cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
EPAS: a generic expert system for advising emitter piloting in IC manufacturing

The EPAS expert system is set up to advise fab operators how to adjust piloting cycle time for emitters based on knowledge extracted from the most experienced engineer. EPAS consists of a knowledge base containing all the knowledge extracted from the expert, a learning mechanism trying to calculate dynamically for the next lot the estimated initial drive time which is closer to the one actually required, a convergence control mechanism to control the rule inference so that the result of an inference is always closer to the conclusion, and a user facility module containing many Lisp-based modules developed to let the expert, engineers, and operators maintain the system by themselves. >
Epitope-Specific Human Influenza Antibody Repertoires Diversify by B Cell Intraclonal Sequence Divergence and Interclonal Convergence

We generated from a single blood sample five independent human mAbs that recognized the Sa antigenic site on the head of influenza hemagglutinin and exhibited inhibitory activity against a broad panel of H1N1 strains. All five Abs used the V(H)3-7 and J(H)6 gene segments, but at least four independent clones were identified by junctional analysis. High-throughput sequence analysis of circulating B cells revealed that each of the independent clones were members of complex phylogenetic lineages that had diversified widely using a pattern of progressive diversification through somatic mutation. Unexpectedly, B cells encoding multiple diverging lineages of these clones, including many containing very few mutations in the Ab genes, persisted in the circulation. Conversely, we noted frequent instances of amino acid sequence convergence in the Ag combining sites exhibited by members of independent clones, suggesting a strong selection for optimal binding sites. We suggest that maintenance in circulation of a wide diversity of somatic variants of dominant clones may facilitate recognition of drift variant virus epitopes that occur in rapidly mutating virus Ags, such as influenza hemagglutinin. In fact, these Ab clones recognize an epitope that acquired three glycosylation sites mediating escape from previously isolated human Abs.
A Landsat-Era Sierra Nevada Snow Reanalysis (1985-2015)

AbstractA newly developed state-of-the-art snow water equivalent (SWE) reanalysis dataset over the Sierra Nevada (United States) based on the assimilation of remotely sensed fractional snow-covered area data over the Landsat 5–8 record (1985–2015) is presented. The method (fully Bayesian), resolution (daily and 90 m), temporal extent (31 years), and accuracy provide a unique dataset for investigating snow processes. The verified dataset (based on a comparison with over 9000 station years of in situ data) exhibited mean and root-mean-square errors less than 3 and 13 cm, respectively, and correlation greater than 0.95 compared with in situ SWE observations. The reanalysis dataset was used to characterize the peak SWE climatology to provide a basic accounting of the stored snowpack water in the Sierra Nevada over the last 31 years. The pixel-wise peak SWE volume over the domain was found to be 20.0 km3 on average with a range of 4.0–40.6 km3. The ongoing drought in California contains the two lowest snowpack...
Switching on After Nine: Black gay-identified men's perceptions of sexual identities and partnerships in South African towns

There is considerable diversity, fluidity and complexity in the expressions of sexuality and gender among men who have sex with men (MSM). Some non-gay identified MSM are known colloquially by gay-identified men in Mpumalanga, Province, South Africa, as 'After-Nines' because they do not identify as gay and present as straight during the day but also have sex with other men at night. Based on, key informant interviews and focus group discussions in two districts in Mpumalanga, we explored Black gay-identified men's perceptions of and relationships with After-Nine men, focusing on sexual and gender identities and their social consequences. Gay-identified men expressed ambivalence about their After-Nine partners, desiring them for their masculinity, yet often feeling dissatisfied and exploited in their relationships with them. The exchange of sex for commodities, especially alcohol, was common. Gay men's characterisation of After-Nines as men who ignore them during the day but have sex with them at night highlights the diversity of how same-sex practicing men perceive themselves and their sexual partners. Sexual health promotion programmes targeting 'MSM' must understand this diversity to effectively support the community in developing strategies for reaching and engaging different groups of gay and non-gay identified men.
Light-induced hetero-Diels-Alder cycloaddition: a facile and selective photoclick reaction.

2-Napthoquinone-3-methides (oNQMs) generated by efficient photodehydration (Φ = 0.2) of 3-(hydroxymethyl)-2-naphthol undergo facile hetero-Diels−Alder addition (kD-A∼ 4 × 104 M−1 s−1) to electron-rich polarized olefins in an aqueous solution. The resulting photostable benzo[g]chromans are produced in high to quantitative yield. The unreacted oNQM is rapidly hydrated (kH2O ∼ 145 s−1) to regenerate the starting diol. This competition between hydration and cycloaddition makes oNQMs highly selective, since only vinyl ethers and enamines are reactive enough to form the Diels−Alder adduct in an aqueous solution; no cycloaddition was observed with other types of alkenes. To achieve photolabeling or photoligation of two substrates, one is derivatized with a vinyl ether moiety, while 3-(hydroxymethyl)-2-naphthol is attached to the other via an appropriate linker. The light-induced Diels−Alder “click” strategy permits the formation of either a permanent or hydrolytically labile linkage. Rapid kinetics of this photo...
Pharmacokinetics of Edobacomab in Experimental Animals

