cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Applications of Acoustic Surface Wave Visualization to Nondestructive Testing

Acoustic surface waves offer many potential advantages as a tool in nondestructive testing. The concentration of the energy of these waves near the surface of a solid makes possible efficient interaction with subsurface defects which might otherwise be quite difficult to detect. Also the high propagation velocity of surface waves suggests that they may be used to achieve rapid inspection rates on large surface areas. This paper describes a simplified version of the visualization system of Adler, Korpel, and Desmares which has been used to investigate these applications. Photographs to be presented illustrate the deformation of the crests and troughs of surface waves which occur when they encounter thickness variations and holes in metal sheets and plates, cracks in surfaces, and metallurgical variations in nominally defect free material.
Why Making Family Law is Hard

Most Americans believe that our choice of family law rules matters. Any legal rule that affects people in their role as a family member might be considered family law. This essay focuses on the private law of families: the law of marriage and divorce, of child support and child custody, and of nonmarital cohabitation. It is a body of law that operates in a sphere rich with nonlegal obligations that people take seriously.As a general matter, it would seem that private law can serve either or both of two functions. It may be instrumental, designed to affect people's behavior in some way that policymakers believe desirable. Or it may be retrospective, concerned less with changing what might happen in the future, than with changing the consequences of what has already happened, to make the outcome more fair. This essay suggests that it is difficult to formulate a family law rule that serves either purpose very well, and that is why family law is hard. For Americans, using the law to shape family behavior presents special problems because of our long legal tradition of family privacy, which has both common law and constitutional components. Family law rulemakers can do better by trying to be fair than by trying to set incentives for socially desirable intimate behavior, but sadly, not much better. That is because any rule clear enough to provide reasonably consistent and predictable judgments must be chosen from among alternatives with equal or nearly equal claims to being fair.
Making sense of teaching

This article begins with a series of meta-level comments on the enterprise of observing and theorizing classroom teaching, using as a springboard a frequently discussed model from the literature. It then provides a series of commentaries on the empirical articles in this issue (volume 48, issue 1) of ZDM, with a main focus on methodological issues. It concludes with a brief return to the meta-level, with a comment on the field’s use of the term “model”.
Alpha-Gamma Angular Correlation in Bi 212 (ThC)

The $\ensuremath{\alpha}\ensuremath{-}\ensuremath{\gamma}$ angular correlation function, $W(\ensuremath{\theta})$, of the cascade ${\mathrm{Bi}}^{212}(\mathrm{ThC})\stackrel{\ensuremath{\alpha}(6.04 \mathrm{Mev})}{\ensuremath{\rightarrow}}{\mathrm{Tl}}^{208*}\stackrel{\ensuremath{\gamma}(40 \mathrm{kev})}{\ensuremath{\rightarrow}}{\mathrm{Tl}}^{208}(\mathrm{Th}{\mathrm{C}}^{\ensuremath{'}\ensuremath{'}})$ was determined by experiment to be consistent with a predicted law of the form $W(\ensuremath{\theta})=1+A{cos}^{2}\ensuremath{\theta}$. The ratio $\frac{W(90\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{})}{W(180\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{})}$ was measured to be 1.2993, \ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.0095 due to statistics, and \ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.010 due to experimental corrections. Comparison of this result with predictions of $\ensuremath{\alpha}\ensuremath{-}\ensuremath{\gamma}$ angular correlation theory shows that ${\mathrm{Bi}}^{212}$ cannot have zero spin. Of fifty-four possibilities considered, it is shown that the following spin and parity assignments are most consistent with presently available experimental and theoretical evidence from several sources: the ground state of ${\mathrm{Bi}}^{212}$ is 1(-), the 40-kev state of ${\mathrm{Tl}}^{208}$ is 4(+), and the ground state of ${\mathrm{Tl}}^{208}$ is 5(+). These assignments determine the orbital momenta of $\ensuremath{\alpha}$ particles emitted in the decay of ${\mathrm{Bi}}^{212}$ to be a mixture of 3 and 5 units for the transition to the 40-kev state of ${\mathrm{Tl}}^{208}$ and to be 5 units for the transition to the ground state of ${\mathrm{Tl}}^{208}$. Using these values of orbital momenta in the Gamow theory, and in the Weisskopf-Devaney theory of $\ensuremath{\alpha}$ fine-structure, the theoretical ratios of decay probabilities for the two groups, $\frac{\ensuremath{\lambda}(40 \mathrm{kev})}{\ensuremath{\lambda}(0,)}$ are found to be in good agreement (10 to 50%) with the observed value. This agreement affords, in the case of ${\mathrm{Bi}}^{212}$, an explanation for the prohibited decay to the ground state relative to the first excited state found for many non-even-even nuclei by Perlman, Ghiorso, and ${\mathrm{Seaborg}.}^{1}$ Since the emission of the $\ensuremath{\alpha}$ particle with five units of orbital momentum hinders the decay ${\mathrm{Bi}}^{212}$ \ensuremath{\rightarrow} ${\mathrm{Tl}}^{208}$ (ground state) by a factor of 16, this helps to explain the unusual size of the "departure factor" (1000) given to this decay by Perlman et al.
Focal seizure associated with human parvovirus B19 infection in a non-encephalopathic child

