cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A Boundary Perturbation Method for Vector Electromagnetic Scattering from Families of Doubly Periodic Gratings

In this paper the authors extend their previous work on Boundary Perturbation methods for scattering calculations from families of diffraction gratings to three dimensions and the full vector electromagnetic Maxwell equations. This extension is non-trivial in both its algorithmic implementation (not only are new terms added to the recursions, but also the full, coupled, vector Maxwell equations must be simulated) and in the size of the relevant computer simulations. Not only do we give details of the implementation of the method, but also provide results of numerical simulations.
Algorithms for multiplex scheduling of object-based audio-visual presentations

Object-based representation of audio-visual (AV) presentations provides a flexible scheme to create interactive content that lends itself to resource-driven adaptation. The content adaptation needs of mobile devices can be met well with the use of object-based AV presentations. The main distinguishing feature of object-based AV presentations is the scene composition at the user terminal. In this paper, we discuss the problem of scheduling the delivery of object-based AV presentations under resource constraints. We explore the similarities with the problem of job sequencing on a single machine. We present a family of algorithms to determine the schedulability of AV presentations, and for unschedulable presentations, we present algorithms to compute a schedule that minimizes the additionally acquired resources. We present algorithms for computing incremental schedules for applications such as content authoring that require immediate feedback on resource consumption. The algorithms can be used to schedule object-based MPEG-4 presentations. We discuss the algorithms and results by considering a relatively complex MPEG-4 presentation with 16 objects, including audio, video, and images.
Molecular Dynamics Simulations of Ion-Bombarded Graphene

Using molecular dynamics simulations and a hybrid Tersoff-ZBL potential, the effects of irradiating graphene with a carbon ion at several positions and several energies from 0.1 eV to 100 keV are studied. The simulations show four types of processes: absorption, reflection, transmission, and vacancy formation. At energies below 10 eV, the dominant process is reflection; between 10 and 100 eV, it is absorption; and between 100 eV and 100 keV, the dominant process is transmission. Vacancy formation is a low-probability process that takes place at energies above 30 eV. Three types of defects are found: adatom, single vacancy, and 5–8–5 defect formed from a double-vacancy defect. The simulations provide a fundamental understanding of the graphene carbon bombardment and the parameters to develop graphene devices by controlling defect formation.
Spatially resolved and localized real-time velocity distribution

A technique is presented for collecting the spin velocity distribution as a function of position and time. It uses a multidimensional excitation pulse to select a cylinder, giving localization in two dimensions. Resolution in the third spatial dimension is achieved in the readout. During readout, an oscillating gradient encodes the acquired data in both one spatial dimension (x) and one velocity dimension (v). Two acquisitions (42 ms each) are needed to get a complete coverage of kx--kv space, which makes this technique real-time. The data is interpolated from the nonuniformly sampled kx--kv space to a Cartesian frame with a gridding scheme to take advantage of the Fast Fourier Transform. The technique was successfully applied to phantoms and normal volunteers, giving reasonable real-time measurements of velocity.
Dining philosophers with crash locality 1

Ideally, distributed algorithms isolate the side-effects of faults within local neighborhoods of impact. Failure locality quantifies this concept as the maximum radius of impact caused by a given fault. We present new locality results for the dining philosophers problem subject to crash failures. The optimal crash locality for dining is 0 in synchronous networks, but degrades to 2 in asynchronous networks. Using the eventually-perfect failure detector /spl diams/P , we construct the first known dining algorithms with crash locality 1 under partial synchrony. These algorithms close the failure-locality complexity gap and improve the crash tolerance of resource allocation algorithms in practical networks. We prove the optimality of our results with two fundamental theorems. First, no dining solution using /spl diams/P achieves locality 0. Second, /spl diams/P is the weakest failure detector in the Chandra-Toueg hierarchy to realize locality 1.
Cost reduction technology for high-efficiency photovoltaics: Research issues and progress

An overview is presented of the Department of Energy (DOE) photovoltaic program's research on III-V solar cells directed toward establishing the base of technology necessary to design lower cost production processes and improve the reliability of manufacturing projections. It is shown that cost reduction in the high-efficiency technologies requires a three-pronged attack. First, increasing the efficiency is still the most direct path to lowering the cost of photovoltaic (PV) modules, provided that the additional device sophistication does not add cost. The second prong is to improve the technologies for crystal growth. Production cost factors related to large-area uniformity, yield, process safety, and source utilization efficiency are inseparable from the more esoteric scientific issues such as thermal geometry, reaction chemistry, crystallographic orientation effects, spinodal decomposition, and interdiffusion. Finally, an improved technology and new concepts are needed to eliminate the cost of consuming a crystalline substrate. >
Spatial Characterization, Resolution, and Volumetric Change of Coastal Dunes using Airborne LIDAR: Cape Hatteras, North Carolina