The plasma level, distribution, metabolism and excretion of Edobacomab, a novel anti-endotoxin mouse IgM monoclonal antibody were investigated after intravenous administration of [3H]Edobacomab and unlabelled Edobacomab to experimental animals.1. The radioactivity level in the plasma declined biexponentially after intravenous dose of the radiolabelled Edobacomab to male rats. Pharmacokinetic profile of radioactivity in rat plasma was similar to that from unlabelled Edbacomab. Plasma half lives in β phases were 11 ?? 15 hr in rat and monkey, and 21 ?? 23 hr in rabbit. The plasma levels showed dose proportionality in rat and rabbit, and the range of distribution volume was 28 ?? 48 ml/kg in these animals which is almost equal to the plasma volume.2. The radioactivity was highest in plasma and distributed highly to reticuloendothelial tissues (eg. liver, spleen). Most of the radioactivity in plasma consisted of the unchanged drug, and small molecule metabolites were found in the spleen.3. The cumulative urinary and fecal excretions of radioactivity were 95.7% and 0.9% of the dose, respectively, during 168 hr postdose. No unchanged drug was found in urine.
Prediction of the Thermodynamic Properties of Key Products and Intermediates from Biomass

The high-level G3MP2 computational chemistry method was used to predict the thermodynamic properties of a wide range of compounds relevant to the conversion of biomass-derived oxygenated feedstocks into fuels or chemical feedstocks. The starting compounds were glucose, 5-hydroxy-methyl furfural, sorbitol, levulinic acid, succinic acid, γ-valerolactone, and glycerol. The calculated G3MP2 gas-phase heats of formation were mostly within ±2 kcal/mol of the available experimental values. Heats of formation of the liquid were obtained from calculations of the boiling point combined with the rule of Pictet and Trouton using modified values for ΔSvap. The modified values for ΔSvap arise because of the presence of intermolecular hydrogen bonding, ΔSvap = 0.031 cal/(mol K) for carboxylic acids, 0.035 cal/(mol K) for dialcohols, and 0.040 cal/(mol K) for higher polyalcohols. The thermodynamics of a wide range of reactions were predicted. Reaction energies in the aqueous phase at 298 K were estimated from self-consis...
Turning (Into) “The Great Regulating Wheel”: The Conversion of the Bank of the United States, 1791–1811

Two volumes have recently challenged the assumption that institutional change either (1) takes the form of gradual adaptation in the service of continuity, or (2) entails the abrupt breakdown of existing arrangements. This scholarship has demonstrated that change can also be simultaneously gradual and transformative. Conversion represents one type of such change; it involves the use of institutional resources for new purposes. I chronicle the conversion of the Bank of the United States (1791–1811) from a fiscal auxiliary of the federal government to an institution with both fiscal and monetary capacities. More generally, I ask whether this change squares with existing understandings of how conversion unfolds. Conversion is thought to occur when (1) new actors assume control, or (2) new challenges prompt the redeployment of resources. I ask whether the Bank's conversion resulted from (3) efforts by institutional elites to invent a rationale for deployment. I find that the change in question resulted from genuine concerns about the supply of bank credit in the Early Republic. With the details of this historical transformation in mind, I briefly digress in order to address repeated claims that the Bank of the United States was or became a “central bank” during this period.
Indomethacin for treatment of refractory intracranial hypertension secondary to acute liver failure

Purpose Successful use of i.v. indomethacin for urgent management of elevated intracranial pressure (ICP) due to acute liver failure is reported. Summary A 42-year-old woman receiving intensive care for fulminant hepatic failure secondary to acetaminophen toxicity developed cerebral edema and intracranial hypertension refractory to standard pharmacotherapy and respiratory support measures. A computed tomography (CT) scan of the patient’s head was ordered as part of an evaluation for liver transplantation, but the patient’s severely elevated ICP precluded supine positioning for the CT study (throughout the hospital stay, the head of the patient’s bed was kept at a 30° angle to optimize cerebral venous outflow). With administration of indomethacin 10 mg by i.v. injection, the ICP decreased from 29 to 13 mm Hg and remained at goal after the patient was placed in a fully supine position for a period long enough to permit the CT scan. Indomethacin was used a second time to facilitate CT imaging several days later. No adverse effects attributable to indomethacin use were documented. Although the patient underwent successful liver transplantation, her mental status and overall clinical status continued to deteriorate and she died on postoperative day 12. Conclusion Despite the poor overall patient outcome in this case, i.v. indomethacin was successfully used to decrease ICP in order to facilitate CT imaging as part of a transplantation eligibility workup.
Evaluation of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation application in marginal heart transplantation

