented: it investigates the effects of climate change on transportation infrastructure in Hampton Roads, Virginia. First, climate change effects in the study site are investigated to develop representative climate change scenarios. Then, a GIS-based evaluation of transportation infrastructure vulnerability to sea level rise and storm surge is formed by combining the GIS data set...
Computational Procedures for Characterization of High Voltage Spark Sources

Equations and a calculation procedure for modeling the operation of an electronic, adjustable-waveform and other types of high voltage spark sources are presented. The equations return time-dependent capacitor voltage and charging current and the calculation procedure returns complete break patterns. Comparisons between laboratory and computed results indicate the calculations predict experiment with accuracy in the 1 to 5% relative error range. This is sufficient to make the calculation procedure useful for characterization of research or production spark sources.
Nuclear genome characterization of the carrageenophyte Agardhiella subulata (Rhodophyta)

DNA reassociation kinetics were used to determine nuclear genome organization and complexity inAgardhiella subulata (Gigartinales, Rhodophyta). Results indicate the presence of three second-order components corresponding to fast (22%), intermediate (68%) and slow (10%) fractions. Thus, the genome consists of 90% repetitive sequences. Microspectrophotoometry with the DNA-localizing fluorochrome DAPI was used to confirm ploidy level differences in the gametophytic and tetrasporophytic phases. Results indicate that meiosis occurs during tetrasporogenesis. Comparison of mean nuclear DNA (If) values to chicken erythrocytes (RBC) resulted in an estimate of 0.9 pg/2C genome forAgardhiella. Karyological studies using aceto-orcein revealed a chromosome complement of 2N = 44 in carposporangia and the presence of 22 bivalents during diakinesis of tetraspore mother cells.
Effects of copper coating on the crystalline structure of fine barium titanate particles

The authors have investigated the effect of a metal coating--copper--on the tetragonal structure of fine barium titanate (BaTiO{sub 3}) particles. The BaTiO{sub 3} particles were synthesized by a sol-gel method and heat treated at temperatures >900 C for various amounts of time before coating. The copper coating was achieved by an electroless coating technique. The transmission electron microscopy micrographs revealed that the coated powder contained fine BaTiO{sub 3} particles that were embedded in copper patches. The X-ray diffractometry patterns showed that the copper coating increased the c/a ratio of the fine BaTiO{sub 3} particles. For powders that were heat treated at 900 C for 10 h and were initially cubic, the copper coating changed the c/a ratio, from 1 to 1.0034. For powders that were calcined at 900 C for 20 h and were initially tetragonal, the copper coating further enhanced the c/a ratio, from 1.0028 to 1.0043. When the copper-coated BaTiO{sub 3} particles were oxidized, the c/a ratio was reduced to a value that was approximately equal to or below that of the uncoated powders. A conductive coating can eliminate the depolarization energy of an insulating polar particle. The fact that the copper coating promoted the polar tetragonal phasemore » but the nonconductive copper-oxide coating did not was consistent with the interpretation that the presence of the cubic phase (nonpolar) in small BaTiO{sub 3} particles was caused by the depolarization effect.« less
The determinants of school attainment in sub-Saharan Africa: A case study of Ghana

This paper investigates the factors that determine educational attainment in Ghana. The following specific questions are addressed: 1) What are the relative impacts of economic growth and improvements in school quality on educational attainment? and 2) What policy variables are most effective for reducing the gender gap in educational attainment? We find that economic growth will play the most significant role in raising the school attainment in Ghana in future years. Continued economic growth should also reduce the gender gap substantially. In addition to economic growth, provision of blackboards and repairing of leaking roofs will significantly raise school attainment.
The Relationship Between Standard Coordinates of Stars and the Measured Coordinates of Their Images

The formation of a photographic image of a star on a plate by having a telescope assume the functions of the camera is described. The factors which contribute to the spreading of the light from a star on the emulsion, and those which bring about deviations from a “flawless” (usually gnomonic) projection of the stars onto the plate are analyzed. The amount by which the measured position of an image deviates from the position prescribed by the flawless projection depends on the position of the image on the plate, the intensity, and the spectrum of the star. Methods are given to show how measured positions can be freed from these deviations and thus reduced to “flawless” positions, and examples are quoted showing where and how these methods have been applied.
Synthesis of the South hexacyclic sterold unit of cephalostatin 7

Abstract Transformation of alcohol 3 to S-12H, a hexacyclic steroid bearing the requisite functionality and spiroketal stereochemistry of the symchiral South portion of cephalostatin 7 (1) is described.
A preliminary, controlled investigation of magnesium L-aspartate hydrochloride for illicit cocaine and opiate use in methadone-maintained patients.

Abstract Based on preclinical studies suggesting that magnesium (Mg) reduces cocaine selfadministration and potentiates the antinociceptive effects of morphine, we conducted a preliminary randomized clinical trial investigating Mg for the treatment of illicit cocaine and opiate use. Eighteen methadonemaintained patients who used illicit opiates and cocaine received either Mg (732 mg/day) or placebo for 12 weeks. Overall, findings showed that the percentage of urine screens testing positive for opiates in the Mg group (22.6%) was half that of the placebo group (46.4%), p =.04; the difference was even greater in the “medication compliant” sample (Mg: 16.3%, placebo: 47.9%), p =.02. Cocaine craving was lower in the Mg compared to the placebo group, but there was no difference between groups in cocaine use. These preliminary findings suggest that Mg may have a beneficial effect for reducing illicit opiate use. It is possible that a higher dose of Mg than was used in this study may be needed to decrease cocain...
Orthotopic kidney transplantation in the rat with non-splinted end-to-end ureteric anastomosis: details of a technique.

