cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Tobacco cessation treatment for Alaska native adolescents: group randomized pilot trial.

Introduction Tobacco cessation treatments have not been evaluated among Alaska Native (AN) adolescents. This pilot study evaluated the feasibility and the potential efficacy of a targeted cessation intervention for AN youth using a group randomized design. Methods Eight villages in western Alaska were randomly assigned to receive the intervention (n = 4 villages) or a delayed treatment control condition (written materials only; n = 4 villages). Ten adolescents aged 12-17 years were targeted from each village with a planned enrollment of 80. The intervention was held over a weekend, and youth traveled from their villages to quit tobacco use with other teens. The intervention comprised 8 hr of group-based counseling. Talking circles, personal stories from elders, and recreational activities were included to enhance cultural acceptability and participation. Newsletters were mailed weekly for 5-weeks postprogram. Assessments were conducted at baseline, week 6 (end-of-treatment), and 6 months. Self-reported tobacco abstinence was confirmed with salivary cotinine. Results Recruitment targets were met in the intervention (41 enrolled) but not in control villages (27 enrolled). All intervention participants attended the weekend program. Retention was high; 98% of intervention and 86% of control participants completed 6-month follow-up. The 7-day point-prevalence self-reported tobacco abstinence rates for intervention and control participants were 10% (4/41) and 0% (0/27) at both week 6 and 6 months (p = .15). Only 1 adolescent in the intervention condition was biochemically confirmed abstinent at week 6 and none at 6 months. Conclusion The intensive individual-focused intervention used in this study was feasible but not effective for tobacco cessation among AN youth. Alternative approaches are warranted.
Extracranial-intracranial bypass and the versatile vertebral artery.

or an operation whose death knell we constantly seem to be hearing, extracranial-intracranial bypass procedures F have a remarkable vitality. The indication of this procedure for low-flow bypass in anterior circulation ischemia has suffered, but this is not the case for other applications, such as high-flow replacement for patients with tumors, aneurysms, and vertebrobasilar disease. For these latter indications, a great deal of ingenuity has been applied to conceive an impressive variety of donor-recipient combinations.With practice, good outcomes have been obtained bymany surgeons in these endeavors, including our group at Barrow Neurological Institute (1, 2).
Darstellung und Eigenschaften einiger 6‐ und 2.6‐substituierter Purine

Ausgehend von 6-Methyl-purin (10) wurden durch Anwendung der Ortoleva-King- und Krohnke-Reaktionen das Anil N. N-Dimethyl-N′-[purinyl-(6)-methylen]-p-phenylendiamin (2) und mehrere Purin-aldehyd-(6)-Derivate (5–9) hergestellt. Es wird uber die Oxydation und Nitrosierung des 6-Methyl-purins berichtet sowie die Darstellung weiterer Derivate von 2-Amino-purin-aldehyd-(6) beschrieben.
On rigid foundations subjected to seismic waves

In the analysis of structural foundations for seismic loads, it is customary to distinguish two types of soil-structure interaction effect: kinematic interaction (or wave passage), and inertial interaction. The former refers to the phenomenon of wave scattering, which occurs because the foundation is much stiffer than the surrounding soil and cannot accommodate to its distortions. Inertial interaction, on the other hand, is caused by feedback of kinetic energy of the structure into the soil. This paper is concerned only with the first phenomenon. The rigorous analysis of rigid, embedded foundations subjected to seismic disturbances requires, in general, substantial computational effort. Indeed, a typical analysis would normally require models with finite elements and/or boundary elements. Although such methods may be used to find an accurate solution to the problem of kinematic interaction, their use is not always warranted, given the many uncertainties involved and the multitude of assumptions that must be considered. Hence, approximate solutions are attractive for this problem. One such approximate method is the remarkably simple algorithm proposed by Iguchi.3 This paper presents first an appraisal of this method by way of a comparison with accurate numerical solutions for cylindrical foundations; next the algorithm is applied to rectangular (prismatic) foundations. It is found that Iguchi's method gives results that are adequate for engineering purposes, even if not entirely accurate.
Basophile (mast) cells in the alimentary canal of salmonoid fishes

Basophiilic granule cells which occur in vast number in the connective tissue throughout all regions of the alimentary canal of sockeye salmon and speckled trout are interpreted as histogenous mast cells. Their occurrence in several other species is noted. None could be found in blood or in any other organs. Their development from mesenchymal cells is described (speckled trout). Their function or possible relationship to functional conditions of the tract could not be determined. Experiments showed the granules to be quickly destroyed by acids and bases but not by water in the fresh condition, but they were extremely stable structures after Helly fixation. In living cells, the granules are probably fluid, and consist of proteins. There was no indication of the granules being composed of mucin, or of the cells being degenerated forms. The granules are basophilic at all times.
The Natural History of Oxygen