The technological advancement in topographic mapping known as airborne Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR) allows researchers to gather highly accurate and densely sampled coastal elevation data at a rapid rate. The problem is to determine the optimal resolutions at which to represent coastal dunes for volumetric change analysis. This study uses digital elevation models (DEM) generated from LIDAR data and spatial statistics to better understand dune characterization at a series of spatial resolutions. The LIDAR data were collected jointly by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). DEMs of two study sites (100×200 m) located in Cape Hatteras National Seashore, North Carolina were generated using a raster-based geographic information system (GIS). Changes in the dune volume were calculated for a 1-year period of time (Fall 1996–1997) at grid cell resolutions ranging from 1×1 to 20×20 m. Directional statistics algorithms were used to calculate local variance and characterize topographic complexity. Data processing was described in detail in order to provide an introduction to working with LIDAR data in a GIS. Results from these study sites indicated that a 1–2 m resolution provided the most reliable representation of coastal dunes on Cape Hatteras and most accurate volumetric change measurements. Results may vary at other sites and at different spatial extents, but the methods developed here can be applied to other locations to determine the optimum resolutions at which to represent and characterize topography using common GIS and database software.
ANTIBODY FORMATION AND THE CODING PROBLEM.

Abstract : The purpose of the article is to demonstrate that the template theory of antibody formation is reconcilable with the present views on coding and protein biosynthesis. The finding of the injected antigen in the microsomal fraction of spleen and liver indicates that the antigenic determinants are close to the ribosomal sites of aminoacid incorporation. It is assumed that intermolecular forces between the rigid, polar antigenic determinant and the nascent peptide chain lead to: (1) the rejection of amino-acyl residues which would not allow the peptide chain to fold complementarily over the template; (2) their replacement by amino-acyl residues which enable the peptide chain to form the complementary combining site of the antibody molecule. It is assumed that in this manner the amino-acid sequence dictated by the messenger-RNA is modified in that part of the antibody molecule which combines specifically with the antigenic determinant. Template action of this type may also be involved in the biosynthesis of enzymes, protein hormones or other protein molecules.
Modeling the Hotspot Temperature in AlGaN/GaN High Electron Mobility Transistors Using a Non-Gray Phonon BTE Solver

In this work, we utilize electron-phonon Monte Carlo simulations of AlGaN/GaN HEMTs to determine the energy loss rate of electrons in the channel of the transistor as a function of bias conditions. Intense energy transfer from electrons to phonons is observed near the gate edge on the drain side of such devices where the peak electric field exists. This intense energy exchange results in nanometer sized hotspots in the vicinity of the gate edge. In order to account for effects of ballistic phonon transport on temperature near the hotspots, a non-gray Discrete Ordinates Method (DOM) is used as a numerical solver for the phonon Boltzmann Transport Equation (BTE). The non-gray model accounts for dispersion effects of GaN by splitting the dispersion curve of GaN into a finite number of frequency bands. The phonons in each frequency band are assumed to have the same properties with the other phonons in the same band and the relaxation times between these bands are calculated. The results show how energy is redistributed among the available phonon bands and demonstrates which modes are most effective at transporting the thermal energy. Finally, the hotspot temperature predictions obtained by the model are compared to temperatures obtained by gray and continuum modeling approaches to show the discrepancies between different techniques.Copyright © 2012 by ASME
Neutron Radiography of Nuclear Fuels at the Battelle Research Reactor

The development and use of neutron radiography at the Battelle Research Reactor (BRR) are described. Neutron radiography was conducted in the reactor pool and in a facility located outside the reactor pool. Neutron radiographs were obtained by both the direct and transfer techniques. In general, indium conversion screens were perferred. The handling techniques included still and scanning methods. The problems encountered while working in water are also described. The uses of neutron radiographs of nuclear fuel materials include determination of the physical condition of the material, dimensional data, enrichment, and burn-up. Neutron radiographs were used to determine the location of PuO 2 particles, less than 50 μm in size, in a UO 2 -PuO 2 fuel material. Dimensions were determined to ′ 50 μm when measurements were made. Neutron radiography was a useful tool in nuclear fuel development work at the BRR.
Adenocarcinoma of the Rete Testis Presenting In an Undescended Testicle

