cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Reduction of Exercise Dilation by Theophylline

SummaryThe canine gracilis muscle was exercised at constant flow before and during administration of theophylline at a rate which completely blocked the vasodilator response produced by injected adenosine. Exercise dilation was significantly attenuated during infusion of theophylline. This suggests a role for adenosine in the exercise dilation seen in the canine gracilis muscle during constant flow perfusion.The authors acknowledge the able technical assistance of George Gamble and William Stoffs.
Centralized Control System for the Regional Grid′s Reactive Voltage Optimized Operation

Under the conditions of guaranteeing the safety operation of the power grid and all the equipment involved,the centralized control system for the regional grid′s reactive voltage optimized operation helps realize the optimized control for the reactive voltage from the angle of the whole grid,rationalizing the input of the reactive power compensation and realizing the reactive hierarchy direct balancing and stabilizing the voltage.The system minimizes the adjusting times of the main transformer′s tapping switches,reduces the power transmis-sion loss,and raises the automation capability of the grid,therefore enhances the safety and stability of the power system′s operation,and comprehensively improves the voltage quality.This paper expounds the functions of the system and the technical solutions.
INDUCTION OF LABOR: PRO AND CON.

“Delivery by appointment” has a limited place in obstetric practice and induction of labor is advisable in some cases because of disease or obstetric complications, but routine induction solely as a matter of convenience could lead to medicolegal liability because it is medically unnecessary. Indications, contraindications and hazards of induction of labor are discussed.
Parameter estimation of an anisotropic damage model for concrete using genetic algorithms

This article presents an anisotropic damage model for concrete that couples between elasticity and continuum damage mechanics. The formulation of constitutive model is based on the elastic strain e...
Advances in Machine Learning for Processing and Comparison of Metagenomic Data

Recent advances in next-generation sequencing have enabled high-throughput determination of biological sequences in microbial communities, also known as microbiomes. The large volume of data now presents the challenge of how to extract knowledge—recognize patterns, find similarities, and find relationships—from complex mixtures of nucleic acid sequences currently being examined. In this chapter we review basic concepts as well as state-of-the-art techniques to analyze hundreds of samples which each contain millions of DNA and RNA sequences. We describe the general character of sequence data and describe some of the processing steps that prepare raw sequence data for inference. We then describe the process of extracting features from the data, assigning taxonomic and gene labels to the sequences. Then we review methods for cross-sample comparisons: (1) using similarity measures and ordination techniques to visualize and measure differences between samples and (2) feature selection and classification to select the most relevant features for discriminating between samples.
Is one-size-fits-all strategy adequate for platelet storage?

Abstract Background Platelet suspensions (PSs) are stored at room temperature. However, recent reports show that PSs stored at 4 °C possess superior hemostatic properties. We compared the viabilities and thrombin generation capacities of PSs stored either at 4 °C or 22 °C hours. Materials and Methods Twenty units of apheresis derived platelets (ADPs) from 20 male donors and 20 units of random platelet suspensions (RPSs) from another 20 male donors were obtained. Half of the ADPs and half of the RPSs (10 units/per group) were stored at 4 °C, the other halves of ADPs and RPSs (10 units/per group) were stored in agitators at 22 °C for 48 hours. The flow cytometric viability tests and thrombin generation tests of the PSs were assessed. Results The viabilities of both ADPs and RPSs group platelets, stored either at 4 °C or 22 °C for 48 hours, were not statistically significantly different. The ADPs and RPSs stored at 4 °C generated significantly higher peak thrombin levels than the platelets stored at 22 °C. Moreover, the ADPs group stored at 4 °C showed significantly shorter time to thrombin generation and reach peak levels. Conclusion The PSs stored at 4 °C showed higher and faster thrombin generation capacities than the room temperature PSs. Given the superior hemostatic properties of refrigerated platelets, creating different storage temperature capabilities for specific transfusion purposes may be a prudent approach, especially for improving the outcome of bleeding trauma casualties.
Life, Catalysis and Excitable Media: A Dynamic Systems Approach to Metabolism and Cognition

This chapter examines the remarkable property that life has to maintain its organization in order to determine if there is a hitherto undiscovered principle that unites all living processes, including microprocesses, such as protein folding, and macroprocesses. The hypothesis is that at every scale, living processes are processes of catalysis, and that all biological processes mediate transitions in their environments, employing the same mechanism as enzymes.
Analysis of audiometric notch as a noise-induced hearing loss phenotype in US youth: data from the National Health And Nutrition Examination Survey, 2005-2010.