The nuclear reactions occurring in the cores of stars which are believed to produce the element oxygen are first described. Evidence for the absence of free oxygen in the early atmosphere of the earth is reviewed. Mechanisms of creation of atmospheric oxygen by photochemical processes are then discussed in detail. Uncertainty regarding the rate of diffusion of water vapor through the cold trap at 70 km altitude in calculating the rate of the photochemical production of oxygen is avoided by using data for the concentration of hydrogen atoms at 90 km obtained from the Meinel OH absorption bands. It is estimated that the present atmospheric oxygen content could have been produced five to ten times during the earth's history. It is shown that the isotopic composition of atmospheric oxygen is not that of photosynthetic oxygen. The fractionation of oxygen isotopes by organic respiration and oxidation occurs in a direction to enhance the O18 content of the atmosphere and compensates for the O18 dilution resulting from photosynthetic oxygen. Thus, an oxygen isotope cycle exists in nature.
A C compiler for a processor with a reconfigurable functional unit

This paper describes a C compiler for a mixed Processor/FPGA architecture where the FPGA is a Reconfigurable Functional Unit (RFU). It presents three compilation techniques that can extract computations from applications to put into the RFU. The results show that large instruction sequences can be created and extracted by these techniques. An average speedup of 2.6 is achieved over a set of benchmarks.
Effects of Spring Imidacloprid Application for White Grub Control on Parasitism of Japanese beetle (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) by Tiphia vernalis (Hymenoptera: Tiphiidae)

Imidacloprid, a relatively long residual neonicotinoid soil insecticide, is often applied to lawns and golf courses in spring for preventive control of root-feeding white grubs. We evaluated effects of such applications on spring parasitism of the overwintered third-instar Japanese beetle, Popillia japonica Newman, by Tiphia vernalis Rohwer, an introduced solitary ectoparasitoid. Natural rates of parasitism on a golf course rough were significantly lower in plots treated with full or one-half label rates of imidacloprid in early May compared with untreated turf. Parasitism also was reduced when female T. vernalis were exposed to imidacloprid residues on turf cores in the laboratory. Such exposures did not affect wasp mortality, longevity, survival, or developmental period of Tiphia larvae feeding on hosts in treated turf. They did, however, reduce wasps' ability to parasitize hosts in nontreated soil for at least 1-2 wk postexposure. In Y-trail choice tests, wasps that previously had been exposed to treated turf failed to respond normally to host frass trails in the soil. Female wasps did not avoid imidacloprid residues, imidacloprid-treated host frass, or host grubs that had previously been exposed to treated soil. This study indicates that applying imidacloprid in early spring can interfere with biological control by T. vernalis, whereas postponing preventive grub treatments until June or July, after the wasps' flight period, will help to conserve T. vernalis populations.
Algebraic Clustering of Affine Subspaces

Subspace clustering is an important problem in machine learning with many applications in computer vision and pattern recognition. Prior work has studied this problem using algebraic, iterative, statistical, low-rank and sparse representation techniques. While these methods have been applied to both linear and affine subspaces, theoretical results have only been established in the case of linear subspaces. For example, algebraic subspace clustering (ASC) is guaranteed to provide the correct clustering when the data points are in general position and the union of subspaces is transversal . In this paper we study in a rigorous fashion the properties of ASC in the case of affine subspaces. Using notions from algebraic geometry, we prove that the homogenization trick , which embeds points in a union of affine subspaces into points in a union of linear subspaces, preserves the general position of the points and the transversality of the union of subspaces in the embedded space, thus establishing the correctness of ASC for affine subspaces.
Using hypothesis testing and generalization training to promote maintenance of supported work placements

The purpose of this article is to provide a conceptual basis for promoting long-term maintenance in supported employment by incorporating generalization programming into follow-along procedures. We propose that maintenance is a dynamic process in which variations of employee behavior evolve over time in response to an ever-changing work context. If behavior is not responsive to these changes, maintenance of the work placement may not occur. In this article, we describe some issues that are related to long-term maintenance and propose a model for evaluating maintenance. This model incorporates hypothesis testing of variables that guide and maintain behavior. When a variable (e.g. a given person, task, or setting) has been identified as necessary for acceptable work behavior, generalization training is initiated to facilitate long-term maintenance. We suggest that this type of training is critical because job termination is a likely outcome when maintenance problems emerge. Thus, programming for maintenance must be conducted proactively rather than after problems occur. To illustrate this approach, we provide specific training strategies to promote long-term maintenance. Copyright © 1997 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd.
Microalgal biotechnology for greenhouse gas control: Carbon dioxide fixation by Spirulina sp. at different diffusers