The incidence of acute symptomatic (at the time of documented brain insult) seizures and single unprovoked seizures are 29-39 and 23-61 per 100 000 per year, respectively. After stabilization of the patient, finding the etiology of the seizure is of paramount importance. A careful history and physical examination may allow a diagnosis without need for further evaluation. In the literature, severe central nervous system involvement has been reported from human parvovirus B19 infection. We reported a previously healthy 7-year-old girl who presented after an episode of focal seizure. She was afebrile and didn’t have any focal neurological abnormalities. She had erythematous malar rash along with reticulating pattern of rash over her both upper extremities. Parvovirus infection was suspected due to the characteristic erythematous malar rash. Serum human parvovirus B19 DNA polymerase chain reaction was positive which was consistent with acute parvovirus infection. Further confirmation of current infection was done with Sandwich enzyme immunoassays showing positive anti-B19 IgM Index (>1.1). IgG index was equivocal (0.9-1.1). We report an extremely rare presentation of non-febrile seizure from acute parvovirus infection in a child without encephalopathy who had an excellent recovery. Timely diagnosis can provide counselling regarding future seizure recurrence risk, curtail expenditure from expensive diagnostic work up and provide additional recommendations about potential risks to a pregnant caregiver.
Molecular dynamics investigation of the vibrational spectroscopy of isolated water in an ionic liquid.

Experimental studies examining the structure and dynamics of water in ionic liquids (ILs) have revealed local ion rearrangements that occur an order of magnitude faster than complete randomization of the liquid structure. Simulations of an isolated water molecule embedded in 1-butyl-3-methyl imidazolium hexafluorophosphate, [bmim][PF6], were performed to shed insight into the nature of these coupled water–ion dynamics. The theoretical calculations of the spectral diffusion dynamics and the infrared absorption spectra of the OD stretch of isolated HOD in [bmim][PF6] agree well with experiment. The infrared absorption line shape of the OD stretch is narrower and blue-shifted in the IL compared to those in aqueous solution. Decomposition of the OD frequency time correlation function revealed that translational motions of the anions dominate the spectral diffusion dynamics.
Effects of Concurrent Cognitive Task Loading on Warning Compliance Behavior

This research examined whether increased cognitive task loading decreases warning compliance behavior. Participants performed a task in which they installed an external disk drive to a computer. Inside the accompanying owner's manual were a set of specific procedures that were to be followed during the installation to avoid damaging the equipment (i.e., to turn off the computer, to touch the computer's rear metal connector to discharge static electricity, and to eject a transport disk from the disk drive). Concurrent with this task, participants in the low and high task load conditions had to speak the answers to a series of single-digit or double-digit addition problems that were presented by a tape player. A control condition lacked the addition task. The results showed reduced compliance to the discharge static electricity instruction in the high load condition compared to the no load condition. The low load condition produced intermediate compliance, but was not significantly different from the other ...
Speech perception and reading: two parallel modes of understanding language and implications for acquiring literacy naturally.