Adenocarcinoma of the rete testis is a rare testicular neoplasm with a poor prognosis. We report an unusual case of adenocarcinoma of the rete testis in a young man with cryptorchidism and associated epididymitis. CASE REPORT A 28-year-old black male presented with right lower quadrant abdominal pain 1 week in duration. The patient had been diagnosed with an absent right testicle at an early age. On physical examination he had a nonpalpable right testis and a tender area over the right internal inguinal canal. The patient had a normally developed right hemiscrotum, and no other pertinent physical findings were noted. Computerized tomography of the pelvis revealed an enhancing right inguinal mass that measured 1.8 3 cm (fig. 1). Serum markers for -fetoprotein and -human chorionic gonadotropin were within normal limits. The patient underwent right inguinal orchiectomy. Gross pathological examination demonstrated a hemorrhagic area within the testicular hilus and a swollen erythematous epididymis. No involvement of the tunica albuginea or tunica vaginalis was noted. Histopathological evaluation showed a poorly demarcated tumor measuring 0.3 cm at its greatest diameter. The mass was composed of atypical hyperchromatic cuboidal or columnar cells that formed solid sheets, as well as tufts and micropapillary structures. The adjacent tissue exhibited signs of acute and chronic inflammation (fig. 2, A). Immunohistochemical staining revealed that tumor cells reacted with cytokeratin 7 but were not reactive with cytokeratin 20 (fig. 2, B). Antibody MIB1, used to identify cells entering mitosis, demonstrated moderate reactivity consistent with the diagnosis of low grade adenocarcinoma. Staining for -fetoprotein and placental alkaline phosphatase yielded negative results. Shortly after diagnosis the patient underwent retroperitoneal lymph node dissection. Pathological examination of the retroperitoneal lymph nodes showed no evidence of metastasis. At 10-month followup there was no evidence of recurrence.
Characterization of a Laser Plasma in a Pulsed Magnetic Field. Part I: Spatially Resolved Emission Studies:

The effect of a pulsed magnetic field on spatially resolved emission from a laser plasma at atmospheric pressure was investigated. The pulsed magnetic field, produced by capacitive electrical discharge through a specially designed solenoid, was oriented normal to the laser axis. Temporally integrated emission enhancements due to the magnetic field were found to be most significant when the plasma was formed about 1 mm below the magnetic field axis. The degree of confinement of the plasma increased with magnetic field strength—these studies utilized the maximum magnetic field attainable with this system that did not jeopardize the structural integrity of the solenoid (∼85 kG). Laterally resolved emission characteristics (observed both along and normal to the magnetic field axis) demonstrated significant radial compression and axial expansion of the laser plasma. These effects are explainable by JxB or fluid magnetic pressure interactions. Further deconvolution of dynamic magnetic field effects on plasma atomization/excitation/ionization characteristics require spatially and temporally resolved emission and absorption studies.
Ultralight shape-recovering plate mechanical metamaterials

Unusual mechanical properties of mechanical metamaterials are determined by their carefully designed and tightly controlled geometry at the macro- or nanoscale. We introduce a class of nanoscale mechanical metamaterials created by forming continuous corrugated plates out of ultrathin films. Using a periodic three-dimensional architecture characteristic of mechanical metamaterials, we fabricate free-standing plates up to 2 cm in size out of aluminium oxide films as thin as 25 nm. The plates are formed by atomic layer deposition of ultrathin alumina films on a lithographically patterned silicon wafer, followed by complete removal of the silicon substrate. Unlike unpatterned ultrathin films, which tend to warp or even roll up because of residual stress gradients, our plate metamaterials can be engineered to be extremely flat. They weigh as little as 0.1 g cm(-2) and have the ability to 'pop-back' to their original shape without damage even after undergoing multiple sharp bends of more than 90°.
Radiotherapy of the Breast

Lumpectomy, or breast conservation surgery (BCS), followed by approximately 6 weeks of daily whole-breast radiation therapy (WB-XRT) has been available for several decades as an alternative to mastectomy for the local therapy of women with early stage breast cancer. The long-term safety and effectiveness of BCT compared with mastectomy has been confirmed through prospective, randomized trials conducted in the USA and Europe. Local recurrence after BCS+WB-XRT (the combination of BCS and WB-XRT is known as breast conservation therapy, BCT) is slightly more common than after mastectomy but there is no difference in overall survival. This makes breast conservation an appealing option for many women. A recent study demonstrated that 63 % of women treated for breast cancer in the USA select breast BCT. Overall, the availability of breast conservation therapy has expanded treatment options and enhanced the lives of many women diagnosed with breast cancer who otherwise would have been forced to choose mastectomy.
Racism: The Original “ism” of American Discrimination

The implications of psychological colonization visited upon victim-group populations provided the cultural foundation for increasing the potency of existent racism. Although a distant era in history, Americans—including people of color—continue to manifest the impact of Western colonization in their social interaction preferences. As a product of racism, discrimination attributed to victim-group populations begins with the existential circumstances of Third World countries, which in most instances are now freed from the yoke of European sovereignties. What prevails in the Third World and its worldwide population is sustained today through cultural influences that have been manifested by overt and covert acts of racism. Regarding skin color, such racism is aimed primarily at black males or similarly dark-skinned men, given that black males are the polar opposite extreme of the prevailing white-male power structure in a country given to patriarchy traditions.
Growth Hormone Receptor Deficiency Protects against Age-Related NLRP3 Inflammasome Activation and Immune Senescence.