Abstract The carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) emissions from fossil fuels contributes to global warming. This phenomenon became a major political issue in the fields of science, environment, and economy in current years. Microalgae can convert CO 2 into biomass and oxygen through the photosynthesis. The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of diffusers configuration and CO 2 flow rate in mass transfer, CO 2 fixation efficiency by Spirulina and in the biomass composition produced. Two flow rates (0.05 and 0.3 vvm) and four diffusers (sintered stone (SS), porous curtain (PC), perforated ring (PR) and porous wood (PW)) were used in this study. The maximum CO 2 mass transfer coefficient (123.2 h −1 ) in the CO 2 –H 2 O system corresponded to the higher flow rate (0.3 vvm) using the diffuser porous curtain (PC). The maximum biomass productivity (125.9 ± 5.3 mg L −1 d −1 ) was observed for PC with a flow rate of 0.05 vvm. Increasing the flow rate (0.3 vvm) with PC resulted in a 26% increase in the carbohydrate content in biomass. The results showed a smaller flow rate with porous diffusers might promote an increase in CO 2 fixation efficiency by microalgae.
What the Numbers Say: A Digit-Based Test for Election Fraud

Is it possible to detect manipulation by looking only at electoral returns? Drawing on work in psychology, we exploit individuals' biases in generating numbers to highlight suspicious digit patterns in reported vote counts. First, we show that fair election procedures produce returns where last digits occur with equal frequency, but laboratory experiments indicate that individuals tend to favor some numerals over others, even when subjects have incentives to properly randomize. Second, individuals underestimate the likelihood of digit repetition in sequences of random integers, so we should observe relatively few instances of repeated numbers in manipulated vote tallies. Third, laboratory experiments demonstrate a preference for pairs of adjacent digits, which suggests that such pairs should be abundant on fraudulent return sheets. Fourth, subjects avoid pairs of distant numerals, so those should appear with lower frequency on tainted returns. We test for deviations in digit patterns using data from Sweden's 2002 parliamentary elections, Senegal's 2000 and 2007 presidential elections, and previously unavailable results from Nigeria's 2003 presidential election. In line with observers' expectations, we find substantial evidence that manipulation occurred in Nigeria as well as in Senegal in 2007.
New Ways of Measuring the Incubation Period of Birds

As pointed out by Swanberg (1950) and Nice (1954) there has in the past been considerable confusion concerning the proper way to measure the length of the incubation period of birds. Of concern here is not the entire length of time that the adult sits on a clutch of eggs, but the minimum length of time required to bring an average, newly laid egg to hatching under normal nest conditions. For practical purposes it is now generally agreed that the incubation period should be considered the time from the laying of the last egg to the hatching of the last young when all eggs in the clutch hatch. The confusion lies in the fact that the first eggs of a clutch may receive some heat and undergo a certain amount of development before the clutch is completed or full incubation begins. The eggs tend as a consequence to hatch in the order laid, but the intervals between hatching of the eggs is shorter than the intervals between their laying so that the time that elapses between laying of an egg and its hatching progressively decreases with each additional egg in the clutch. In those species, relatively few in number, where full incubation begins with the first egg laid, the intervals between hatching are more nearly equivalent to the intervals between their laying. Even when the adult bird is observed sitting on the eggs frequently, or for long periods of time, in the egg-laying period, this does not necessarily mean that the eggs are being subjected to full incubation heat (Swanberg, 1950). This depends on the stage of development of the brood patch which is being formed at this time (Bailey, 1952). Activity records on the adult bird and thermocouples placed in the nest show that in the House Wren, Troglodytes aedon, the species here under consideration, full incubation behavior and temperature are not fully established until about the time that the last egg of the clutch is laid (Kendeigh, 1952). The present study is concerned with the total heat applied to the eggs, as a measure of incubation time, and with the proportional amount of heat applied during the egg-laying, incubating, and hatching periods. The original data were secured between 1934 and 1936 at the Baldwin Bird Research Laboratory, near Cleveland, Ohio. The present analysis was supported by a grant from the National Science Foundation.
Comparative study on the congenital heart disease between intervention and surgical procedures

Objective:To compare the clinical efficiency of interventional procedure and surgical repair of atrial septal defect (ASD) and ventricle septal defect (VSD).Method:From May 2004 to December 2004,the patients in our department with ASD or VSD,without associated structural cardiac anomalies, all the patients were divided into two groups: interventional group and surgical group;Results、complications、cost 、hospital stay and transfusion between the two groups were compared; Atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) were measured before and after treatment by collect venous blood.Result:The technical success rates of both groups were 100%,blood product were administered to all the patients in surgical group, no patients in interventional group required;Hospital stay after operation in surgical group was 7.5±1.2 days versus 5.1±1.3 days in interventional group (P0.01) ;The mean cost of the interventional procedure was$ 45235 ± 10204 as compared with$ 21010 ± 1907 for surgery (P0.01); The patients with ASD or VSD had significantly higher ANP values and it decreased after treatment in both groups.Conclusion:The efficiency is similar between the interventional procedure and surgical repair for ASD and VSD;There is the shorter hospital stay, higher cost and no transfusion in the interventional procedure compared with surgical repair.
Industrial Application and Prospect Analysis on Tetrabromobisphenol A(TBBPA)

With the improvement of people environmental protection consciousness,the environmental protection requirement for flame retardants is becoming higher and higher.Flame retardants without halogen are becoming the pursued goal for people.With the quantity increasing of TBBPA companies,the property,preparation,toxicity,prospect of TBBPA and its substitutes of are discussed in the article.
Zika Virus-Associated Neurological Disease in the Adult: Guillain-Barré Syndrome, Encephalitis, and Myelitis.