I review 2 seminal research reports published in this journal during its second decade more than a century ago. Given psychology’s subdisciplines, they would not normally be reviewed together because one involves reading and the other speech perception. The small amount of interaction between these domains might have limited research and theoretical progress. In fact, the 2 early research reports revealed common processes involved in these 2 forms of language processing. Their illustration of the role of Wundt’s apperceptive process in reading and speech perception anticipated descriptions of contemporary theories of pattern recognition, such as the fuzzy logical model of perception. Based on the commonalities between reading and listening, one can question why they have been viewed so differently. It is commonly believed that learning to read requires formal instruction and schooling, whereas spoken language is acquired from birth onward through natural interactions with people who talk. Most researchers and educators believe that spoken language is acquired naturally from birth onward and even prenatally. Learning to read, on the other hand, is not possible until the child has acquired spoken language, reaches school age, and receives formal instruction. If an appropriate form of written text is made available early in a child’s life, however, the current hypothesis is that reading will also be learned inductively and emerge naturally, with no significant negative consequences. If this proposal is true, it should soon be possible to create an interactive system, Technology Assisted Reading Acquisition, to allow children to acquire literacy naturally.
Training Dietetic Interns to Do Outcomes Management Using Community-Based Participatory Research

Dietetic Interns (DIs) need effective supervised practice opportunities to apply the principles of program development, implementation, evaluation, and particularly, outcomes management. Outcomes management tracks data to improve practices, outcomes, effectiveness and efficiency. The Nutrition Care Process guides outcomes management in dietetics. Merging it with Community-based Participatory Research (CBPR) can insure more appropriate and sustainable outcomes and processes. Syracuse University's dietetic internship provides a concentration in outcomes management. Through a three-credit graduate class, DIs learn CBPR, specifically the PRECEDE-PROCEED model. The model covers how to collaborate with their community, collect/analyze data, design an objective-driven outcomes management project, and to marshal available resources for meeting the identified health needs of the community. A preceptor and advisory panel collaborate with a team of DIs for each project. This paper describes the structure of the class used to teach DIs to do outcomes management using CBPR. DIs and graduate students completed a survey designed for this research, which assessed their perceptions of the effectiveness and their satisfaction with the class, rotation/experience, and the barriers, benefits and lessons learned using CBPR. Although participants found learning and implementing PRECEDE-PROCEED to be complicated, they rated the experience as effective for: 1) building appropriate entry-level dietetic competencies, 2) collaborating with the community and 3) designing effective and sustainable outcomes management projects. They were satisfied with their abilities, effort and outcomes. The benefits, challenges and proposed improvements for the experience and training are discussed.
Observations on role of free sulfhydryl groups in prothrombin activation.

Summary(1) One-stage prothrombin determinations in human plasma are only slightly affected by a wide range of GSH concentrations whereas relatively low levels of GSSG result in a marked lengthening of the prothrombin times. (2) Incubation of human plasma with either GSH or GSSG prior to initiation of prothrombin activation produces inhibitions of thrombin formation, the same degree of inhibition being observed with considerably lower concentrations of GSSG than of GSH. (3) A study of the precise point of action of the two forms of glutathione reveals that at least 75% of their over-all effects are due to reactions with clotting factors occurring during the pre-incubation period. (4) Pre-incubation of human plasma has resulted in an immediate decrease in the non-protein sulfhydryl concentration of the mixture over and above that accountable for by reaction with prothrombin. A concomitant increase in the non-protein disulfide level of the system appears to indicate the formation of some GSSG and supports th...
Optical coherence tomography angiography in retinal diseases

Optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) is a new, non-invasive imaging system that generates volumetric data of retinal and choroidal layers. It has the ability to show both structural and blood flow information. Split-spectrum amplitude-decorrelation angiography (SSADA) algorithm (a vital component of OCTA software) helps to decrease the signal to noise ratio of flow detection thus enhancing visualization of retinal vasculature using motion contrast. Published studies describe potential efficacy for OCTA in the evaluation of common ophthalmologic diseases such as diabetic retinopathy, age related macular degeneration (AMD), retinal vascular occlusions and sickle cell disease. OCTA provides a detailed view of the retinal vasculature, which allows accurate delineation of microvascular abnormalities in diabetic eyes and vascular occlusions. It helps quantify vascular compromise depending upon the severity of diabetic retinopathy. OCTA can also elucidate the presence of choroidal neovascularization (CNV) in wet AMD. In this paper, we review the knowledge, available in English language publications regarding OCTA, and compare it with the conventional angiographic standard, fluorescein angiography (FA). Finally, we summarize its potential applications to retinal vascular diseases. Its current limitations include a relatively small field of view, inability to show leakage, and tendency for image artifacts. Further larger studies will define OCTA's utility in clinical settings and establish if the technology may offer a non-invasive option of visualizing the retinal vasculature, enabling us to decrease morbidity through early detection and intervention in retinal diseases.
Preparation of subcellular membranes from rat intestinal scrapings or isolated cells. Different Ca2+ binding, nonesterified fatty acid levels, and lipolytic activity.

Abstract Basolateral, brush-border, and Golgi-enriched subcellular membrane fractions, prepared from homogenates of rat small intestinal mucosa obtained by scraping, had unusually high concentrations of nonesterified fatty acids. These fatty acids appear to be responsible for the large amount of calcium binding, an effect that previously was shown to be reduced in vitamin D deficiency. In contrast, basolateral and Golgi membranes prepared from isolated cells had low levels of nonesterified fatty acids and calcium binding. Intermediate levels were found with isolated cells that were not put through the usual washing procedures. Addition to homogenates of scrapings of a lipase inhibitor, diethyl-p-nitrophenyl phosphate, reduced calcium binding and nonesterified fatty acids to levels similar to those in membranes prepared from isolated cells. Phospholipase A activity was low in homogenates of isolated cells and high in scrapings; this was reduced in intestinal scrapings of vitamin D-deficient rats. Ileal membranes had more calcium binding than duodenal membranes, and ileal homogenates also had greater phospholipase A activity. Preparation of subcellular membranes from rat intestinal scrapirigs can result in altered lipid composition, probably due to lipolytic enzyme activity; in addition to increasing cation-binding, these high levels of fatty acids may affect other membrane properties and enzyme function.
Contribution of central and peripheral adrenergic stimulation to IL-1 alpha-mediated glucoregulation.

The present study determined the contribution of central adrenoceptors and the peripheral sympathetic nervous system in regulating the hormonal and glucose metabolic response to intracerebroventric...
In Utero Protection of the Brain of the Hypothyroid Infant

The prime question when Dussault1 initiated neonatal hypothyroidism screening 14 years ago was how much if any of the brain damage leading to intellectual retardation in infantile hypothyroidism was postnatal. The fact that the IQs and school achievements of the patients of the New England Congenital Hypothyroidism Collaborative are indistinguishable from those of their siblings and peers proves that nearly all of this brain damage in sporadic infantile hypothyroidism is postnatal.2–4 Figure 4.1 shows the latest Stanford-Binet IQs for 121 patients at 3 to 5 years. The means for patients and controls were both 105 ± 15 (SD). The stippled background represents a normal Gaussian distribution derived from these means and standard deviations. It is obvious that the distribution of the patients’ IQs is normal. Figure 4.2 is similarly constructed and shows the WISC-RIQ at 6 years for 57 patients. The mean IQ of the patients was 109 ± 13, and that of the controls was 110 ± 13.
Some Refinements of Gersgorin Discs