The hallmarks of age-related immune senescence are chronic inflammation, aberrant expansion of effector memory, and loss of naive T lymphocytes due in part to systemic activation of innate immune sensor NLRP3 inflammasome in myeloid lineage cells. The endogenous mechanisms that regulate inflammasome activation during aging are unknown. Here, we present evidence that growth hormone receptor (GH-R)-dependent downregulation of NLRP3 inflammasome in macrophages is linked to pro-longevity effects that maintain immune system homeostasis in aging. Deletion of GH-R prevented the macrophage-driven age-related activation of inflammasome in response to NLRP3 ligands and also increased the preservation of naive T cells, even in advanced age and with higher IFNγ secretion from effector cells. The mechanism of inflammasome inhibition is linked to autocrine somatotropic axis as ablation of IGF1R in macrophages lowered the NLRP3 inflammasome activation. Together, our findings show that functional somatotropic axis in macrophages controls inflammation, thus linking NLRP3-mediated innate immune signaling to health span and longevity.
The Reproductive Ability and Progeny of F1 Lead-Toxic Rats*

The relationship of chronic lead ingestion and reduced reproductive performance was investigated with regard to the relative paternal and maternal effect of lead as measured by the progeny of F-one lead toxic rats. Paternal lead-toxic effect on pups development was manifested by a retardation of embroynic growth and a reduction in the number of weaned pups per litter. The maternal effects of lead toxicity were seen in reduced litter size retardation of fetal development and impaired postnatal survival. When both maternal and paternal effects of lead toxicity coexisted all previously identified components were manifested and resulted in the birth of a few precariously small pups which had a 30% survival rate. The effects of lead upon reproduction in the rat can be classified as gametotoxic intrauterine and extrauterine.
Oxidation State-Differentiated Measurement of Aqueous Inorganic Arsenic by Continuous Flow Electrochemical Arsine Generation Coupled to Gas-Phase Chemiluminescence Detection

The electrochemical reduction of inorganic As on a graphite cathode depends on the current density. We observed that while only inorganic As(III) is reduced to AsH3 at low current densities, at high current densities both forms of inorganic As are reduced. We describe a unique electrochemical reactor in which the cylindrical anode compartment is isolated from the outer concentric cathode compartment by a Nafion tube in which a hole is deliberately made and the entire anode compartment is inside the cylindrical cavity of a small volume (∼115 μL) cathode chamber. The evolved arsine is then quantitated by gas-phase chemiluminescence (GPCL) reaction with ozone; the latter is generated from oxygen formed during electrolysis. For the dimensions used, inorganic As(III) can be selectively determined at a current of 0.1 A while total inorganic As (both As(III) and As(V)) respond equally at an applied electrolysis current at 0.85 A, without any sample treatment. For a 1-mL sample, the system provides a limit of det...
Multitemporality and the speed(s) of thought in Johnnie To's action films

ABSTRACTJohnnie To's post-1997 action films often contain sequences that present many simultaneous temporal processes. To's group-oriented narrative strategies typically place an ensemble of people in the frame; even when they don't speak we experience each of them seeing, hearing, touching, moving, and engaging in other sorts of body/brain activity. These sequences also include processes and forces that are other- than-human: wind, weather, machines, etc. Sound and music contribute to this complexity. What can we make of this multitemporal flow? Focusing on audiovisual practices this article considers three related effects of this multitemporality: (1) new possibilities for depicting the heterogeneity and the layered character of thinking (from higher-level decision-making down to autonomic processes); (2) an intense concreteness in the representation of thinking, especially nonverbal thinking, and (3) a thickening of the connections that bind cinematic renderings of what William Connolly calls the ‘body...
Adherence of candida species to intravenous catheters

Legend. Adherence in vitro of Candida albicans (CA) and Candida tropicalis (CT) to sections (length, 4 cm) of 16-gauge catheters made of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) or Teflonb (Travenol Laboratories, Deerfield, Ill). Yeast cells were labeled with [14C]glucose, washed, and suspended in Hanks' balanced salt solution at a concentration of 107 cfu/ml, standardized with a hemacytometer. The final yeast suspensions contained >90% singlet organisms and had >99% of the total scintillation counts in the cellular fraction and <1% of the counts in the supernatant. To facilitate counting, adherence was restricted to the external surface of the catheters by sealing catheter ends. Catheters were immersed in the yeast suspensions and incubated at 37 C for 60 min on a roller drum. Catheters were then washed three times, the ends were removed, and the remaining 4-cm sections were counted in AQUASOLp (New England Nuclear, Boston). All test samples were assayed in quadruplicate. Values for adherent cfu per catheter section were derived by comparison of the radioactivity of test samples with that of standardized labeled yeast suspensions. Mean x SD values are indicated. 10
Evidence for β-Chlorocarbenium and β-Bromocarbenium Ions

Isotopic perturbation of degenerate equilibrium is used to determine whether tetramethylethylenechloronium and tetramethylethylenebromonium ions are closed 1,2-bridged structures or rapid equilibria of open β-halocarbenium ions. The observed 13C NMR isotope shifts are consistent with a combination of large equilibrium shifts and small upfield intrinsic shifts. The presence of equilibrium shifts in both halonium ions indicates that these ions are not closed 1,2-bridged structures. Rather, they are best represented by equilibria of β-halocarbenium ions.
Desloratadine for allergic rhinitis.