AbstractObjective: Bilateral audiometric notch (BN) at 4000–6000 Hz was identified as a noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) phenotype for genetic association analysis in college-aged musicians. This study analysed BN in a sample of US youth. Design: Prevalence of the BN within the study sample was determined and logistic-regression analyses were performed to identify audiologic and other demographic factors associated with BN. Computer-simulated “flat” audiograms were used to estimate potential influence of false-positive rates in estimating the prevalence of the BN. Study sample: 2348 participants (12–19 years) following the inclusion criteria were selected from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey data (2005–2010). Results: The prevalence of BN was 16.6%. Almost 55.6% of the participants showed notch in at least one ear. Noise exposure, gender, ethnicity and age showed significant relationship with the BN. Computer simulation revealed that 5.5% of simulated participants with “flat” audiogr...
"Shared Ethnicity" in Transracial Adoption

The discussion of transracial adoption of black infants by white parents calls into question the distinction between race and ethnicity for these children and their families. Research on the overall success of these adoption indicate that most of the children are well-adjusted, have healthy self esteem, and do not have problems with issues of racial identity. This paper suggest that the concept of “shared ethnicity” might be useful construction for understanding these multiracial families.
Social Gender Transition and the Psychological Interventions

For children and adolescents presenting with gender identity-related concerns, understanding whether or not the child or adolescent meets criteria for gender dysphoria is important. Understanding what is and is not currently known about the developmental trajectories of children and adolescents with gender-related concerns is important as it can frame the overall clinical management developmentally. Psychological interventions are important as supporting these youth to protect their safety, ensure emotional, psychological, and social well-being, and helping them to navigate the potential complexities of transitioning genders is important given how vulnerable a population this group is. Complex understanding of family dynamics, individual personal coping strategies, co-occurring psychopathology, and the environments within which these youth exist are important when managing their mental health care in an affirming way.
The failure of amalgam dental restorations due to cyclic fatigue crack growth.

In this study a restored mandibular molar with different Class II amalgam preparations was examined to analyze the potential for restoration failure attributed to cyclic fatigue crack growth. A finite element analysis was used to determine the stress distribution along the cavo-surface margin which results from occlusal loading of each restoration. The cyclic crack growth rate of sub-surface flaws located along the dentinal cavo-surface margin were determined utilizing the Paris law. Based on similarities in material properties and lack of fatigue property data for dental biomaterials, the cyclic fatigue crack growth parameters for engineering ceramics were used to approximate the crack growth behavior. It was found that flaws located within the dentine along the buccal and lingual margins can significantly reduce the fatigue life of restored teeth. Sub-surface cracks as short as 25 μm were found capable of promoting tooth fracture well within 25 years from the time of restoration. Furthermore, cracks longer than 100 μm reduced the fatigue life to less than 5 years. Consequently, sub-surface cracks introduced during cavity preparation with conventional dental burrs may serve as a principal source for premature restoration failure. ©©1999©Kluwer Academic Publishers
PARP Inhibitors and Parkinson's Disease.

PARP Inhibitors and Parkinson’s Disease A recent study implicates the enzyme poly(adenosine 5′-diphosphate-ribose) polymerase 1 (PARP1) as a mediator of neuronal cell death in Parkinson’s disease. ...
Diffusing an Innovation: Clinician Perceptions of Continuous Predictive Analytics Monitoring in Intensive Care.

Background The purpose of this article is to describe neonatal intensive care unit clinician perceptions of a continuous predictive analytics technology and how those perceptions influenced clinician adoption. Adopting and integrating new technology into care is notoriously slow and difficult; realizing expected gains remain a challenge. Methods Semistructured interviews from a cross-section of neonatal physicians (n = 14) and nurses (n = 8) from a single U.S. medical center were collected 18 months following the conclusion of the predictive monitoring technology randomized control trial. Following qualitative descriptive analysis, innovation attributes from Diffusion of Innovation Theory-guided thematic development. Results Results suggest that the combination of physical location as well as lack of integration into work flow or methods of using data in care decisionmaking may have delayed clinicians from routinely paying attention to the data. Once data were routinely collected, documented, and reported during patient rounds and patient handoffs, clinicians came to view data as another vital sign. Through clinicians' observation of senior physicians and nurses, and ongoing dialogue about data trends and patient status, clinicians learned how to integrate these data in care decision making (e.g., differential diagnosis) and came to value the technology as beneficial to care delivery. Discussion The use of newly created predictive technologies that provide early warning of illness may require implementation strategies that acknowledge the risk–benefit of treatment clinicians must balance and take advantage of existing clinician training methods.
Pentachlorophenol radical cations generated on Fe(III)-montmorillonite initiate octachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin formation in clays: density functional theory and fourier transform infrared studies.