Objective To review the efficacy and clinical outcomes of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation(ECMO)used for donor hearts with long cold ischemic times(LCIT) during heart transplantation.Methods From February 2005 to April 2009,11 patients were received allografts with LCIT over 7 hours underwent both intraoperative ECMO circuit treatment and ECMO support postoperation(i-ECMO group).Another 11 patients with ischemia time of heart grafts less than seven hours were received postoperation ECMO support as a salvage therapy after perioperative standard cardiopulmonary bypass CPB(s-CPB group).Rate of weaning ECMO,length of ICU stay,volume of packed red blood cell(PRBC) transfusion,left ventricular ejection fraction(LVEF),cost of hospitalization,rate of perioperative survival and rate of 1-year postoperative survival were compared between the two groups.ECMO-related complications were observed.Results There was a significant difference in cold ischemic time between the two groups(P0.01),with cold ischemic time ranging from 422 to 485 minutes(mean 448 minutes) in i-ECMO group while 110 to 400 minutes(mean 218 minutes) in s-CPB group.Ten patients(91%) in i-ECMO group were weaned off ECMO and all survived to discharge.Only a patient in this group died of massive intraoperative bleeding(not ECMO-related).Rate of weaning ECMO in the s-CPB group was 82%(9/11).The overall weaning rate of ECMO application during heart transplantation was 86%.The overall 30-day and 1-year survival rates for i-ECMO and s-CPB groups were 91% and 82%,73% and 64%,respectively.There was no difference in mortality between the two groups(P0.05).Compared with s-CPB group,the length of stay in ICU,the requirement for PRBC administration and the total in-hospital cost were significantly reduced in the i-ECMO group(P0.05).The preoperative and postoperative LVEF of i-ECMO and s-CPB groups were 0.23±0.06 and 0.25±0.10,0.65±0.12 and 0.66±0.06,respectively.LVEF of both groups significantly improved after operation.An intra-aortic balloon pump(IABP) was applied due to low cardiac output in 5 patients(23%),among them 3 patients weaned from ECMO except another two patients.Among 6 patients(27%) who required continuous renal repacement therapy(CRRT) due to renal dysfunction,2 were weaned from ECMO and 4 could not be weaned.Conclusions Application of ECMO in postoperative period provides early,continued and effective support for donor hearts with LCIT and efficiently makes use of such marginal organs.Reduced length of ICU stay,reduced transfusion volume of PRBC and reduced in-hospital cost are additional advantages of this technique.
Within-Day Time-Varying Associations Between Behavioral Cognitions and Physical Activity in Adults

This study used time-varying effect modeling to examine time-of-day differences in how behavioral cognitions predict subsequent physical activity (PA). Adults (N = 116) participated in three 4-day "bursts" of ecological momentary assessment (EMA). Participants were prompted with eight EMA questionnaires per day assessing behavioral cognitions (i.e., intentions, self-efficacy, outcome expectations) and wore an accelerometer during waking hours. Subsequent PA was operationalized as accelerometer-derived minutes of moderate- or vigorousintensity PA in the 2 hr following the EMA prompt. On weekdays, intentions positively predicted subsequent PA in the morning (9:25 a.m.-11:45 a.m.) and in the evening (8:15 p.m.-10:00 p.m.). Self-efficacy positively predicted subsequent PA on weekday evenings (7:35 p.m.-10:00 p.m.). Outcome expectations were unrelated to subsequent PA on weekdays. On weekend days, behavior cognitions and subsequent PA were unrelated regardless of time of day. This study identifies windows of opportunity and vulnerability for motivation-based PA interventions aiming to deliver intervention content within the context of adults' daily lives.
Relevance of SDK to foster IMS application development

Todaypsilas user wants exciting new services at reduced costs. Legacy ldquovoicerdquo services are considered to be bare minimum. To satisfy their customers and be competitive, Telecom service providers are pressured to provide converged and differentiated services at reduced cost. IP multimedia subsystem (IMS) is touted to be next generation telecom architecture that enables service providers to achieve this requirement. IMS architecture allows service providers to offer a variety of multimedia services in the service layer. Service providers today are building an eco-system with partner vendors to offer new services in this layer. With the success of person-to-person and person-to-content services in the Internet world, it becomes more compelling for mobile device manufactures and service providers to reach out to developer community to create more innovative applications with IMS infrastructure. This paper describes how ldquoservice creationrdquo focus is being shifted from operators and mobile device vendors to third party developers. It explores the benefits of having a service creation platform to aid in developing such services. It outlines the elements of software development kit (SDK) which will help in maximizing productivity and enables developers to focus on creativity. This paper analyzes the need for a complete simulated setup for developers to create and test their services before deploying into real network. There are different service creation environments that are available like service delivery platforms (SDP), JAIN SLEE, and OSA/Parlay etc. In this paper the primary discussion is on the usage of standards based API in IMS/SIP SDK. It dwells more into JSR API for client development and application server development. It also touches upon how SIP SDK can be interfaced with Web 2.0 components.
Fractalicious! (Implosive Affects and Transversal Refractions)

Fractalicious! by Bryan Reynolds, the script to the Transversal Theater Company’s intermedial production, which the company has been touring internationally since it was premiered in Amsterdam in March 2012.
Respiratory and Swallowing Outcomes Based on Aneurysm Location in 360 Patients with Subarachnoid Hemorrhage