This paper refines the work on Gersgorin Discs in the article "Geo- metric Multiplicities and Gersgorin Discs", The American Mathematical Monthly, 120(2013), 452-455 by R. Marsli and F. Hall. Some conse- quences of this refinement and examples are provided.
Bone repair in challenging situations: Lessons from mesenchymal stem cells

I optimal conditions, damaged bone heals by a precisely regulated multi-stage process that takes a few weeks. Although the physiological mechanisms that govern the repair of different types of bone are somewhat variable, they all exhibit a highly anabolic repair phase of finite duration and capacity. If the extent of trauma is too great, or if healing potential is diminished by bone disease, the bone simply does not heal. This is a significant health concern given a current fracture non-union rate of 10%, a spinal fusion failure rate of up to 40%, at least 10 million osteoporosis sufferers in the United States, and about half of all cancer sufferers face destructive metastases to bone. Here, we discuss the lessons our group have learned from the presumptive progenitors of osteoblasts, the bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell (MSC). This work has led to the development of novel cytotherapeutic preparations and biologically complex matrices for unprecedented levels of stem cell retention and bone repair in experimental models. The study of malignant bone disease is also discussed, and how our work on MSCs has led to the characterization of bone degradation mechanisms caused by malignancy. Novel methods for the reversal of bone damage during malignancy are introduced.
Reading and Learning Smartfonts

As small displays on devices like smartwatches become increasingly common, many people have difficulty reading the text on these displays. Vision conditions like presbyopia that result in blurry near vision make reading small text particularly hard. We design multiple different scripts for displaying English text, legible at small sizes even when blurry, for small screens such as smartphones and smartwatches. These "smartfonts" redesign visual character presentations to improve the reading experience. Like cursive, Grade 1 Braille, and ordinary fonts, they preserve orthography and spelling. They have the potential to enable people to read more text comfortably on small screens, e.g., without reading glasses. To simulate presbyopia, we blur images and evaluate their legibility using paid crowdsourcing. We also evaluate the difficulty of learning to read smartfonts and observe a learnability/legibility trade-off. Our most learnable smartfont can be read at roughly half the speed of Latin after two thousand practice sentences. It is also legible smaller than half the size of traditional Latin (i.e. "English") when blurry.
Neural network based real-time heart sound monitor using a wireless wearable wrist sensor

The paper presents a new method to estimate acoustic parameters 51 and S2 of the heart sounds using a wearable wrist sensor based on the neural network technique. Using the new method, the heart conditions can be analyzed and monitored in real time and potentially in a long term with a wrist device. The velocities and time delays of the cardiac pulse waves in blood vessels were experimentally acquired and calculated at different artery locations on the human body. Signal attenuation of the pulses from the heart to the wrist artery was analyzed and a pulse-waveform transfer model in artery was proposed. A neural network with two layers and 500 tansig neurons was employed to emulate the inverse acoustic transfer function from the wrist to heart. Comparisons between the parameters of the original heart sounds and estimated cardiac sounds were made to verify the accuracy of the neural network. It is encouraging to find that the acoustic properties of the original and estimated heart sounds have an accuracy up to 100% and the heart rates have an accuracy up to 99%. Using the trained neural network, heart sounds were estimated from the wrist artery by connecting the wrist sensor to a Bluetooth audio module to implement a wearable heart sound estimator. Performance of the new estimation method was verified. The proposed wrist sensor aims as a wireless wearable monitor on wrists for continuous and long-term medical diagnosis and athlete performance monitoring.
Circulation, modernity, and urban space in 1960s Beirut