Desloratadine is somewhat effective for the treatment of seasonal allergic rhinitis and may decrease nasal congestion. It also is effective for chronic urticaria. Desloratadine is similar in effectiveness to fexofenadine and would be expected to produce results similar to loratadine and other nonsedating antihistamines.
The Impresarios of the Ancestors

At the outset, I justified my use of the term “community” by saying that it referred to clearly delineated populations – the residents of those spectacular buildings that so impressed travellers in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. However, this formulation leaves out something that was important to longhouse dwellers. For them, the community was comprised not only of the living, but also of the ancestors. For Upriver People, their community stretched out in time like a meteor crossing the sky – a moving point of light trailing a long, luminous tail. The Nulang Arc Consequently, it is not surprising that funerals were important events. Needless to say, that does not imply that death rituals were the same everywhere. In particular, there was a marked division between communities that do and do not practice secondary treatment of the dead. In Chapter 10, we saw what devices were necessary to paper over the divide between Sebop and Berawan rites. The peoples practicing secondary treatment were distributed in a broad arc from the Kelabit plateau, through the Trusan and Limbang watershed, across the lower Baram region (including the Tutoh and Tinjar), and south along to coast to the mouth of the Rejang. In terms of the main linguistic components reviewed in Chapter 8, this constitutes the speakers of Blust's North Sarawak languages, with the exception of those he classifies as “Kenyah” – using that term in his sense, and not as an ethnonym.
Lamps in Ceramic Assemblages: A Case Study in Late Republican and Early Imperial Central Italy

The examination of the percentages of functional groups in the composition of ceramic assemblages has been shown to be a useful approach to interpreting a site. This was particularly clear with transport vessels. This study focuses on lamps in central Italy between the late republican and early imperial periods. As the least well represented group, lamps may seem to offer little. Nevertheless, it emerges that there is a normal range of percentages that can be expected for lamps in assemblages of that date range and region, against which unusual results can be evaluated, leading to considerations about the nature of the site where they were found. While series will have to be constructed for other times and places, a brief look at some percentages from 5th-century CE sites from the same region and from a site with a similar date range in Egypt suggests that they will be in the same order of magnitude.
Down the Rabbit Hole of Single-Cell Genome Analysis

Chen et al. (2017) demonstrate whole-genome amplification of single-cell genomic DNA using linear nucleic acid amplification. This provides reliable single-nucleotide variation (SNV) detection across the single-cell genome, facilitating an understanding of cell-to-cell similarities and distinctions.
NF-κB signaling in inflammation

The transcription factor NF-κB regulates multiple aspects of innate and adaptive immune functions and serves as a pivotal mediator of inflammatory responses. NF-κB induces the expression of various pro-inflammatory genes, including those encoding cytokines and chemokines, and also participates in inflammasome regulation. In addition, NF-κB plays a critical role in regulating the survival, activation and differentiation of innate immune cells and inflammatory T cells. Consequently, deregulated NF-κB activation contributes to the pathogenic processes of various inflammatory diseases. In this review, we will discuss the activation and function of NF-κB in association with inflammatory diseases and highlight the development of therapeutic strategies based on NF-κB inhibition.
Applying the Problem Behavior Theory to Adolescent Drug Use Among a Cross-Sectional Sample of Boys Participating in a Community-Based Youth Organization.

Background: Drug use remains an important public health concern in the United States, and understanding drug use among young adolescents is vital towards improving the health of the population. Obj...
What's wrong with the Romanian New Wave? Auteur cinema, the communist and the production of the violent working class

This article argues that the much celebrated Romanian films such as Reconstituirea/Reenactment (Lucian Pintilie, 1968) and New Wave productions such as Sieranevada (Cristi Puiu, 2016) are plagued b...
Aerobic Exercise and Fatigue in Rheumatoid Arthritis Participants: A Meta-Analysis Using the Minimal Important Difference Approach.

Objective To use the minimal important difference (MID) versus the standardized mean difference (SMD) approach in order to provide more robust and clinically relevant information regarding the association between land-based aerobic exercise and changes in self-reported fatigue among adults with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Methods Data from a previous meta-analysis of 5 randomized controlled trials that represented up to 298 participants per study were utilized to calculate 9 effect sizes, using the MID approach. Data used to obtain the MID were derived from previously reported anchor-based values specific to each fatigue instrument in adults with RA. Results were pooled using a random-effects model. Results Aerobic exercise resulted in statistically significant reductions in self-reported fatigue (MID effect size -0.34 [95% confidence interval (95% CI) -0.58, -0.10]; P = 0.006). Results were similar when effect sizes were collapsed so that only 1 effect size represented each study (MID effect size -0.39 [95% CI -0.76, -0.03]; P = 0.04). Conclusion Land-based aerobic exercise is associated with statistically significant reductions in fatigue; however, based on previous cut points, it may be unlikely that a substantial number of participants with RA could obtain clinically relevant reductions in fatigue. Additional studies are needed, especially in those individuals with RA who have elevated levels of fatigue.
Chemical stabilization of a vasoactive S-nitrosothiol with cyclodextrins without loss of pharmacologic activity.