Zika virus (ZIKV) has caused a major infection outbreak in the Americas since 2015. In parallel with the ZIKV epidemic, an increase in cases of neurological disorders which include Guillain–Barre syndrome (GBS), encephalitis, and myelitis have been linked to the infection. We reviewed the evidence suggesting a relationship between ZIKV and neurological disorders in adults. A search of the literature supporting such link included databases such as PubMed and the World Health Organization (WHO) surveillance system. Through June 1, 2016, 761 publications were available on PubMed using the search word “Zika.” Among those publications as well as surveillance reports released by the WHO and other health organizations, 20 articles linked ZIKV with neurological complications other than microcephaly. They corresponded to population and surveillance studies (n = 7), case reports (n = 9), case series (n = 3), and case–control studies (n = 1). Articles were also included if they provided information related to possible mechanisms of ZIKV neuropathogenesis. Evidence based on epidemiological and virological information supports the hypothesis that ZIKV infection is associated with GBS. Although cases of encephalopathy and myelitis have also been linked to ZIKV infection, the evidence is scarce and there is a need for virological, epidemiological, and controlled studies to better characterize such relationship.
The Evolving Role of Paclitaxel in Breast Cancer and the Ambulatory Care Setting

Not since the introduction of doxorubicin has a drug been as exciting and promising as paclitaxel for the treatment of breast cancer. Currently, the only approved use of paclitaxel in breast cancer is the metastatic setting. Paclitaxel is being studied in the adjuvant setting to assess its relative efficacy and to theoretically increase the chances of killing all micrometastases with alternate therapy with a different mechanism of cytotoxic activity. The optimal dose and schedule of administration have not been identified. Toxicities differ depending on dose and schedule, and treatment and prevention strategies for these toxicities are discussed. Continuous infusion administration can be accomplished with the use of ambulatory infusion devices. Issues of central venous access, use of premedications, use of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF), and dosages and schedule of paclitaxel will be discussed in relation to ambulatory paclitaxel administration. Special circumstances that require inpatient ...
Removal of Arterial Vessel Contributions in Susceptibility-Weighted Images for Quantification of Normalized Visible Venous Volume in Children with Sickle Cell Disease.

Purpose. To evaluate a new postprocessing framework that eliminates arterial vessel signal contributions in the quantification of normalized visible venous volume (NVVV, a ratio between venous and brain volume) in susceptibility-weighted imaging (SWI) exams in patients with sickle cell disease (SCD). Materials and Methods. We conducted a retrospective study and qualitatively reviewed for hypointense arterial vessel contamination in SWI exams from 21 children with SCD. We developed a postprocessing framework using magnetic resonance angiography in combination with SWI to provide a more accurate quantification of NVVV. NVVV was calculated before and after removing arterial vessel contributions to determine the error from hypointense arterial vessels in quantifying NVVV. Results. Hypointense arterial vessel contamination was observed in 86% SWI exams and was successfully corrected by the proposed method. The contributions of hypointense arterial vessels in the original SWI were significant and accounted for approximately 33% of the NVVV [uncorrected NVVV = 0.012 ± 0.005 versus corrected NVVV = 0.008 ± 0.003 (mean ± SD), ]. Conclusion. Hypointense arterial vessel contamination occurred in the majority of SWI exams and led to a sizeable overestimation of the visible venous volume. A prospective longitudinal study is needed to evaluate if quantitation of NVVV was improved and to assess the role of NVVV as a biomarker of SCD severity or stroke risk.
Americans with Disabilities Act in Rural America: A Case Study

The Americans with Disabilities Act was passed in 1990. The purpose of this chapter is to examine the ADA 25 years after its passage to understand the effect it has had on persons with disabilities in rural settings. Information will be provided on the history and major components of the ADA and its economic and employment impact. The chapter concludes with a discussion of the evolutionary nature and futuristic potential of the ADA in addressing the unique challenges of rural residents with disabilities. The chapter contextualizes foundations, changes, and future needs for implementing the ADA in one case example, rural Kentucky.
Positive Psychological Factors are Linked to Successful Cognitive Aging Among Older Persons Living with HIV/AIDS.