Introduction Aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH) may result in abnormal respiratory and swallowing function. We analyzed factors that may influence long-term respiratory and swallowing function in aSAH patients and compared patients with anterior and posterior aneurysm locations. Methods We retrospectively reviewed 360 consecutive aSAH patients. We recorded location of the aneurysm and respiratory indices on admission, in-hospital adverse respiratory events, and the need for tracheostomy (for respiratory failure) or percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) tube (for prolonged dysphagia). Respiratory and swallowing function was also reviewed at 1 year and at most recent clinical follow-up. Results Aneurysms consisted of 293 described as anterior circulation (81.4%) and 67 described as posterior circulation (18.6%), including 31 patients with basilar artery aneurysms and 16 with posterior inferior cerebellar artery (PICA) aneurysms. There were no differences in oxygen saturation or PaO 2 :FiO 2 ratio on admission, though patients with PICA aneurysms presented significantly more commonly with endotracheal intubation. PICA aneurysm patients had higher rates of tracheostomy and PEG tube dependence at 1 year in univariate analysis. Higher Hunt-Hess grade was a predictor of pneumonia and prolonged intubation, whereas older age and prolonged hospitalization were predictors of PEG placement in multivariate analysis. Conclusions Ruptured anterior and posterior circulation aneurysms have similar rates of in-hospital respiratory and swallowing dysfunction. There was a higher rate of swallowing dysfunction in the posterior circulation aneurysm group compared with the anterior group at most recent follow-up (12% vs. 2%, P = 0.035). Patients with PICA aneurysms demonstrated higher rates of tracheostomy and PEG, though the latter did not achieve statistical significance.
Near-convex decomposition and layering for efficient 3D printing

Abstract We introduce a novel divide-and-conquer approach for 3D printing, which provides automatic decomposition and configuration of an input object into print-ready components. Our method improves 3D printing by reducing material consumption, decreasing printing time, and improving fidelity of printed models. An input object is decomposed into a set of components obtained by a near-convex segmentation that minimizes an energy function. Then the configuration phase provides a robust algorithm to pack the components for an efficient print job. Our approach has been tested on both simulated models and real-world printed objects. Our results show that the framework can reduce print time by up to 65% (fused deposition modeling, or FDM) and 36% (stereolithography, or SLA) on average and diminish material consumption by up to 35% (FDM) and 10% (SLA) on consumer printers, while also providing more accurate objects.
Fuelling behaviour change

The effectiveness of fuel taxation towards reducing gasoline usage in vehicles has been a subject of debate. Using data from Sweden, which has one of the highest gasoline taxes in the world, research now demonstrates a potential consumer preference for gasoline even at price parity with ethanol.
Community Design for Physical Activity

Physical activity can help people to prevent numerous physical and mental health conditions, yet most Americans do not meet recommended levels of physical activity. Some built environment attributes are associated with higher levels of physical activity. Youths, adults, and older adults living in mixed-use communities with walkable destinations do more total physical activity than do their counterparts living in residential-only neighborhoods. Comprehensive interventions that include environmental changes, education, and other components have increased active transport to schools and overall use of bicycles in cities. Living close to parks, trails, and recreation facilities is related to greater use of facilities and more recreational physical activity. Adding or improving recreation facilities may not be enough to lead to their increased use. Activity programs and marketing may also be needed. Access to recreation facilities, quality and safety of pedestrian facilities, and aesthetics are poorer in areas with mostly low-income and racial or ethnic minority populations.
Islam, Public Religions and the Secularization Debate1

By now there is much academic talk about the limitations and failures of the conventional secularization thesis and much has consequently been written about religious revivalism. In the 1960s sociologists of religion like Bryan Wilson (1966 and 1976) confidently predicted the decline of religion as a result of modernization. There is now the general conclusion that the secularization thesis was too narrow and too specific to Europe. Whereas sociologists of religion treated the United States as exceptional because its religious patterns did not appear to support the association of modernity with secularization, we now look towards northern Europe as the principal example of ‘exceptionalism’.
Two Strategic Issues in Apologizing

Social norms are typically embedded in networks of supporting norms that call on other parties to confer punishments or rewards depending on compliance with the original norm. Apologies are “all-purpose” supporting norms since the prospect of having to apologize deters many kinds of transgressions. One puzzle is how a network can avoid an infinite hierarchy of norms. A repeated game model of apologizing shows how a small number can be arranged in loops of mutual support. A second puzzle is why an apology bundles together so many speech acts – it acknowledges that one committed an offense and that it caused risk or harm. It expresses remorse and promises that there will be no repetition. Sometimes the actor is ready to perform only some of these, but recipients typically want full apologies, and there seem to be no single words for the subsets. A possible explanation is that the elements are synergistic. A game model hypothetically reduces an apology to just a promise not to do it again, but those apologizer-types who are less scrupulous about keeping a promise would be more ready to make one, so making a promise is itself grounds for disbelief and in the end none are made. Adding a requirement to show remorse confers credibility and produces an equilibrium that includes promising.
THERMALLY INDUCED STRESSES IN LAMINATED FIBER COMPOSITES