Octachlorodibenzodioxin (OCDD) forms spontaneously from pentachlorophenol (PCP) on the surfaces of Fe(III)-saturated smectite clay.(1) Here, we used in situ Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) methods and quantum mechanical calculations to determine the mechanism by which this reaction is initiated. As the clay was dehydrated, vibrational spectra showed new peaks that grew and then reversibly disappeared as the clay rehydrated. First-principle density functional theory calculations of hydrated Fe/PCP clusters reproduced these transient FTIR peaks when inner-sphere complexation and concomitant electron transfer produced Fe(II) and PCP radical cations. Thus, our experimental (FTIR) and theoretical (quantum mechanical) results mutually support the hypothesis that OCDD formation on Fe-smectite surfaces is initiated by the reversible formation of metastable PCP radical cations via single-electron transfer from PCP to Fe(III). The negatively charged clay surface apparently selects for this reaction mechanism by s...
The generalized approach, attainMent, maintenance, and avoidance (GAMMA) motivation scale: development, validation, and theoretical contribution

In this investigation, the Generalized Approach, attainMent, Maintenance, and Avoidance (GAMMA) Motivation Scale was developed and validated. This scale measures approach and avoidance motivation in any domain of goal pursuit, thus overcoming the limitations of past domain-specific measures. Perhaps more importantly, it can distinguish maintenance from attainment forms of approach motivation. It was initially developed in a large sample reporting on a relatively heterogeneous sample of goals. Its factor structure was refined and confirmed in three samples reporting on healthy-eating, social-relationship, and academic-achievement goals, respectively. It is internally-consistent and its relationships with measures of domain-specific motivation, BIS/BAS, affective traits, motivational constructs from other theories, and successful goal pursuit all support its construct validity across domains. We therefore suggest that the GAMMA Motivation Scale is a useful tool for understanding and researching approach, avoidance, and maintenance motivation.
Full lockdown policies in Western Europe countries have no evident impacts on the COVID-19 epidemic

Abstract This phenomenological study assesses the impacts of full lockdown strategies applied in Italy, France, Spain and United Kingdom, on the slowdown of the 2020 COVID-19 outbreak. Comparing the trajectory of the epidemic before and after the lockdown, we find no evidence of any discontinuity in the growth rate, doubling time, and reproduction number trends. Extrapolating pre-lockdown growth rate trends, we provide estimates of the death toll in the absence of any lockdown policies, and show that these strategies might not have saved any life in western Europe. We also show that neighboring countries applying less restrictive social distancing measures (as opposed to police-enforced home containment) experience a very similar time evolution of the epidemic.
A state redistribution algorithm for finite volume schemes on cut cell meshes

Abstract In this paper we develop a new technique, called state redistribution, that allows the use of explicit time stepping when approximating solutions to hyperbolic conservation laws on embedded boundary grids. State redistribution is a postprocessing technique applied after each time step or stage of the base finite volume scheme, using a time step that is proportional to the volume of the full cells. The idea is to stabilize the cut cells by temporarily merging them into larger, possibly overlapping neighborhoods, then replacing the cut cell values with a stabilized value that maintains conservation and accuracy. We present examples of state redistribution using two base schemes: MUSCL and a second order Method of Lines finite volume scheme. State redistribution is used to compute solutions to several standard test problems in gas dynamics on cut cell meshes, with both smooth and discontinuous solutions. We show that our method does not reduce the accuracy of the base scheme and that it successfully captures shocks in a non-oscillatory manner.
Development of Noonan syndrome by deregulation of allosteric SOS autoactivation.

Ras family proteins play an essential role in several cellular functions, including growth, differentiation, and survival. The mechanism of action of Ras mutants in Costello syndrome and cancers has been identified, but the contribution of Ras mutants to Noonan syndrome, a genetic disorder that prevents normal development in various parts of the body, is unknown. Son of Sevenless (SOS) is a Ras guanine nucleotide exchange factor. In response to Ras-activating cell signaling, SOS autoinhibition is released and is followed by accelerative allosteric feedback autoactivation. Here, using mutagenesis-based kinetic and pulldown analyses, we show that Noonan syndrome Ras mutants I24N, T50I, V152G, and D153V deregulate the autoactivation of SOS to populate their active form. This previously unknown process has been linked so far only to the development of Noonan syndrome. In contrast, other Noonan syndrome Ras mutants—V14I, T58I, and G60E—populate their active form by deregulation of the previously documented Ras GTPase activities. We propose a novel mechanism responsible for the deregulation of SOS autoactivation, where I24N, T50I, V152G, and D153V Ras mutants evade SOS autoinhibition. Consequently, they are capable of forming a complex with the SOS allosteric site, thus aberrantly promoting SOS autoactivation, resulting in the population of active Ras mutants in cells. The results of this study elucidate the molecular mechanism of the Ras mutant–mediated development of Noonan syndrome.
A hydrodynamics assessment of the hammerhead shark cephalofoil

Hammerhead sharks are characterized by a conspicuous lateral expansion of the head forming a structure known as a cephalofoil. Two theories regarding the function of this structure suggest that it may increase maneuverability as well as produce dynamic lift similar to a cambered airplane wing. Here we report on a family-wide computational fluid dynamics analysis of all eight hammerhead shark species and three sharks with typical head shape. Models cast of the heads of fresh and museum specimens of hammerhead and typical sharks were used to produce pressure surface maps and lift and drag polar diagrams at various angles of attack. These analyses suggested that the cephalofoil (1) provides greater maneuverability that may be important in prey capture efficacy, (2) does not provide significant dynamic lift when held parallel to flow, (3) is characterized by greater drag than typical sharks across all attack angles, and (4) was found to result in a 10-x increase in energetic cost over typical shark head morphologies.
Assessing Learning Outcomes