We aimed to characterize successful cognitive aging (SCA) among older HIV-infected (HIV+) and HIV-uninfected (HIV-) adults, and to determine associations with positive psychological factors and health-related quality of life (HRQoL). Ninety-nine HIV+ and 46 HIV- older adults (≥ 50 years) completed measures of neurocognition, positive psychological factors, and HRQoL. Using study-defined SCA criteria (i.e., no cognitive or everyday impairment or major depressive disorder), we compared positive psychological factors and HRQoL across four groups: HIV+/SCA+, HIV+/SCA-, HIV-/SCA+, HIV-/SCA-. SCA was identified in 29% of the HIV+ sample compared to 61% of the HIV- sample (p < 0.01). HIV+/SCA+ participants had higher scores on 8 of 10 measures of positive psychological factors as well as better HRQoL (ps < 0.05) as compared to the HIV+/SCA- group. Furthermore, the HIV+/SCA+ participants had comparable scores on these factors as HIV- adults. Fewer HIV+ than HIV- participants met SCA criteria; however, the level of positive psychological factors among the HIV+/SCA+ group was comparable to the HIV- sample. Our findings present opportunities for interventions to optimize positive psychological factors and potentially improve SCA among older HIV+ adults.
Nocturnal Myoclonus and the Restless Legs Syndrome

Like sleep apnea, nocturnal myoclonus is a good example of abnormal processes appearing during sleep in the absence of obvious pathophysiology in the waking state. After the description by Sir Charles Symonds (1953) of patients who made kicking movements during sleep, case reports with polygraphic monitoring began to appear. By the 1970s, a syndrome of clonic leg movements as a cause of insomnia was recognized (Guilleminault et al., 1975a). These movements most typically involve dorsiflexion of the ankle, as well as fanning and dorsiflexion of the small toes and big toe; this may be followed by flexion of the knee and the hip (Smith, 1985). These events tend to occur in stage 2 sleep (Reimao, Lemmi, and Belluomini, 1984); they are detected on the anterior tibialis electromyogram (EMG), where they last 0.5–10 sec each, and appear at intervals of 20–40 sec (Fig. 11-1). These periodic leg movements (PLMs) are usually isolated movements of the lower limb and should be distinguished from movement arousals, in which anterior tibialis EMG activity is accompanied by the appearance of EMG activity or amplifier blocking artifacts on electrooculogram (EOG) or EEG channels (Rechtschaffen and Kales, 1968). It seems likely that the clinically significant movements are those that are followed by EEG evidence of arousal (alpha activity or a K complex). Presumably, these frequent interruptions of sleep continuity produce symptoms of insomnia or excessive daytime sleepiness.
Repolarization Reserve and Action Potential Dynamics in Failing Myocytes

See Article by Hegyi et al Prolongation of action potential duration (APD) is typically observed in isolated myocytes from both humans and animals with heart failure (HF) and is generally thought to be an important arrhythmia substrate. Traditionally, voltage-clamp studies have found that in addition to increased Na+/Ca2+ exchange and late Na+ currents, repolarizing currents, including the inward rectifier K+ ( I K1) and delayed rectifier K+ ( I Ks, I Kr) currents, are decreased in HF.1,2 These changes are expected to significantly prolong repolarization; however, this is not often observed at faster beating rates in failing myocytes3 and HF patients.4 In this issue of the Journal, Hegyi et al5 contend that more physiological conditions are required to understand the mechanisms of repolarization dynamics in HF myocytes. To this end, they used an elegant action potential (AP)–clamp technique to unravel the role and regulation of K+ currents6 under more realistic physiological conditions. Hegyi et al5 report that when more realistic physiological conditions are used by leaving Ca2+ cycling intact, APD in failing isolated myocytes is prolonged at slow beating rates but similar to control myocytes at faster, near normal rates. In contrast, APD prolongation was observed in HF versus control at all beating rates studied when 10 mmol/L 1,2-bis(o-aminophenoxy)ethane- N,N,N‘,N‘ -tetraacetic acid (BAPTA) was applied to prevent [Ca2+]i transients. The lack of significant APD prolongation at faster rates with Ca2+ cycling left intact is consistent with ECG QTc …
Subacute cor pulmonale. Report of four cases.

Abstract Subacute cor pulmonale is a distinct clinical syndrome that is often not too easily diagnosed. Its salient features are (1) development of sudden dyspnea of a progressive nature; (2) absence of an underlying cardiopulmonary disorder to account for the dyspnea, or presence of such disorder in an asymptomatic phase; (3) paucity of physical signs in the chest to explain the dyspnea; (4) signs of failure of the right side of the heart developing later in the course of the disease; (5) lack of therapeutic response to the usual measures for congestive heart failure; (6) roentgenographic evidence of lymphangitic carcinomatosis or pulmonary embolization; (7) electrocardiographic abnormalities suggesting hypertrophy and dilatation of the right ventricle; and (8) a clinical course of only a few weeks or months. Inasmuch as an underlying thrombophlebitis or phlebothrombosis may be responsible for the development of pulmonary embolization, one of the causes of subacute cor pulmonale, it appears reasonable to suggest that anticoagulants be administered as soon as the presence of this condition is suspected. Such early prophylactic therapy may prevent a certain number of otherwise inevitable deaths.
ON THE METHOD OF CONE-VALUED LYAPUNOV FUNCTIONS