In fiber laminated composites, thermally induced interlayer stresses arise from the thermal expansion mismatch between individual layers and the laminated composite as a whole. In this work, elasticity theory was applied to calculate these stresses based on equilibrium considerations. The effect of various parameters on the magnitude of these stresses was examined. Using a constant strain failure criterion it was shown that an increase in ply transverse modulus improves the thermal shock resistance of the laminate. Experiments were performed to investigate the effect of thermal cycling on graphite-epoxy laminates. The composites were examined microscopically and their thermal expansion behavior determined before and after thermal cycling. Thermal stresses induced by cycling caused transverse cracking and delamination. The extent of such damage is greater for the wider cycling range and is strongly influenced by structural imperfections.
Molecular Genetics of Visual Transduction in Drosophila

We have taken a reverse genetics approach to study the molecular basis of phototransduction in Drosophila melanogaster. We have identified genes which are preferentially expressed in the compound eye of the fruitfly by subtractive hybridization. Among those eye-specific sequences we have characterized the ninaA gene, a gene encoding for a photoreceptor cell-specific protein kinase C (PKC), and two arrestin genes.
CHAPTER 24 – Interferon-γ

This chapter deals with interferons (IFNs), which were originally described as an activity found in the supernatant of virally infected cells that directly “interfered” with viral replication. These proteins are now known to represent a family of cytokines, and have been classified into two types based on structural and functional criteria, as well as the stimuli that elicit their expression. Type 1 IFNs are primarily induced in response to viral infection and have been divided into two groups: IFN-α, which is secreted largely by leukocytes, and IFN-β which is produced by fibroblasts. Type II IFN, now designated IFN-γ, is synthesized primarily by T lymphocytes and natural killer (NK) cells following activation with immune and inflammatory stimuli rather than viral infection. IFN-7 is currently one of the best understood members of the cytokine family. As the field moves further into the fine details of IFN-γ's functions and mechanisms of action, it is likely to gain new insights that will form a new foundation for the therapeutic use of this pleiotropic cytokine.
Rise of Complex Societies in Italy: Historical Versus Archaeological Perspectives

In the Italian peninsula during the first millennium B.C., there existed at various periods complex cultural systems which achieved at their peak a proto-state or full state level of organization. One of these, the Greek city-state group of Sicily and southern Italy, was a colonial implant from the eastern Mediterranean which from the eighth century to the second century B.C. developed its own distinctive western Mediterranean characteristics (Boardman 1964). A second such complex cultural system was represented by the city-states of the Etruscans whose heartland was located just north of Rome. The Etruscans are now regarded by most archaeologists as a cultural group which evolved from Iron Age roots in the Italian peninsula, albeit with strong influence from the Greek world (Pallottino 1978; Torelli 1986).
Using VAPEPS for Noise Control on Space Station Freedom

Noise environmental control is an important design consideration for Space Station Freedom (SSF), both for crew safety and productivity. Acoustic noise requirements are established to eliminate fatigue and potential hearing loss by crew members from long-term exposure and to facilitate speech communication. VAPEPS (VibroAcoustic Payload Environment Prediction System) is currently being applied to SSF for prediction of the on-orbit noise and vibration environments induced in the 50 to 10,000 Hz frequency range. Various sources such as fans, pumps, centrifuges, exercise equipment, and other mechanical devices are used in the analysis. The predictions will be used in design tradeoff studies and to provide confidence that requirements will be met. Preliminary predictions show that the required levels will be exceeded unless substantial noise control measures are incorporated in the SSF design. Predicted levels for an SSF design without acoustic control treatments exceed requirements by 25 dB in some one-third octave frequency bands.
Feasibility of Using a Printed Microstrip Antenna in Evaluation of Peripheral Microcirculation

Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD) is a widespread and often undiagnosed condition associated with increased incidence of serious cardiovascular events. Current diagnostic tests for PAD may not be adequate for screening the large at-risk population. A new skin blood flow measurement technique using RF heating in the millimeter wave band, with simultaneous surface temperature measurement offers a potential method for screening individuals at risk for PAD quickly and easily. The feasibility of a transducer design incorporating a microstrip antenna and one or more infrared temperature sensors was evaluated in vitro, using a phantom skin material and a custom flow chamber. Results demonstrate the ability to heat the unperfused phantom by up to 7°C in less than 60 s, depending on antenna separation distance from the target surface. At a distance of 2 mm, preliminary results indicate the rate of temperature increase is sensitive to flowrate. These results suggest a possible method for noninvasive screening of individuals for PAD that is quick, easy and inexpensive.Copyright © 2018 by ASME
Prenatal Considerations After Oocyte Donation

The number of pregnancies conceived through oocyte donation is on the rise. In 2008, approximately 12 % of all advanced reproductive technology (ART) cycles involved oocyte donation – an increase from previous years. While routine antenatal care may be appropriate for many of these patients, the indication for oocyte donation may dictate specific prenatal considerations. Once a pregnancy is established through oocyte donation, a healthy woman should be managed as any other gravid woman – with regular prenatal visits, routine prenatal labs, and appropriate ultrasound screening. However, patients who use oocyte donation as a means for achieving pregnancy because of a preexisting condition may require more specialized obstetric care. Both general and condition-specific risks should be considered when caring for women who conceive through oocyte donation.
Caregiver problem drinking and trajectories of post-traumatic stress among youth