While there are a plethora of models and approaches for designing instruction (Allen, 2012; Dick & Carey, 1990; Gibbons, 2014; Merrill, 2002), there are only three basic steps in the instructional design process (Gagne, Briggs, & Wager, 1992). First, define expected learning objectives for the instructional unit. Second, determine how you will assess the anticipated learning outcomes. Third, design instructional resources and activities that will help students obtain the knowledge, skills, and abilities the course was intended to facilitate.
A longitudinal study of burnout and well-being in family medicine resident physicians

Background and objectives The Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) core competencies for residency learning and work environment standards acknowledge high levels of burnout and depression in resident physicians and the critical importance of physician well-being to patient care and effective education. The objective of this study was to follow family medicine resident physicians' well-being throughout residency. Methods Family medicine resident physicians from 12 programs completed validated assessments (burnout, depression, perceived stress, satisfaction with life, positive and negative affect, emotional intelligence, mindfulness, gratitude) at residency start, second year start, and graduation. Resident physicians were from the 2011, 2012, and 2013 graduating classes (N=158). Results Two indicators of burnout (emotional exhaustion, depersonalization) increased between the start of residency and the start of the second year, remaining elevated at graduation. Emotional intelligence was lower at graduation than at the start of residency. In contrast, other measures of well-being (stress, life satisfaction, affect) improved during the second and third years. Depression, mindfulness, and gratitude remained stable. Increased levels of burnout risk at graduation were negatively associated with emotional intelligence, mindfulness, and gratitude. Conclusions While the stressful impact of residency is transitory for some measures of well-being, that is not the case for burnout or emotional intelligence. Burnout levels peak after the first year of residency and remain high through graduation. Targeted interventions to identify and address burnout in residency need to be evaluated in future studies.
WNT11-Conditioned Medium Promotes Angiogenesis through the Activation of Non-Canonical WNT-PKC-JNK Signaling Pathway

Background: We demonstrated that the transduction of Wnt11 into mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) (MSCWnt11) promotes these cells differentiation into cardiac phenotypes. In the present study, we investigated the paracrine effects of MSCWnt11 on cardiac function and angiogenesis. Methods and Results: Conditioned medium was collected from MSCWnt11 (CdMWnt11) and their control cells (CdMGFP). CdMWnt11, especially obtained from MSCWnt11 exposed to hypoxia, significantly promoted human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) migration and increased capillary-like tube (CLT) formation, which was blocked by Wnt11 neutralizing antibody. Wnt11 protein was significantly higher in CdMWnt11 compared to that in CdMGFP. Directly treating HUVECs with recombinant Wnt11 protein significantly increased CLT formation, which was abrogated by treating cells with the JNK inhibitor SP600125, as well as the PKC inhibitor Calphostin-C. Moreover, the transfection of Wnt11 to HUVECs (HWnt11) significantly increased CLT formation and HUVEC migration, as well as upregulated p-pan-PKC and p-JNK expression. Injection of CdMWnt11 into the peri-infarct region in a rat acute myocardial infarction (AMI) model significantly improved cardiac function, reduced infarct size, and increased myocardial blood flow and blood vessel density in the ischemic area. Conclusion: Wnt11 released from MSCWnt11 increased angiogenesis and improved cardiac function via non-canonical Wnt-PKC-JNK dependent pathways.
Simulation of Modular Multilevel Converter System Via an Analytical Approach

Conventional numerical integration based simulation methods for modular multilevel converters (MMCs) need small integration time-steps to ensure simulation accuracy, which leads to a huge computation burden and limits the simulation speed. An analytical approach is proposed in this paper to reduce the computation burden and improve the time performance. Between any two adjacent switching moments, the MMC can be modeled by linear ordinary differential equations which can be quickly solved via eigenvalue decomposition techniques. A single phase 3-level MMC is used to test the proposed analytical approach and compare it with the Euler forward method in terms of simulation accuracy and computation time. The result shows that the analytical approach can greatly reduce the computation burden and simulation time without much trade-off in simulation accuracy.
Artificial Intelligence for the Future Radiology Diagnostic Service.