Publisher Summary This chapter describes the method of cone-valued Lyapunov functions. The technique of employing vector Lyapunov functions and the theory of vector differential inequalities offers a great deal of flexibility in studying nonlinear systems. However, for the success of this method, it is required that the comparison system be quasimonotone nondecreasing. In the case of linear comparison system, this requirement implies that the nondiagonal elements of the comparison matrix be all nonnegative. The limitation of the application potential of this general and effective method is because of the fact that comparison systems may have a desired property like positivity or stability of solutions without being quasimonotone. It was observed that this difficulty is because of the choice of the cone relative to the comparison system, namely Rn+, the cone of nonnegative elements of Rn and that a possible approach to overcome this limitation is to choose an appropriate cone other than Rn+. The chapter presents this idea and by developing the theory of differential inequalities through cones, the method of cone-valued Lyapunov functions is shown to be a useful tool in applications.
PARTIAL-DISCHARGE PULSE HEIGHT DISTRIBUTIONS AND FREQUENCIES FOR POSITIVE AND NEGATIVE DC CORONA IN SF6 AND SF6-N2 MIXTURES*

The voltage and pressure dependence of partial-discharge pulse height distributions and pulse repetition rates have been investigated for compressed SF 6 and SF 6 -N 2 mixtures using a fast multichannel analyzer. Positive and negative dc corona were generated using a point-plane stainless steel electrode geometry with a gap spacing of 1.24 cm and a tip radius of 0.07 mm. For SF 6 the positive corona pulses are typically an order of magnitude larger in amplitude than negative corona pulses although their repetition rate is lower. The tendency for SF 6 positive corona pulses to develop as bursts with a burst length that increases with increasing voltage and decreasing pressure is clearly exhibited by the pulse height spectra. The negative corona in SF 6 tends to begin as large pulses which eventually give way to a near glow condition as voltage is increased, although a steady glow, such as occurs in pure N 2 , was never observed. The observed pulse height spectra appear to be sensitive to gas composition as is evident from measurements made with gases containing varying relative concentrations of SF 6 and N 2 . Attempts are underway to correlate observed changes in pulse height spectra with corona-induced chemical changes in the gas using a gas chromatograph-mass spectrometer system.
Nanoscale Photovoltaics and the Terawatt Challenge

Achieving a sustainable energy system providing terawatts (TWs) of electricity is one of the defining challenges of the coming decades. Photovoltaic technology provides the most likely path to realizing TW scale conversion of solar energy in the future and has been on a nearly 40% growth curve over the past two decades. In order to maintain this rapid level of growth, innovations in cell design and conversion efficiency are needed that are compatible with existing technology and can lead to improved performance and lower cost. Nanotechnology offers a number of advantages to realizing such innovation, by providing new materials and the implementation of advanced concepts that circumvent the current physical limits on efficiency. This chapter reviews several of the promising applications of nanotechnology to photovoltaic technologies and their prospects for the future.
Infectious disease research and dual-use risk.

Safeguards against dual-use risk need to be developed without unduly restricting infectious disease research aimed at the public good. Virtual Mentor is a monthly bioethics journal published by the American Medical Association.
S0-Mode Lithium Niobate Acoustic Delay Lines with 1 dB Insertion Loss

This paper demonstrates low-loss acoustic delay lines based on the fundamental symmetrical (S0)mode in lithium niobate thin films for the first time. The demonstrated devices harness the high electromechanical coupling, low loss, and fast phase velocity of the symmetrical mode in the X-cut lithium niobate to achieve an insertion loss as low as 1 dB at 300 MHz. The designs adopt single-phase unidirectional transducers to achieve low insertion loss and flat group delay responses simultaneously. Devices with different key parameters are implemented with fractional bandwidths ranging from 4.1% to 12.8% and delays ranging from 32 ns to 195 ns. With the demonstrated low loss and wide bandwidths, these devices can unlock new possibilites for low-power RF signal processing in the acoustic domain.
Joint position sense impairments in older adults with carpometacarpal osteoarthritis: A descriptive comparative study.

Abstract Study Design This study has a descriptive-comparative, cross-sectional design. Introduction Sensorimotor (SM) impairments have been observed after common wrist and hand injuries such as distal radius fractures. However, there is a lack of research regarding SM impairments in patients with carpometacarpal (CMC) osteoarthritis (OA). Purpose of the Study This study sought to quantify proprioception deficits in older adults with CMC OA as compared with healthy adults using the joint position sense (JPS) test. Methods The active JPS test was used to measure proprioception function in 29 thumbs with CMC OA and their 29 matched-control healthy counterparts. For comparison, participants with unilateral CMC OA were matched against themselves, whereas those with lateral CMC OA were age matched with a healthy participant. Data analysis was performed to compute the mean error of JPS; an unpaired t test was used to compare the mean error of the non–CMC OA group with the healthy control group. Results The mean positional error measured from subjects with CMC OA was 9.53° compared with 1.32° for the age-matched healthy subjects. The effect size for the difference in means was D = 1.96. Conclusions Thumb SM impairments were found to be greater in subjects with CMC OA than in their healthy counterparts when using the JPS test to assess proprioception.
Terbium chloride influences Clostridium difficile spore germination.