S-Nitrosothiols have been proposed as the endogenous chemical representing the vasoactive endothelium-derived relaxing factor, as well as the active cellular intermediates responsible for the therapeutic action of organic nitrates. The relatively stable analogue S-nitroso N-acetyl penicillamine (SNAP) is a potent vasodilator producing less pharmacologic tolerance than nitroglycerin upon prolonged administration. The therapeutic potential of this new class of vasodilators, however, may be limited by their chemical instability in solution (\(t_{1/2} \) of SNAP is 26 hr in 5% dextrose). We examined the usefulness of several cyclodextrins (CD) to stabilize this polar compound in solution. At cyclodextrin concentrations of 12 mM, hydroxypropyl-βCD was most effective at stabilizing SNAP (t\(t_{1/2} \) = 77 hr) when compared to αCD (41 hr), βCD (69 hr), γCD (36 hr), and βCD-tetradecasulfate (38 hr). Stability constants for the complexation of SNAP with the various cyclodextrins were determined by the classical solubility technique and were found to range from 26 to 435 M−1. Increased complexation brought about better SNAP stability. Complexation of SNAP with cyclodextrins, however, did not decrease the relaxation potency of SNAP as determined in an in vitro blood vessel preparation. Cyclodextrin complexation may be a useful approach to stabilize labile and polar compounds, such as S-nitrosothiols, without loss of pharmacologic activity.
Plant Accumulation of Sulfur’s Sister Element Selenium – Potential Applications and Ecological Implications

Selenium (Se) is an essential nutrient for many organisms including humans, but is also toxic at higher levels. Both Se deficiency and Se toxicity are problems worldwide. Although Se has not been shown to be essential for higher plants, it is considered a beneficial element, providing enhanced antioxidant activity. Selenium is chemically similar to sulfur (S) and readily taken up and assimilated via sulfur (S) transporters and enzymes. Thus, Se can replace S in many S compounds, including volatile forms. Some plants native to Se-rich soils can hyperaccumulate Se to levels around 1% of plant dry weight. They grow poorly without Se and thus appear to profit from Se physiologically. Selenium can also serve ecological functions as an elemental defense against pathogens and herbivores, and in elemental allelopathy. The ability of plants to (hyper)accumulate and volatilize Se may be used for phytoremediation of polluted soils or waters, and also to produce nutritionally enhanced crops. These applications will benefit from better insight into the mechanisms that control Se tolerance and accumulation in plants, and the potential ecological implications. This review gives an overview of our current knowledge of plant Se metabolism, including Se tolerance and hyperaccumulation mechanisms. It also summarizes what is known about ecological implications of plant Se (hyper)accumulation.
Proper Water Supply and Drainage Piping for Hotels

The problem of proper water supply and drainage piping in a hotel is of vital interest to every water works official and those charged with the responsibility for safeguarding the public health. If the full truth were known, this problem would also be of vital interest to every person who has occasion to stop at a hotel. In recent years this problem has forced itself upon the attention of public officials and the general public by reason of occurrences of water borne epidemics traceable to faulty water supply and drainage piping in so-called first class hotels. In August, 1927, Mr. William C. Groeniger, consulting sanitary engineer of Columbus and former chief of the Bureau of Plumbing Inspection, Ohio Department of Health, read a paper before the annual meeting of the American Society of Sanitary Engineering in which were cited the results of the work of a research committee of that Society and pointing out the possibilities of outbreak of water borne diseases through faulty plumbing fixtures (1). The prediction was made by Mr. Groeniger that unless those officials charged with the responsibility for manufacture, installation and maintenance of water supply and drainage piping in modern public buildings should give more attention to the proper arrangement of such piping, serious outbreaks of water borne diseases would result. His predictions have been borne out by experiences, notably in Chicago. In a discussion before the American Society of Sanitary Engineering in August, 1928, at Milwaukee, Mr. Joel I. Connolly, Chief of the Bureau of Sanitary Engineering, Chicago Board of Health, brought out forcibly the evil results arising from the carelessness in water supply and drainage piping arrangements in hospitals (2). In 1930 a paper was read before this Association by Mr. Connolly upon the subject of crossconnections in buildings. In June, 1934, Dr. Herman N. Bundesen, President of the Chicago Board of Health, read a paper before the Annual Conference of the State and Provincial Health Authorities
Transforaminal endoscopic microdiscectomy.