Abstract Youth raised by a caregiver experiencing harmful effects associated with alcohol use may experience multiple types of adversity. While the association between caregiver problem drinking and child maltreatment are well established, there is little knowledge on how caregiver problem drinking relates to trajectories of post-traumatic stress over time in youth who are at-risk or are involved in the child welfare system. Using data from the Longitudinal Studies of Child Abuse and Neglect (LONGSCAN), this study examined scores from the Trauma Symptom Checklist for youth at ages 8, 12 and 16. Controlling for caregiver depression, child behavioral health, and sociodemographics, results show that post-traumatic stress symptoms significantly decline over time for both groups, but youth of caregivers with problem drinking are more likely to report post-traumatic stress at age 16 in comparison to youth of caregivers with no problem drinking. These results can assist practitioners in identifying specific time points where tailored, trauma-informed, collaborative systems interventions can be developed to reduce the problems associated with youth post-traumatic stress.
Clinical Spectrum of Sickle Cell Disease and COVID-19: Laboratory and Clinical Factors Associated with Morbidity and Mortality (preprint)

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has generated concern as a potential remarkably severe threat to the sickle cell disease (SCD) population. We aim to identify predictors of outcomes and survival in a large US-based SCD and COVID-19 cohort to inform best approaches to prevention and care. Methods: Clinical data were collected at baseline and during the clinical course using a standardized form in SCD patients diagnosed with COVID-19 at 5 academic centers in four COVID-19 epicenters. Patients were followed post-hospital discharge for up to 3 months. Results: Of 66 consecutive SCD patients with COVID-19, 75% required hospitalization, with a median length of stay of 6 days, and 7 died (10.6%). Patients with preexisting kidney disease were more likely to be hospitalized, while age, sex and genotype had no effect. The most common presenting symptom was vaso-occlusive pain. Chest X-ray was abnormal (acute chest syndrome) at presentation in 30 of 50 (61%) hospitalized and all deceased patients. Older age (median of 53 versus 32 years) and histories of pulmonary hypertension, congestive heart failure and/or stroke were more prevalent in deceased patients, as were high creatinine, lactate dehydrogenase, C-reactive protein, and D-dimers. The use of anti-coagulation, but not hydroxychloroquine or transfusion, during inpatient hospitalization was associated with decreased mortality (p<0.05). All deaths occurred in individuals not taking hydroxyurea or other SCD modifying therapy. Conclusions: Patients with SCD and COVID-19 infection demonstrated a broad range of disease severity, from mild to very severe. COVID-19 in SCD individuals with pre-existing cardiopulmonary, renal disease and/or stroke presenting with pain and high creatinine should be considered at risk of death, irrespective of genotype or gender. Inpatient use of anticoagulation should be considered for all SCD patients with COVID-19. Though older individuals with vasculopathic comorbidities and high D-dimers were more likely to die, the median age of death was decades lower than the non-SCD population. Funding Statement: None. Declaration of Interests: None Ethics Approval Statement: Each respective Institutional Review Board approved data collection as minimal-risk research and waived the requirement for informed consent.
Group Prenatal Care as a Strategy to Address Diabesity

Group prenatal care is a health care delivery model that utilizes shared medical appointments to place greater focus on patient education, mutual support, and increased time with the clinician to promote a healthy pregnancy. Several studies suggest that medically low-risk women participating in group prenatal care have improved pregnancy outcomes, but the same tenants can likely be used to help women with diabetes and obesity achieve healthy outcomes during pregnancy and throughout their life course. This chapter will review the background, care model, and evidence regarding group medical visits for pregnant women with diabetes and obesity.
Patterns of Health Care Services During Pediatric Concurrent Hospice Care: A National Study:

Background:Children at end of life have unique and complex care needs. Although there is increasing evidence about pediatric concurrent hospice care, the health care services received while in hosp...
Patient Concerns About Wide-Awake Local Anesthesia No Tourniquet (WALANT) Hand Surgery.

Purpose Wide-Awake Local Anesthetic No Tourniquet (WALANT) hand surgery avoids many medical risks associated with traditional anesthesia options. However, patients may be hesitant to choose the WALANT approach because of concerns about being awake during surgery. The purpose of this study was to characterize patients' thoughts and concerns about being awake during hand surgery and determine factors that may affect their decision about anesthesia options. Methods Qualitative interviews were conducted with 15 patients with a diagnosis of carpal tunnel syndrome, trigger finger, or De Quervain's tenosynovitis who were receiving nonoperative care. Interviews were conducted using a semi-structured interview guide. Inductive thematic analysis was used to identify themes, concerns, and potential intervention targets. Results Eight participants reported that patients have a general bias against being "knocked out," 7 of whom described concerns of uncertainty about emerging from anesthesia. All participants would consider WALANT, with some reservations. Recurrent themes included ensuring they would not feel, see, or hear the surgery and a preference toward distractions, such as music or engaging conversation. Of 15 participants, 13 would not want to see the surgery. For patients who found WALANT appealing, they valued the decreased time investment compared to sedation and the avoidance of side effects or exacerbation of comorbidities. A recurring theme of trust between surgeon and patient arose when deciding about anesthesia type. Conclusions Most patients are open to WALANT, but have concerns of hearing the surgery or feeling pain. Potential interventions to address these concerns, beyond establishing a trusting physician-patient relationship, include music or video with headphones and confirming skin numbness prior to surgery. Clinical relevance This study provides insights into patients' thought processes regarding WALANT hand surgery and give the surgeon talking points when counseling patients on their anesthesia type for hand surgery.
Neuropharmacology of Spinal Cord Neurons in Primary Dissociated Cell Culture