Abstract The germination of Clostridium difficile spores is an important stage of the C. difficile life cycle. In other endospore-forming bacteria, the composition of the medium in which the spores are generated influences the abundance of germination-specific proteins, thereby influencing the sensitivity of the spores towards germinants. In C. difficile media composition on the spores has only been reported to influence the number of spores produced. One of the measures of spore germination is the analysis of the release of DPA from the spore core. To detect DPA release in real time, terbium chloride is often added to the germination conditions because Tb3+ complexes with the released DPA and this can be detected using fluorescence measurements. Although C. difficile spores germinate in response to TA and glycine, recently calcium was identified as an enhancer for spore germination. Here, we find that germination by spores prepared in peptone rich media, such as 70:30, is positively influenced by terbium. We hypothesize that, in these assays, Tb3+ functions similarly to calcium. Although the mechanism(s) causing increased sensitivity of the C. difficile spores that are prepared in peptone rich media to terbium is still unknown, we suggest that the TbCl3 concentration used in the analysis of C. difficile DPA release be carefully titrated so as not to misinterpret future findings.
Water chemistry and light effects on survival of hatching salmonids in spring channels

This study informs the restoration and development of salmonid fisheries and aquaculture facilities regarding water quality and light effects on hatching survival in spring channels. Brook trout Sa...
Assessment of spatial genetic structure to identify populations at risk for infection of an emerging epizootic disease

Understanding the geographic extent and connectivity of wildlife populations can provide important insights into the management of disease outbreaks but defining patterns of population structure is difficult for widely distributed species. Landscape genetic analyses are powerful methods for identifying cryptic structure and movement patterns that may be associated with spatial epizootic patterns in such cases.We characterized patterns of population substructure and connectivity using microsatellite genotypes from 2,222 white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States, a region where chronic wasting disease was first detected in 2009. The goal of this study was to evaluate the juxtaposition between population structure, landscape features that influence gene flow, and current disease management units.Clustering analyses identified four to five subpopulations in this region, the edges of which corresponded to ecophysiographic provinces. Subpopulations were further partitioned into 11 clusters with subtle (F ST ≤ 0.041), but significant genetic differentiation. Genetic differentiation was lower and migration rates were higher among neighboring genetic clusters, indicating an underlying genetic cline. Genetic discontinuities were associated with topographic barriers, however.Resistance surface modeling indicated that gene flow was diffuse in homogenous landscapes, but the direction and extent of gene flow were influenced by forest cover, traffic volume, and elevational relief in subregions heterogeneous for these landscape features. Chronic wasting disease primarily occurred among genetic clusters within a single subpopulation and along corridors of high landscape connectivity.These results may suggest a possible correlation between population substructure, landscape connectivity, and the occurrence of diseases for widespread species. Considering these factors may be useful in delineating effective management units, although only the largest features produced appreciable differences in subpopulation structure. Disease mitigation strategies implemented at the scale of ecophysiographic provinces are likely to be more effective than those implemented at finer scales.
Limbic Encephalitis as a Presenting Complication for Small Cell Lung Cancer

Limbic encephalitis (LE) is a rare neurological paraneoplastic complication that occurs secondary to malignant tumors. It is commonly presented as refractory seizures that are resistant to most anti-epileptics. We are presenting a unique case of small cell lung cancer complicated with LE. The challenging part of our case is that the patient had a history of seizure disorder in the past, and she was treated initially as an anti-epileptic treatment failure. A 68-year-old patient with a history of epilepsy was admitted to the ICU with resistant status epilepticus (SE), and respiratory failure secondary to pneumonia. Further workup revealed that the patient has small cell lung carcinoma. An extensive workup done to investigate resistant seizures revealed that she had a rare type of paraneoplastic autoantibodies (Anti-Hu) in the cerebrospinal fluid, which supported the diagnosis of the paraneoplastic autoimmune LE. High dose steroids helped to decrease the seizures episodes, but the family decided to proceed with palliative measures only at the end. Diagnosing LE requires ruling out other common causes of SE. Treatment options include treating underlying cancer as well as means of immunosuppression or antibody removal by tacrolimus and cyclophosphamide and even intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) or plasma exchange. It is important to consider LE in the differential diagnosis when managing patients with resistant SE in the ICU, even if the brain imaging and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analysis were within normal limits.
Partial 'Global Peace': Federalism and the Long Tail of Remedies in Opioid Litigation

The Opioid Litigation yields important insights for federalism and for remedies in complex multi-party and multi-prong cases. This sprawling set of cases underscores that essentialized ideas of a set of fixed “state” and “federal” interests do not capture the diverse and often conflicting goals of states and subunits or of the national government. Likewise, this litigation serves as a reminder of the need to reframe assumptions about the role courts ought to play when considering settlements aiming for “global peace.” Large-scale litigation is often thought to be a two-step process entailing a first decision to aggregate and a second step of either a trial or a settlement. But these forms of lawsuits do not end there. Law needs to clarify that a third step is needed because, even when interests are sufficiently homogenous to warrant aggregation at a litigation’s inception and conclusion, differences can emerge thereafter when implementing remedies. Judges should use their authority to ensure that aggregated plaintiffs continue to have access to courts during all three phases of large-scale litigation. Recognition is needed that resolutions are partial because, after liability issues have been resolved, additional information often emerges about the individuals and entities to whom remedies are supposed to flow, and readjustments may be needed in the structure and allocation of relief.
Disorder effects in the anomalous Hall effect induced by Berry curvature