A detailed description is presented of an improved technique of orthotopic rat kidney transplantation with end-to-end anastomoses of the renal vessels, non-splinted end-to-end ureteric anastomosis and simultaneous bilateral nephrectomy. Forty-four consecutive transplantations are analysed. No failure due to complications of the vascular anastomoses occurred. The ureteric anastomoses were followed by stenosis in only two cases (5%), one of which was reconstructed. The operation times for the vascular anastomoses were 16–24 min, with an average of 20 min, and for complete transplantation 50 min. Therefore, our method seems to be less time consuming than other common techniques of renal transplantation. The technique described has produced a success rate of 95% and guarantees a standardised and reproducible organ quality.
Cellular composition of the bone marrow in the chicken. I. identification of cells

Incorporation of Fe55 in vivo was used for verifying on radioautographs the identity of chicken bone marrow cells that are in the process of hemesyntheses. Under the experimental conditions all labeled cells may be considered to be linked with erythroid differentiation. They were classified into five maturational stages according to their morphology and capacity for DNA synthesis. Granulocytes were identified by the presence of specific granules. All mononuclear cells were classified as lymphocytes which had a pachychromatic nucleus, a high nucleocytoplasmic ratio, lacked the capacity for DNA synthesis, and resembled small lymphocytes of the bursa, spleen and bone marrow that bound, in vitro, anti-chicken gamma globulins labeled with I125. Radioautography with H3TdR was used to identify proliferating and non-proliferating members of each cell population.
PlGF: a link between inflammation and angiogenesis in sickle disease

In recent years considerable evidence has accumulated that sickle cell disease is an inflammatory state. For example, sickle patients have elevated white blood counts, activated granulocytes, monocytes, and endothelial cells, enhanced expression of endothelial cell adhesion molecules, elevated
Unique 31P spectral response to the formation of a specific restriction enzyme-DNA complex.

Protein-induced distortion is a dramatic but not universally observed feature of sequence-specific DNA interactions. This is illustrated by the crystal structures of restriction enzyme–DNA complexes: While some of these structures exhibit DNA distortion, others do not. Among the latter is PvuII endonuclease, a small enzyme that is also amenable to NMR spectroscopic studies. Here 31P NMR spectroscopy is applied to demonstrate the unique spectral response of DNA to sequence-specific protein interactions. The 31P NMR spectrum of a noncognate DNA exhibits only spectral broadening upon the addition of enzyme. However, when enzyme is added to target DNA, a number of 31P resonances shift dramatically. The magnitudes of the chemical shifts (2–3 ppm) are among the largest observed. Site-specific substitution with phosphoramidates and phosphorothioates are used analyze these effects. While such spectral features have been interpreted as indicative of DNA backbone distortions, FRET analysis indicates that this does ...
Video compression algorithm for dynamic angiographic images

We have developed a compression algorithm that achieves high compression ratio and excellent reconstruction quality for video rate or sub-video rate angiograms. Commercially available technology such as JPEG and MPEG do not satisfy medical requirements due to their severe block artifacts. Our new method takes advantage of the high temporal correlation of the angiographic frames using MPEG motion estimation software, but performs the error frame encoding using wavelet transform which is much more sensitive to localized block artifact features than the conventional discrete cosine transform. Our results show that at ratios up to 20:1, excellent image quality is obtained in reconstructed angiograms. Because of the excellent energy gathering and spatial localization properties of wavelet transform, high image fidelity and compression ratio can be simultaneously achieved. The algorithm is parallelizable and therefore can be implemented relatively easily in real time hardware.© (1994) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Development of the Uintah Gateway for fluid-structure-interaction problems

The Uintah Gateway was designed to allow users to create complex multi-physics Uintah simulations with ease and to run these on large parallel computers. We used the Django web application framework to develop the Uintah Gateway for fluid-structure-interaction problems. We describe using the Gateway from input file creation to data management. We also describe two use cases: one involving a complex fluid-structure interaction problem with multiple simulations and multiple restarts and the other involving novice users just getting started with Uintah. Preliminary results suggest that both novice and advanced productivity increased dramatically using the Gateway.
Dual Charge-Coupled Device (CCD), Astronomical Spectrometer And Direct Imaging Camera II. Data Handling And Control Systems

The data collection system for the MASCOT (MIT Astronomical Spectrometer/Camera for Optical Telescopes) is described. The system relies on an RCA 1802 microprocessor-based controller, which serves to collect and format data, to present data to a scan converter, and to operate a device communication bus. A NOVA minicomputer is used to record and recall frame images and to perform refined image processing. The RCA 1802 also provides instrument mode control for the MASCOT. Commands are issued using STOIC, a FORTH-like language. Sufficient flexibility has been provided so that a variety of CCDs can be accommodated.