Radiology historically has been a leader of digital transformation in healthcare. Introduction of digital imaging systems, picture archiving and communication systems (PACS) and teleradiology totally transformed radiology service over the past 30 years. Radiology is again at the crossroad for the next generation of transformation, possibly evolving as a one-stop integrated diagnostic service. Artificial intelligence and machine learning are expected to offer powerful new tools to facilitate this transformation. The radiology community has been developing computer-aided diagnosis (CAD) tools based on machine learning (ML) technology before the advent of artificial intelligence (AI), which caught the imagination of the rest of the healthcare community. Among various ML and AI techniques, deep-learning convolutional neural networks (CNN) and its variants have been widely used and have been proven highly effective in medical image pattern recognition. Since the 1990s, diverse research projects have explored for CNN, and many products have been developed based on narrowly defined pattern recognition. But clinical adoption has been painfully slow due to a lack of substantial clinical relevance and sustainable business models. It is expected in the future that AI will play a more central role in radiology by offering powerful new tools to improve the overall productivity of clinical service. This paper proposes three pathways for AI's role in radiology beyond current CNN based capabilities such as, (i) improve the performance of CNN, (ii) improve the productivity of radiology service by AI-assisted workflow and (iii) develop radiomics that integrate the data from radiology, pathology, and genomics to facilitate the emergence of new integrated diagnostic service.
Coupling of ethanolamine ammonia-lyase protein and solvent dynamics characterized by the temperature-dependence of EPR spin probe mobility and dielectric permittivity.

Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy is used to address the remarkable persistence of the native Arrhenius dependence of the 2-aminopropanol substrate radical rearrangement reaction in B12-dependent ethanolamine ammonia-lyase (EAL) from Salmonella typhimurium from physiological to cryogenic (220 K) temperatures. Two-component TEMPOL spin probe mobility in the presence of 10 mM (0.08% v/v) 2-aminopropanol over 200–265 K demonstrates characteristic concentric aqueous-cosolvent mesodomain and protein-associated domain (PAD, hydration layer) solvent phases around EAL in the frozen solution. The mesodomain formed by the relatively small amount of 2-aminopropanol is highly confined, as shown by an elevated temperature for the order–disorder transition (ODT) in the PAD (230–235 K) and large activation energy for TEMPOL rotation. Addition of 2% v/v dimethylsulfoxide expands the mesodomain, partially relieves PAD confinement, and leads to an ODT at 205–210 K. The ODT is also manifested as a deviation of the temperature-dependence of the EPR amplitude of cob(II)alamin and the substrate radical, bound in the enzyme active site, from Curie law behavior. This is attributed to an increase in sample dielectric permittivity above the ODT at the microwave frequency of 9.5 GHz. The relatively high frequency dielectric response indicates an origin in coupled protein surface group–water fluctuations of the Johari–Goldstein β type that span spatial scales of ∼0.1–10 A on temporal scales of 10−10–10−7 s. The orthogonal EPR spin probe rotational mobility and solvent dielectric measurements characterize features of EAL protein–solvent dynamical coupling and reveal that excess substrate acts as a fluidizing cryosolvent to enable native enzyme reactivity at cryogenic temperatures.
A Case Report of Leptomeningeal Carcinomatosis Secondary to Recurrent Merkel Cell Carcinoma after Avelumab.

Introduction Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is a rare and aggressive neuroendocrine cancer with a high mortality rate of 33% to 46%. Merkel cell is a type of epidermis cell receptor responsible for contact sensitivity and is known to have neuroendocrine properties. Treatment of Merkel cell carcinoma with avelumab has been prominsing, but its rarity and poor prognosis necessitates close follow up. Case presentation A 71-year-old woman presented with a left forearm mass that was initially suspected to be a sebaceous cyst. After surgical excision and biopsy, she was diagnosed with Merkel cell carcinoma. The patient underwent avelumab treatment for 2 years, with remission of cancer for 24 months. A positron emission tomographic scan at 24 months of treatment noted uptake in the left axilla and portocaval regions. Despite receiving different combinations of immunotherapy, chemotherapy, and radiation, the patient's cancer metastasized to the leptomeninges. She was transitioned to hospice and passed away 3 months after diagnosis of leptomeningeal carcinoma. Conclusion This case highlights the efficacy of avelumab in keeping patients in remission, which can offer increased quality of life. However, it also highlights the aggressive nature of Merkel cell carcinoma and the importance of surveillance for early detection of recurrence.
Transformative dynamism in pharmaceutical and biomedical research: Complexity of integration of innovative R & D hubs.

Introduction: To be fully functional, pharmaceutical, and biomedical research centers need to be transformed to become innovative research and development (R & D) hubs. Such transformation, however, is a dynamic complex matter. Methods: To establish an innovative R & D hub, a simple and concise manifesto is conceptualized for the nonlinear dynamic transformation towards an innovative research hub to reinforce the transition of the 2nd generation R & D centers. Results: Interdisciplinary research is the most demanded field of research to overcome various multi-sided health issues. To become an innovative R & D hub, pharmaceutical centers must function as a small-scale physical infrastructure to support the inter-communication of scientists and provide specific technological needs to promote the related innovation and entrepreneurship with advanced business plans and prototypes. Given that a success paradigm within an unorderly surrounding setting has already been condemned to fail, the orderly integration of nested systems and groups should be carefully implemented towards a shared vision with formal and tacit agreements among all parties, including academia, industry, and finance team. Conclusion: To achieve a fully functional innovative R & D hub, a "know-how" approach with the systems thinking mindset within all the parties is of paramount necessity. The healthier the order of the whole working system is, the more effective will be the encompassed entitles and players. However, systems should have several checkpoints to enhance clarity and evade discrepancy and divergence. Since the medication is a highly trusted and needed public enterprise, the drug discovery and development paradigm should be practiced at the highest speed with maximum transparency and accountability.
Fluctuation of body mass in cotton rats and pocket gophers during the late Cenozoic in the Meade basin of Kansas: possible influence of the Huckleberry Ridge Ash-fall