We describe the charge transport in ferromagnets with spin-orbit coupled Bloch bands by combining the wave-packet evolution equations with the classical Bolzmann equation. This approach can be justified in the limit of smooth disorder potential. Besides the skew scattering contribution, we demonstrate how other effects of disorder appear which are closely linked to the Berry curvature of the Bloch states associated with the wave packet. We show that, although being of the same order of magnitude as the clean limit contribution, generally disorder corrections depend differently on various parameters and can lead to the sign reversal of the Hall current as the function of the chemical potential in systems with a nonconstant Berry curvature in momentum space. Earlier conclusions on the effects of disorder on the anomalous Hall effect depended stricly on the lack of momentum dependence of the Berry curvature in the models studied and generalizations of their findings to other systems with more complicated band structures were unjustified.
Targeting the hexosaminidase genes: mouse models of the GM2 gangliosidoses.

Publisher Summary This chapter deals with the study of mouse models of the G M2 gangliosidoses. The onset of neurological symptoms in Tay-Sachs disease patients normally occurs by 3 to 5 months after birth. As a result of their β-hexosaminidase A deficiency, G M2 ganglioside accumulated in the brains of the Tay-Sachs mice in an age-dependent fashion. This G M2 ganglioside accumulation resulted in storage neurons with membranous cytoplasmic bodies (MCBs) that were identical to affected neurons in Tay-Sachs disease patients. In human cells, β -hexosaminidase A degrades G M2 ganglioside to form G M3 . In addition to this pathway, mouse cells also have a detour pathway where G M2 is converted to G A2 by the action of sialidase. G A2 can now be further degraded by β-hexosaminidase B (or A) and then by the action of other glycosidases to yield ceramide. In the Tay-Sachs mice the G M2 to G M3 conversion is blocked because of the absence of β-hexosaminidase A. Each of the human mucopolysaccharidoses involves the heritable absence of one of the enzymes that are required for the lysosomal degradation of glycosaminoglycans. The lack of a mucopolysaccharidosis phenotype in humans and mice with one β-hexosaminidase gene mutated is, therefore, due to functional redundancy in the enzyme system.
Airborne remote sensing of chlorophyll distributions in Mono Lake, California

As part of a long-term investigation of seasonal and interannual variations of plankton in Mono Lake (California), we developed a methodology using airborne imaging spectrometry to synoptically measure chlorophyll concentrations. Images of Mono Lake were acquired with NASA’s Airborne Visible and Infrared Imaging Spectrometer (AVIRIS) and were atmospherically corrected by applying a version of the radiative transfer model MODTRAN. Using a predictive equation for calculation of chlorophyll based on a band ratio of remote sensing reflectances (R rs; R rs 490 nm/R rs 550 nm), spatial distributions of chlorophyll throughout the lake were determined; broad east to west gradients in chlorophyll and gyres are evident.
Enforcers Within: Civil Society, Domestic Sanctions, and Compliance with International Agreements

The literature on international cooperation has explored in detail how international sanctions improve cooperation with international agreements. This holds in particular for trade agreements where economic sanctions can and sometimes are deployed. However, in non-trade areas, such as human rights, humanitarian, and environmental law, international sanctions are often lacking and scholars often claim this makes international law in these areas ineffective. But these blanket claims are hard to square with the great variation in compliance rates across countries and treaties that we observe: some states comply at fairly high levels even when international sanctions are non-existent, whilst others do not. In this paper I provide an explanation for this variation by exploring the role domestic sanctions play in fostering compliance. When treaties are properly implemented, domestic bureaucracies or courts are able to sanction actors for breaches to treaties. For instance, if a country ratifies and properly implements an environmental treaty, the state’s environmental agency will often monitor industries, and may fine or even close down companies that violate certain environmental standards set in place as the result of a treaty’s adoption. Generally, when states adopt treaties they implement them into their domestic legal system by passing legislation that will set in place domestic sanctions for violations of treaty standards. Yet, there is great variation in the level of domestic sanctions and enforcement: some countries impose strong domestic sanctions whilst others have weak sanctions or no sanctions at all. This paper presents a theory that explains why some states chose to create strong domestic sanctions whilst others do not, and argues that strong and enforceable domestic sanctions lead to higher compliance. The argument seeks to explain the variation in the strength of domestic sanctions as a result of domestic politics and institutions. To test implications of the theory, the paper uses original data on domestic sanctions for the Convention Against Torture to present large-n quantitative evidence for the argument. In addition, a case study of the Convention will provide qualitative evidence. The role of domestic sanctions remains understudied in the literature and this paper seeks to contribute to the international law literature by exploring the role that domestic sanctions play in explaining variation in compliance with treaties.