ABSTRACTIn this essay, I explore the role of circulation in Beirut’s urban space and society in the early 1960s. Drawing primarily from the Lebanese francophone newspaper L’Orient, I show how the rise of automobility in postcolonial Beirut brought with it the imposition of certain kinds of moral and civic geographies that prescribed how citizens should use and move through the city. I argue that the newspaper’s narratives about matters of infrastructure and traffic law abidance reveal concerns with not just how people moved through the city, but with the everyday configuration of a rational, modern, biopolitical order.
Resident Duty Hours and Medical Education Policy — Raising the Evidence Bar

On March 10, 2017, the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) issued revised common program requirements for residents that go into effect this July. The revisions emphasize the importance of teamwork, flexibility, and physician welfare during training, but all the attention has been (and will no doubt remain) focused on the changes in duty hours. The new rules maintain an 80-hour-per-week cap on residents’ work, averaged over 4 weeks, but extend the permissible work shifts for first-year residents from 16 hours to 24 — limits already in place for residents in year 2 and beyond — and permit more . . .
Determining Tropical Cyclone Surface Wind Speed Structure and Intensity with the CYGNSS Satellite Constellation

AbstractThe Cyclone Global Navigation Satellite System (CYGNSS) consists of a constellation of eight microsatellites that provide observations of surface wind speed in all precipitating conditions. A method for estimating tropical cyclone (TC) metrics—maximum surface wind speed VMAX, radius of maximum surface wind speed RMAX, and wind radii (R64, R50, and R34)—from CYGNSS observations is developed and tested using simulated CYGNSS observations with realistic measurement errors. Using two inputs, 1) CYGNSS observations and 2) the storm center location, estimates of TC metrics are possible through the use of a parametric wind model algorithm that effectively interpolates between the available observations as a constraint on the assumed wind speed distribution. This methodology has a promising performance as evaluated from the simulations presented. In particular, after quality-control filters based on sampling properties are applied to the population of test cases, the standard deviation of retrieval error ...
Mangos and their bioactive components: adding variety to the fruit plate for health

The diet is an essential factor affecting the risk for development and progression of modern day chronic diseases, particularly those with pathophysiological roots in inflammation and oxidative stress-induced damage. The potential impact of certain foods and their bioactive compounds to reverse or prevent destructive dysregulated processes leading to disease has attracted intense research attention. The mango (Mangifera indica Linn.) is a tropical fruit with distinctive nutritional and phytochemical composition. Notably, the mango contains several essential water- and lipid-soluble micronutrients along with the distinguishing phytochemicals gallotannins and mangiferin. In vitro and in vivo studies reveal various mechanisms through which mangos or their associated compounds reduce risk or reverse metabolic- and inflammation-associated diseases. Health benefits of isolated individual mango compounds and extracts from mango by-products are well described in the literature with less attention devoted to the whole fruit. Here, we review and summarize the available literature assessing the health promoting potential of mango flesh, the edible portion contributing to dietary fruit intake, focusing specifically on modern day health issues of obesity and the risk factors and diseases it precipitates, including diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Additionally, this review explores new insights on the benefits of mango for brain, skin and intestinal health. Overall, the foundation of research supporting the potential role of mangos in reducing risk for inflammation- and metabolically-based chronic diseases is growing.
Selective perception of novel science: how definitions affect information processing about nanotechnology

This study examines how familiarity with an issue—nanotechnology—moderates the effect of exposure to science information on how people process mediated messages about a complex issue. In an online experiment, we provide a nationally representative sample three definitions of nanotechnology (technical, technical applications, and technical risk/benefit definitions). We then ask them to read an article about the topic. We find significant interactions between perceived nano-familiarity and the definition received in terms of how respondents perceive favorable information conveyed in the stimulus. People less familiar with nanotechnology were more significantly affected by the type of definition they received.
Drug development challenges and strategies to address emerging and resistant fungal pathogens

ABSTRACTIntroduction: Invasive fungal infections represent an expanding threat to public health. The recent emergence of Candida auris, which is often resistant to existing antifungal agents and is associated with a high mortality rate, underscores the urgent need for novel drug development strategies.Areas covered: In this paper, we examine both challenges and opportunities associated with antifungal drug development and explore potential avenues to accelerate the development pipeline, including data sharing, surrogate endpoints, and the role of historical controls in clinical trials.Expert commentary: We review important lessons learned from the study of other rare diseases, including mitochondrial storage diseases and certain forms of cancer that may inform strategies to develop new antifungal agents while highlighting promising new compounds such as SCY-078 for the treatment of invasive fungal infections.
Application of advanced sampling and analysis methods to predict the structure of adsorbed protein on a material surface.