Investigation into the physiological properties of central nervous system (CNS) neurons and the pharmacological actions of clinically important drugs on the CNS have progressed in parallel over the past two decades. The suggestion that most interneuronal communication is mediated by release of chemical neurotransmitters (Krnjevic, 1974) has stimulated research into all aspects of synaptic transmission including regulation of synthesis and release of neurotransmitter from presynaptic terminals, properties of pre- and postsynaptic neurotransmitter receptors, properties of neurotransmitter-coupled ionic channels, and neuroanatomical distribution of specific neurotransmitters.
The transference of triplet state excitation energy: II. Kinetics of formation and decay of triplet state species

Abstract An analysis of the kinetics of three possible bimolecular quenching processes affecting the rates of formation and decay of the excited triplet state species in tyrosine and tryptophan has been carried out. For each possibility both the rate of formation and the rate of decay were considered, and the effects of concentration of amino acid and intensity of excitation source examined. In every case, a closed form equation was obtained and compared to what must be considered preliminary data of three possibilities, and in the light of the limited data only one, namely T1 + S0 → 2S0, could be considered to conform to the observations. In the case of tryptophan, estimates of several rate constants were possible and the probability of the T1 → S1 transition was considered negligible. For tyrosine, these estimates were not possible for lack of sufficiently accurate data, but the T1 → S1 transition here was demonstrated to be significant.
SYMPOSIUM ON URINARY CONSTITUENTS OF LOW MOLECULAR WEIGHT Session III Automation of the Analysis of Urinary Steroids Using Quantitative Paper Chromatography and a Small Laboratory Digital Computer

A summary of the strategy and progress in devising a general system of biochemical analysis based on the direct photometry, or "scanning" of thin-media chromatograms is presented. Recent results suggest that the method is as precise and as accurate as other types of quantitative chromatography. It is capable of reasonably easy adoption by workers previously unfamiliar with the basic technic and apparatus. It has been subjected to more rigorous quality control by blind and double-blind trials concurrent with ordinary routine work than is usual, and has passed these tests adequately. Data processing by a small, relatively inexpensive digital computer is capable of handling the data produced by the central apparatus of the method. The sensitivity of newer instruments using well-established fluorescence reactions compares very favorably with that of flame-ionization detectors in gas-liquid chromatography but not with the electron-capture detector as yet.
Defending the fort: a role for defensin-2 in limiting Rickettsia montanensis infection of Dermacentor variabilis

The importance of tick defensins is evidenced by their expression in a wide variety of tick tissues and prevalence across many tick genera. To date, the functional and biological significance of defensin-2 as a rickettsiastatic or rickettsiacidal antimicrobial peptide has not been addressed. In a previous study, defensin-2 transcription was shown to increase in Dermacentor variabilis ticks challenged with Rickettsia montanensis. In the present study, the hypothesis that defensin-2 is functional as a rickettsiastatic and/or rickettsiacidal antimicrobial peptide is tested. We show that defensin-2 plays a role in reducing burden after acquisition of Rickettsia montanensis through capillary feeding. Moreover, defensin-2 is shown to associate with R. montanensis in vitro and in vivo, causing cytoplasmic leakiness.
Thermomechanical fatigue of particulate-reinforced aluminum 2xxx-T4

Thermomechanical fatigue (TMF) and isothermal fatigue of unreinforced and SiCp-reinforced aluminum 2xxx-T4 alloy were examined. Thermomechanical fatigue experiments were conducted underT min = 100 °C,T max = 300 °C andT min = 100 °C,T max = 200 °C conditions, and isothermal experiments were conducted at 200 °C and 300 °C. Based on stress range, substantial improvements in fatigue life were observed with reinforcement under both isothermal and thermomechanical loading conditions. Based on strain range, the TMF lives of the reinforced material increased in out-of-phase (OP) loading and remained unchanged in in-phase (IP) loading. A decrease in isothermal fatigue lives of the reinforced material compared to those of unreinforced material was observed in both 3 × 10−3 s−1 and 3 × 10−5 s−1 experiments at 200 °C and in 3 × 10−3 s−1 experiments at 300 °C. Crack growth mechanism maps were constructed to identify crack growth behavior of the unreinforced and the reinforced materials. The TMF OP conditions were more favorable to transgranular cracking. Mixed (transgranular and intergranular) crack growth occurred in TMF IP experiments. Evidence of void formation at grain boundaries, crack deflection due to particles, and oxide penetration at the crack tips is demonstrated using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Auger spectroscopy analysis.
1353 ATROPINE (AT) REDUCES BRAIN-BLOOD FLOW (BBF) AT LOWER MEAN ARTERIAL BLOOD PRESSURES (MABP) DURING HEMORRHAGIC HYPOTENSION (HH) IN THE NEWBORN PIGLET (P)