Equations estimating body mass were used to depict a near 5-million-year history of size change in pocket gophers and cotton rats from the Meade Basin of southwestern Kansas. Although phyletic size...
PET MRI physics review

1039 Learning Objectives 1. Understand the challenges and possible solutions that are being considered in the construction of a clinical PET MRI. PET/CT has already shown great value in clinical applications, especially by providing quantitative functional information underlayed with anatomy. Limitations include a lack of adequate soft-tissue contrast, CT radiation dose, and impossibility to perform simultaneously with PET. MRI advantages are excellent soft-tissue contrast in brain and abdomen and no additional ionizing radiation dose for the patient. However, a series of technical challenges must be overcome. These are briefly listed hereafter and discussed in the poster presentation. MRI static magnetic and gradient fields, and radiofrequency signals affect the normal operation of PET PMTs, and cause interference in front-end electronics of PET detectors. MRI, in turn, is affected by PET causing inhomogeneities in the magnetic field and leading to artifacts. Currently, there is no consensus on the best configuration for clinical PET/MRI. Current prototypes include PET/CT tandem, removable PET insert, and integration of a PET detector ring within MR. The latter is the most challenging but most promising approach for simultaneous acquisition. Technical challenges derive from the use of PMTs since they are sensitive to magnetic fields. For this reason, optical fibers can be used and PMTs can be replaced by Avalanche Photodiodes. For MR compatibility issues, magnetic susceptibility should be close to that of human tissue. PET scintillator materials such as NaI(Tl), CsI(Tl), BGO, LSO(Ce) are the ones that share this property. Shielding should be selected by considering magnetic and conductivity-related compatibility. Several scintillator materials and heavy metals have been tested; purified forms of lead would make a good choice. Eddy currents should be taken into account to prevent heat and image artifacts. MR has no facility to measure tissue attenuation. So there are several studied methods for attenuation correction including template-based, segmentation-based, atlas-based methods, and use of ultrashort Echo time sequences
The Problem of Knowledge

The moral soul as conceived by Socrates became in the Republic the complex principle of political activity and of all practical life. In later dialogues the soul develops further in rational independence and tends to become the self-aware and self-governing individual self of Western tradition. What are the meanings of self-knowledge in this later context? What are its limitations? In this chapter the general knowledge problem will be considered and related to self-knowledge.
Sited, Sighted, and Cited: The Effect of JSTOR in Economic Research

By increasing the ability to discover, access, and use academic journal articles, the Internet has become the dominant mode by which scholars stay abreast of the scholarly literature. This new technology is hypothesized to have impacted the referencing pattern as well as the research productivity of scholars. These hypotheses are tested in the area of economics using a natural experiment of access to the JSTOR article archiving service. We find evidence that access to journals available through JSTOR leads economists to refer more to JSTOR journals at the expense of non-JSTOR journals, that is, JSTOR access induces substitution away from journals not available in the JSTOR archive. Furthermore, JSTOR access increases the quantity, if not quality, of economic research generated at an institution. From this accumulated evidence, we deduce that Information and Communication Technology has the potential to not only increase productivity, but by increasing research productivity, can also increase the rate of economic growth.
Dairy Worker Training in Newborn Calf Management

Dairy calf death rates from birth to weaning approximate 8 to 10% in the US. Stillbirths on dairies, measured as calves dead at delivery or within the first 24 to 48 hours after delivery, are less closely monitored, but are estimated between 6 and 12%. Numerous factors influence calf health and survival, but the key contributors to calf morbidity and mortality can be managed to greatly reduce these losses. Except on small dairies, most calving events and postnatal calf care are overseen by paid employees. As the available dairy workforce has changed over time, it is common that the people making critical decisions about newborn calves do not have extensive prior experience in calf management. Workers with appropriate education and training, provided with good calf management protocols, can dramatically improve calf health and survival. Resume
How much colorectal surgery do general surgeons do