The use of standard molecular dynamics simulation methods to predict the interactions of a protein with a material surface have the inherent limitations of lacking the ability to determine the most likely conformations and orientations of the adsorbed protein on the surface and to determine the level of convergence attained by the simulation. In addition, standard mixing rules are typically applied to combine the nonbonded force field parameters of the solution and solid phases of the system to represent interfacial behavior without validation. As a means to circumvent these problems, the authors demonstrate the application of an efficient advanced sampling method (TIGER2A) for the simulation of the adsorption of hen egg-white lysozyme on a crystalline (110) high-density polyethylene surface plane. Simulations are conducted to generate a Boltzmann-weighted ensemble of sampled states using force field parameters that were validated to represent interfacial behavior for this system. The resulting ensembles ...
Hierarchical Control Systems in the Steel Industry

Abstract This paper presents a review of the problems to be solved through computer control system applications in the steel industry, particularly where these systems coordinate the work of more than one basic process and are involved in the overall production control function. Current work in this area is reviewed in the light of the present needs of the industry for energy conservation, for better customer order response, for manpower saving, and for production cost reductions. The possibilities of the applications of standardized computer control modules as elements of the hierarchy system along with a standardized process control language are discussed, and current work to satisfy such a need is reviewed. The effect of newly developing hardware and software techniques toward the fulfillment of these desirable developments is explored. Other needs of the industry for systems developments in this area are also reviewed.
Conclusion: Special issue on genetic and alcohol use disorder research with diverse racial/ethnic groups: Key findings and potential next steps

Background and Objectives This special issue brings together papers focusing on a wide range of topics relevant to the research and understanding of the role of race/ethnicity and genetic variation for the susceptibility of developing an alcohol use disorder (AUD). Methods The key findings from the issue's 10 articles are reviewed and organized here around three topics: I: addictive behaviors and potential environmental influences; II: a focus on four racial/ethnic groups; and III: special methodologies. Results Several potential next steps in improving effective research strategies are highlighted: (1) implementing best practices for outreach and community engagement may reduce reluctance to participate; (2) recruiting adequately sized and racially/ethnically diverse samples will require new collaborations with investigators who successfully work in diverse communities; (3) identifying and assessing environmental influences that are both unique to, and common among, racial/ethnic groups may inform preventions for AUD; (4) use of standardized measures will facilitate the generation of larger samples and meta-analysis of research findings; and (5) use of better analytic approaches and experimental methods will improve replication in gene finding research and help advance new areas of research. Conclusions Genetic research of AUD in diverse racial/ethnic populations is advancing. The articles in this issue examined the general theme of including diverse population groups in genetic studies and offered potential strategies for addressing some common problems. Scientific Significance Greater inclusion of diverse racial/ethnic populations in this research is important to ensure that the benefits of new knowledge and technology are equally shared. (Am J Addict 2017;26:532–537)
P202 KIR matching and KIR haplotype frequencies in hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) patients and HLA matched related donors