Foraminal epidural endoscopic surgery (FEES) is a minimally invasive spine surgery technique that allows maximum exposure for visualization, identification, and exploration of anantomy, pathology, and structures at risk; therefore, it provides for dissection of neuropathologic anatomy and documentation of surgical correction. Minimal intervention with maximum surgical capability supports consideration of FEES as "microdiscectomy through a cannula."
EVOLUTIONARY DEVELOPMENT OF ENERGY-CONVERTING SYSTEMS

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses evolutionary development of energy-converting systems. The development in molecular biology has reached a level that describes precisely what distinguishes a living cell from a mere agglomeration of its components. There are rules that define life and, therefore, describe clearly what is to be achieved in the hypothetical process called origin of life, or biopoesis, or prebiological evolution. The assurance that biopoesis is legitimate, and fundamental scientific question could be sensibly and confidently approached only after Darwinian evolution had been established to be a fact. Logical and experimentally verifiable continuity is interrupted at three points. Two breaks isolate the mind, one from its biological basis and one from its own perception of reality. The third break occurs between living and nonliving things.
Effects of prescribed fire and stem-injection herbicide on Ailanthus altissima demographics and survival

Abstract Ailanthus altissima ((Mill.) Swingle, tree-of-heaven, Chinese sumac, stink tree) is a nonnative invasive tree that is common throughout much of the eastern United States. It can invade and expand dramatically when forests are disturbed. Anecdotal evidence suggests that fire might facilitate its spread, but the relationship between fire and this prolific invasive tree is poorly understood. To better understand the impacts of fire on Ailanthus, we conducted a study at Tar Hollow State Forest in southeastern Ohio, USA where Ailanthus is widely distributed. Our objective was to quantify the direct effects of prescribed fire on the demography of Ailanthus populations, with and without the pre-burn application of the stem-injected herbicide, imazapyr. We quantified demographic attributes (survival, density, and sprouting) of Ailanthus germinants, seedlings, saplings, and trees in a field experiment with four treatment combinations: (1) no fire and no herbicide, (2) herbicide, (3) fire, and (4) herbicide plus fire. Ailanthus stems >3 cm dbh were stem-injected with the herbicide, imazapyr in late summer to early fall followed by prescribed fire in April. We determined that herbicide plus prescribed burn treatment was highly effective in killing large saplings and trees, with no resprouting evident after four growing seasons. In the season immediately after the burn with and without herbicide treatment, small Ailanthus sapling and seedling abundance increased, but did not persist. Over time, Ailanthus germinants and sprouts from top-killed stems were poor competitors with faster-growing post-fire woody regeneration as forest floor shading increased. In addition, the late growing season application of imazapyr was highly effective in killing Ailanthus and subsequent sprouts. This study, the first to quantify the direct effects of fire on Ailanthus, demonstrates that prescribed fire alone does not appear to facilitate the spread of Ailanthus.
Time versus money: The role of perceived effort in consumers' evaluation of corporate giving

Abstract Motivated by the need for a deeper understanding of the factors and processes through which consumers evaluate corporate giving, this paper examines the role of perceived effort in the formation of consumers' motive attributions. Guided by attribution theory and the augmentation principle, three studies are put forth to demonstrate how the type, nature and source of giving influences consumers' perception of effort and ultimately, their evaluation of the firm. Results show that donation type, time versus money, differentially influence consumers' attitude toward the firm via serial mediation. Specifically, corporate donations of time (compared to money) lead to higher levels of perceived effort, which then induce more altruistic motive attributions. We also find that the effect of donation type on perceived effort is moderated by consumers' perception of the relative cost of the donation to the firm.
Host Immune Response to Enterovirus and Parechovirus Systemic Infections in Children.

Background Enterovirus (EV) and parechovirus type A3 (PeV-A3) cause infections ranging from asymptomatic to life-threatening. Host immune responses in children, particularly innate responses to PeV-A3, remain largely unknown. The aim of this study was to determine aspects of the cytokine/chemokine responses to EV and PeV-A3 in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and plasma obtained from children with systemic/central nervous system infection. Methods A total of 74 salvaged CSF samples (27 with EV, 23 with PeV-A3, and 24 with neither EV nor PeV-A3) and 35 paired blood samples (10 with EV, 14 with PeV-A3, and 11 with neither) were studied. Concentrations of cytokines and chemokines were measured using a customized 21-plex MILLIPLEX MAP Human Cytokine/Chemokine Magnetic Bead Panel. Additionally, clinical characteristics data for all the patients were collected from electronic medical records to evaluate the potential association between the immune response and presentations. Results We demonstrate that EV and PeV-A3 infections induce different cytokine/chemokine immune responses in children. EV induces more robust responses in CSF with significantly elevated levels of fractalkine, interferon (IFN)-α2, IFN-γ, interleukin (IL)-1Rα, IL-4, IL-8, and tumor necrosis factor α; PeV-A3 induces less robust or absent responses in CSF but robust responses in plasma, with significantly higher concentrations of IFN-α2, IL-15, IL-1Rα, interferon-γ-inducible protein-10, and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1. Conclusions High cytokine/chemokine concentrations in the plasma of PeV-A3 patients compared with EV patients could explain higher/more prolonged fever in PeV-A3 patients, whereas relatively low cytokine/chemokine concentrations in PeV-A3 CSF might explain the absence of CSF pleocytosis.
Large 1p36 Deletions Affecting Arid1a Locus Facilitate Mycn-Driven Oncogenesis in Neuroblastoma.