Abstract BACKGROUND: Surgical subspecialization has croded the traditional domain of the general surgeon. The purpose of this study was to assess the volume and distribution of colon and rectal cases performed by general surgeons. STUDY DESIGN: The American Board of Surgery database was queried to identify and categorize the number of colorectal cases performed yearly by "generalists" (general surgeons) recertified between 1995–1997. RESULTS: There were 2,434 general surgeons (those with a basic certificate only) recertified. The mean number of large bowel cases was 33 (range 0–243). Thirty-one cases represented the 70th percentile and 60 cases represented the 90th percentile. The mean number of anorectal cases was 12.3 (range 0–185). The 70th percentile was 15 cases, and the 90th percentile was 26 cases. Seventy-five percent of general surgeons perform ≥17 large intestine cases each year, whereas, only 25% perform >16 total anorectal cases. CONCLUSIONS: General surgeons perform a substantial number of colon resections and relatively few anorectal cases. It is unclear whether this is an issue of anorectal training in general surgery programs or referral patterns.
Near-zero growth kinetics of Pseudomonas putida deduced from proteomic analysis

Intensive microbial growth typically observed in laboratory rarely occurs in nature. Because of severe nutrient deficiency, natural populations exhibit near-zero growth (NZG). There is a long-standing controversy about sustained NZG, specifically whether there is a minimum growth rate below which cells die or whether cells enter a non-growing maintenance state. Using chemostat with cell retention (CCR) of Pseudomonas putida, we resolve this controversy and show that under NZG conditions, bacteria differentiate into growing and VBNC (viable but not non-culturable) forms, the latter preserving measurable catabolic activity. The proliferating cells attained a steady state, their slow growth balanced by VBNC production. Proteomic analysis revealed upregulated (transporters, stress response, self-degrading enzymes and extracellular polymers) and downregulated (ribosomal, chemotactic and primary biosynthetic enzymes) proteins in the CCR versus batch culture. Based on these profiles, we identified intracellular processes associated with NZG and generated a mathematical model that simulated the observations. We conclude that NZG requires controlled partial self-digestion and deep reconfiguration of the metabolic machinery that results in the biosynthesis of new products and development of broad stress resistance. CCR allows efficient on-line control of NZG including VBNC production. A well-nuanced understanding of NZG is important to understand microbial processes in situ and for optimal design of environmental technologies.
HISPANICS AND WORKSITE HEALTH PROMOTION: REVIEW OF THE PAST, DEMANDS FOR THE FUTURE

During the last 15 years, reports, books, and published papers have demonstrated the positive health benefits of comprehensive health promotion and disease prevention interventions at the worksite. Although the progress made in worksite health promotion should not be understated, experts agree that it is time to step forward and address the new demands of the changing labor force. One area of intervention that needs to be more aggressively addressed is that of minority populations. Because work force projections show the high participation rate that Hispanics will have in the future labor force, the Hispanic population should be one of the targets of worksite health promotion. This paper reviews how employee health promotion programs have addressed Hispanic workers in the past and establishes directions for the future.
Halomethyl-metal compounds : XLI. Phenyl(α,α-dichlorobenzyl)mercury: a phenylchlorocarbene precursor

Phenyl(α,α-dichlorobenzyl)mercury has been prepared via α,α-dichlorobenzyllithium. It was found to be unstable to heat and to moisture, its hydrolysis giving benzene, benzoic acid and elemental mercury. Thermolysis of this mercurial in the presence of olefins (cis-2-butene, trimethylethylene, tetramethylethylene, allyltrimethylsilane) gave the expected phenylchlorocyclopropanes in yields ranging from 28–67%, and in the presence of triethylsilane an 83% yield of triethyl(α-chlorobenzyl)silane was obtained.
Cyber Security Standards

The goal of cyber security standards is to improve the security of information technology (IT) systems, networks, and critical infrastructures. A cyber security standard defines both functional and assurance requirements within a product, system, process, or technology environment. Well-developed cyber security standards enable consistency among product developers and serve as a reliable metric for purchasing security products. Cyber security standards cover a broad range of granularity, from the mathematical definition of a cryptographic algorithm to the specification of security features in a web browser, and are typically implementation independent. A standard must address user needs, but must also be practical since cost and technological limitations must be considered in building products to meet the standard. Additionally, a standard's requirements must be verifiable; otherwise, users cannot assess security even when products are tested against the standard. Keywords: cyber security; information technology; standards; standardization
Characterization of Materials

The physical characterization or properties required of a material for medical applications vary widely according to the particular application. Moreover, due to our imperfect understanding of tissue-material interactions, it is difficult if not impossible to translate the values of physicochemical properties of materials intoin vivoperformances. However, this should not prevent us from a thorough investigation of the characteristics of materialsin vitrobefore using them as implants. On the contrary, the study of implant materials must start from a basic understanding of the behavior of materials under various conditions. In this chapter, we will try to limit our study by focusing attention on the basic elements of material characterizations.
Innovative Contaminated Groundwater Remediation Technologies