We have previously shown that AT pretreatment modifies auto-regulation of BBF during hypertension in the newborn P. During HH, AT may also prevent cerebral vasodilation (CV), thus resulting in a greater reduction in BBF at a higher MABP, than without AT treatment. HH was induced by graded phlebotomy in 19 P (9 treated with AT sulfate, 0.02 mg/kg (AP); 10 served as controls (CP). BBF (microsphere method) and MABP were measured. AT treatment resulted in a lower (p<0.01) MABP in AP than CP during early HH, however, there was no significant change in BBF in either group. When the MABP was 30 and 27 mmHg for CP and AP respectively, BBF was significantly (p<0.05) decreased in AP and not in CP. BBF was decreased significantly (p<0.05) in both groups at a MABP of 15 mmHg. We conclude that AT may limit CV at the lower end of the autoregulatory range, resulting in a pressure passive fall in BBF which occurred at a higher MABP in piglets treated (AP) compared with those not treated with AT (CP).
Luminescent properties of lamellar solids derived from hydrogen uranyl phosphate and Cr(III) Werner complexes

Abstract Several trivalent Cr(III) Werner complexes have been intercalated into the lamellar solid HUO 2 PO 4 ·4H 2 O (HUP) by co-precipitation reactions. Emission from the host lattice and guest complex have been characterized and illustrate a range of host-guest interactions, including energy transfer.
Fast interfacial electron transfer : evidence for inverted region kinetic behavior

Abstract : Interfacial electron transfer (ET) in a prototypical semiconductor- liquid junction system (aq. Fe(CN)64-/3- with TiO2) can be initiated by directly pumping a molecule to surface charge transfer transition (max = 430nm). The return electron transfer(ET) kinetics, which can be monitored by visible-region transient-absorbance spectroscopy, reveal a well-defined fast component (r = 270ns) and a less well defined slow component (us -> ms). Detailed studies in the shorter time regime show that: (1) the interfacial ET rate is independent of laser pump power and, therefore, truly first order, (2) the kinetics are activationless, and (3) the kinetics are inverted, i.e. the ET rate decreases when the free energy driving force is increased by increasing the formal potential of the iron(III)-based electron acceptor. The results are broadly consistent with the predictions of contemporary, multimode quantum rate theories; they are also consistent with the findings of a prior study (by time- dependent scattering) of the Franck-Condon effects accompanying the reaction.
XAFS Investigations of LiNi0.45Mn0.45Co0.1−yAlyO2 Positive Electrode Materials

The structural and electronic effects of Al-substitution in LiNi0.45Mn0.45Co0.1−yAlyO2 electrode materials were explored on a local scale using X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS). Homogeneous substitution of Al is observed between 0 ≤ y ≤ 0.10, additionally causing relaxation within the strained edge-sharing metal octahedra composing the transition metal plane. Ex situ measurements on electrochemically charged electrodes confirm that the main charge compensation mechanism occurs via oxidation of Ni, though a contribution centered at the Co-sites was detected in the early stages of charging. Al-substitution, meanwhile, appears to have a negligible local order effect. Analysis of electrochemically cycled materials suggests that there is a beneficial structural consequence of the Al-substitution, which limits the disorder within the local structure of the substituted samples compared to the fresh layered oxides.
Multiband Multislice GE-EPI at 7 Tesla, With 16-Fold Acceleration Using Partial Parallel Imaging With Application to High Spatial and Temporal Whole-Brain FMRI

Parallel imaging in the form of multiband radiofrequency excitation, together with reduced k-space coverage in the phase-encode direction, was applied to human gradient echo functional MRI at 7 T for increased volumetric coverage and concurrent high spatial and temporal resolution. Echo planar imaging with simultaneous acquisition of four coronal slices separated by 44mm and simultaneous 4-fold phase-encoding undersampling, resulting in 16-fold acceleration and up to 16-fold maximal aliasing, was investigated. Task/stimulus-induced signal changes and temporal signal behavior under basal conditions were comparable for multiband and standard single-band excitation and longer pulse repetition times. Robust, whole-brain functional mapping at 7 T, with 2 x 2 x 2mm(3) (pulse repetition time 1.25 sec) and 1 x 1 x 2mm(3) (pulse repetition time 1.5 sec) resolutions, covering fields of view of 256 x 256 x 176 mm(3) and 192 x 172 x 176 mm(3), respectively, was demonstrated with current gradient performance.
Effect of a Low Calorie, Low Protein Diet on Blood Proteins

Conclusions1. Due principally to low fluid intake, the blood is concentrated and the serum protein concentration slightly less than proportionately increased by a low calorie diet containing no protein.2. Two days of protein deprivation is an insufficient time to make any change in the character of the blood proteins, but lowers the total blood protein definitely.