Summary Loss of heterozygosity (LOH) at 1p36 occurs in multiple cancers, including neuroblastoma (NBL). MYCN amplification and 1p36 deletions tightly correlate with markers of tumor aggressiveness in NBL. Although distal 1p36 losses associate with single-copy MYCN tumors, larger deletions correlate with MYCN amplification, indicating two tumor suppressor regions in 1p36, only one of which facilitates MYCN oncogenesis. To better define this region, we genome-edited the syntenic 1p36 locus in primary mouse neural crest cells (NCCs), a putative NBL cell of origin. In in vitro cell transformation assays, we show that Chd5 loss confers most of the MYCN-independent tumor suppressor effects of 1p36 LOH. In contrast, MYCN-driven tumorigenesis selects for NCCs with Arid1a deletions from a pool of NCCs with randomly sized 1p36 deletions, establishing Arid1a as the MYCN-associated tumor suppressor. Our findings reveal that Arid1a loss collaborates with oncogenic MYCN and better define the tumor suppressor functions of 1p36 LOH in NBL.
Discovery of Rapid Hard X-ray Variability and New Jet Activity in the Symbiotic Binary R Aqr

Two Chandra observations of the R Aqr symbiotic binary system taken 3.3 years apart show dramatic changes in the X-ray morphology and spectral characteristics in the inner 500 AU of this system. The morphology of the soft X-ray emission has evolved from a nearly circular region centered on the binary system to an hourglass shape that indicates the formation of a new southwest jet. Synchrotron radiation from the new jet in contemporaneous VLA radio spectra implies the physical conditions in the early stages of jet development are different from those in the more extended outer thermal jets known to exist for decades in this system. The central binary source has two X-ray spectral components in each of the two epochs, a soft component and a highly absorbed hard component characterized by T ~ 10^8 K if fit with a thermal plasma model. The spectrum hardened considerably between 2000.7 and 2004.0, primarily due to increased flux above 5 keV, suggesting a change in the accretion activity of the white dwarf on a timescale of a few years or less. Point-source Fe K emission is detected at the position of the central binary system in both observations. While the earlier observation shows evidence of only a single emission peak near Fe K alpha at 6.4 keV, the later observation shows a more complex emission structure between 6 and 7 keV. Finally, we have discovered a modulation in the hard X-ray flux with a period of 1734 s at a 95% confidence level in the 2004 observation only. The modulation potentially arises from standing shocks in an accretion column and we have explored the possibility that the white dwarf in R Aqr is analogous to the magnetic white dwarfs in Intermediate Polar.
Head, Neck, and Spinal Injuries

This chapter discusses specific types of head, neck, and spinal injuries, in addition to their anatomical characteristics.
Impact of Thoracic Radiation on Patients Undergoing Cardiac Surgery.

Prior thoracic radiation has been associated with worse outcomes after cardiac surgery. This study sought to report long-term outcomes in patients undergoing surgery for radiation-associated heart disease. This was an observational study of open cardiac surgeries from 2011 and 2018. Patients with a history of malignancy that required thoracic radiation were identified, and this cohort was matched against a non-irradiated comparison group via Mahalanobis distance matching. Kaplan-Meier survival estimation and multivariable Cox regression analysis was performed to assess the long-term impact of thoracic radiation in patients undergoing cardiac surgery. Of the 15,284 patients receiving cardiac surgery in this time-frame, 269 were identified with a history of thoracic radiation for prior malignancy. Patients with prior radiation had increased 1-year and 5-year mortality (P
Metabolic syndrome and the benefit of a physical activity intervention on lower-extremity function: Results from a randomized clinical trial.

Abstract Background In older adults, increases in physical activity may prevent decline in lower-extremity function, but whether the benefit differs according to metabolic syndrome (MetS) status is uncertain. We aim to investigate whether structured physical activity is associated with less decline in lower-extremity function among older adults with versus without MetS. Methods We used data from the multicenter Lifestyle Interventions and Independence for Elders (LIFE) study to analyze 1535 sedentary functionally-vulnerable women and men, aged 70 to 89 years old, assessed every 6 months (February 2010–December 2013) for an average of 2.7 years. Participants were randomized to a structured, moderate-intensity physical activity intervention (PA; n = 766) or health education program (HE; n = 769). MetS was defined according to the 2009 multi-agency harmonized criteria. Lower-extremity function was assessed by 400-m walking speed and the Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB) score. Results 763 (49.7%) participants met criteria for MetS at baseline. Relative to HE, PA was associated with faster 400-m walking speed among participants with MetS (P Conclusions Among older adults at high risk for mobility disability, moderate-intensity physical activity conveys significant benefits in 400-m walking speed but not SPPB in those with, but not without, MetS. The LIFE physical activity program may be an effective strategy for maintaining or improving walking speed among vulnerable older adults with MetS. Trial registration clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT01072500