The development of improved methods for remediating of contaminated aquifers has become a major environmental priority. Many innovative remediation technologies have emerged that promise fast and cost-effective cleanup of contaminated ground water. According to, there are two general types of new technologies, those that destroy or immobilize contaminants in situ (e.g., chemical oxidation, chemical reductive dehalogenation, cometabolic and other bioremediation processes) and those that bring the contaminant mass to the surface for treatment or disposal (e.g., enhanced-flushing technologies, thermal treatment). Keywords: pump-and-treat; innovative remediation; cyclodextrin; surfactants; cosolvents; soil vapor extraction; phytoremediation; in situ oxidation; permeable reactive barriers; funnel-and-gate; bioremediation; natural attenuation
Correlation of Node Importance Measures: An Empirical Study through Graph Robustness

Graph robustness is a measure of resilience to failures and targeted attacks. A large body of research on robustness focuses on how to attack a given network by deleting a few nodes so as to maximally disrupt its connectedness. As a result, literature contains a myriad of attack strategies that rank nodes by their relative importance for this task. How different are these strategies? Do they pick similar sets of target nodes, or do they differ significantly in their choices? In this paper, we perform the first large scale empirical correlation analysis of attack strategies, i.e., the node importance measures that they employ, for graph robustness. We approach this task in three ways; by analyzing similarities based on (i) their overall ranking of the nodes, (ii) the characteristics of top nodes that they pick, and (iii) the dynamics of disruption that they cause on the network. Our study of 15 different (randomized, local, distance-based, and spectral) strategies on 68 real-world networks reveals surprisingly high correlations among node-attack strategies, consistent across all three types of analysis, and identifies groups of comparable strategies. These findings suggest that some computationally complex strategies can be closely approximated by simpler ones, and a few strategies can be used as a close proxy of the consensus among all of them.
Dynamics of sliding charge-density waves in 4- epsilon dimensions.

The critical behavior of sliding charge-density waves just above threshold is analyzed. In 4-\ensuremath{\epsilon} dimensions, the exponent \ensuremath{\zeta}, defined through ${\mathit{I}}_{\mathrm{CDW}}$\ensuremath{\sim}(V-${\mathit{V}}_{\mathit{T}}$${)}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{\zeta}}}$, is found to be 1-\ensuremath{\epsilon}/6+O(${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\epsilon}}}^{2}$). Two different correlation lengths are found, with exponents \ensuremath{\nu}=1/2 exactly and ${\ensuremath{\nu}}_{\mathrm{FS}}$=2/d+O(${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\epsilon}}}^{2}$). These results compare favorable with recent numerical results in two and three dimensions.
Periodic Macroporous Hydroxyapatite-Containing Calcium Phosphates

Three-dimensionally ordered macroporous materials containing the bioceramic hydroxyapatite as well as other calcium phosphate and carbonate phases have been synthesized using close-packed poly(methyl methacrylate) latex spheres (256−375 nm diameter) as templates. The interstitial spaces of the colloidal crystal were penetrated by a water/alcohol cosolvent solution of calcium nitrate and phosphoric acid. Calcination in the range 475−1000 °C removed the polymer and promoted crystallization of calcium phosphate phases in the pore walls. The materials were characterized by powder X-ray diffraction, FT-IR spectroscopy, and SEM. The best combination of composition and three-dimensional order was found in a crystalline hydroxyapatite/tricalcium phosphate templated with 375-nm spheres and calcined at 700 °C. An in vitro antibiotic drug release application was tested using this product.
Ultrastructural Characterization of a New Member of the Rhabdovirus Group- Klamath Virus

Klamath virus was observed by negative contrast and thin section electron microscopy. Bullet-shaped particles in infected cell cultures had mean dimensions of 167×80 nm and were typical of members of the Rhabdovirus group. In infected mouse brain, virus particles budded from intracytoplasmic membranes in association with a prominent matrix. Although the virus is serologically unrelated to any of the known Rhabdoviruses of animals, this intracytoplasmic accumulation of virus particles and matrix with little frank cytopathology, most closely resemblesin vivo rabies virus infection.
The Conceptualization and Communication of Risk Among Rural Appalachian Adolescents

This study uses a meta-theoretical perspective for examining risk perceptions and behavior in the rural Appalachian cultural context, an area that remains largely unexplored. The authors conducted in-depth interviews with 113 rural adolescents to describe how youth conceptualize risk and how risk is communicated in the rural environment. Analyses revealed adolescents viewed behavior as risky when they had personal or vicarious experiences resulting in a loss of control or physical harm. Elements of the rural Appalachian culture including activities, familism, and community ties can prevent and promote adolescent risk taking in various forms. This study demonstrates the conceptualization of risk and messages about risk are culturally situated and communicatively devised and enacted. The implications of these findings for adolescent risk prevention programs are discussed.
The partial equivalent conductances of electrolytes in seawater: a revision

Abstract The partial equivalent conductance of an electrolyte in seawater has been redefined to take into account the partial equivalent volume of the electrolyte. Previously published values of Park (1964) are revised in accordance with the new definition. They range from 20·7 Ω −1 cm 2 eq −1 for Na2CO3 to 286 Ω −1 cm 2 eq −1 for HCl at 35·04‰ salinity and at 23°C.