Aim Studies have shown that natural killer cells play an important role in mediating a graft-versus-leukemia effect through the interaction of NK cell receptors that can recognize ligands on their target cells. Interactions between the killer-cell immunoglobulin-like receptors (KIR) and their HLA ligands could influence outcomes in several clinical conditions including infections, autoimmunity and cancer. Patients with certain leukemia (e.g., AML) could benefit from hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) with NK-alloreactive donors resulting in significantly lower relapse rate. The aim of the study was to investigate first the KIR matching and KIR haplotype frequencies among HSCT patients and their HLA matched donors in order to further study the NK impact on transplant outcomes. Methods 149 pairs of HSC transplanted patients and their HLA matched related donors (7 with 1 DP mismatch) were included in the study. Patients and donors were high resolution typed at all HLA class I and class II loci. KIR genotyping were performed using fluorescently labelled beads conjugated to oligonucleotide probes (reverse SSO) and detected in a Luminex platform. KIR haplotype A or B were assigned per KIR genes content. Results Out of the 149 HLA matched pairs, 50 (33.6%) were also KIR matched and 99 (66.4%) KIR not matched for at least one KIR gene. KIR haplotypes were found A/A 31.5%, A/B 60.4%, and B/B 8.1% in patients; and KIR A/A 38.9%, A/B 57.1%, and B/B 4.0% in donors. Conclusions Because HLA genes and KIR genes are encoded on different chromosomes (6 and 19, respectively), one would expect KIR mismatch between HLA full matched family members. KIR mismatching could be beneficial to transplant patients from the NK alloreactivity of the donor. We have observed about one third HLA and KIR matched pairs. Further study on transplant outcomes between those HLA/KIR matched and HLA matched/KIR not matched groups would be warranted aiming for better donor selection to improve outcome. Better outcomes have been shown from donor with two or more KIR B motifs especially centromeric ones. Further outcome study from these transplants pairs would provide important information and understanding of the impact of these KIR haplotypes especially those donors with KIR A/A which could be disadvantageous to the patient for a better outcome.
Methods to Study Viruses

This chapter describes methods for growing, purifying, counting, and characterizing viruses. It also provides general principles of diagnostic virology. As obligate intracellular parasites, viruses require cell in which to replicate. The cells must express appropriate receptors and other proteins required by the virus. Cultured cells are often used to study basic steps in virus replication. Viruses can be purified away from cellular proteins and organelles using centrifugation techniques. Most viruses cannot be seen using standard light microscopes, but are often imaged using electron microscopy. Methods that combine image collection and computationally demanding image processing can provide incredible details about virus architecture. Another common way to visualize viruses is to use fluorescent tags or dyes. Although these techniques do not show detailed virus structures, they can be used to follow the progress of a virus through a cell and can provide a direct window into protein–protein interactions required for virus replication. A more indirect method to detect viruses is to look for virally induced changes to cell morphology. A variety of basic biochemical techniques are useful for analyzing viral proteins and nucleic acids. As the viral genomes are relatively simple, they can be manipulated/mutated to study the function of virtually any viral protein. Powerful genetic techniques can also be used to generate “designer” cells or organisms. There are a variety of methods for quantitating viruses. Infectivity assays measure the ability of a virus to productively infect a cell. Techniques that identify specific viral proteins or genomes provide ways to rapidly identify viruses. Some of these assays can be used at the bedside, or in the field. Powerful and inexpensive DNA sequencing technologies are being used to identify new viruses, many of which could not be found by other methods. The challenge is to understand how or if these viruses impact their hosts.
Linking Racial Composition, Black–White Inequality, and Regional Difference: The Role of Migration

The percent black-inequality relationship and the unique position of the South have been cornerstones of research on US racial inequality. Using an innovative methodological approach, I address how migration contributes to our understanding of the percent black-inequality relationship. I find that the educationally selective migration of blacks and whites significantly contributes to the percent black-inequality relationship via compositional changes. However, any explanatory power is limited to the non-South. Migration plays a role in understanding this relationship, yet processes related to black population concentration still generate black disadvantage anew, particularly within the South.
Wilhelm Röpke’s Relevance in a Post-Totalitarian World

Ebeling portrays Wilhelm Ropke as a leading European advocate of a liberal economic order and a conservative social order built around the institutions of civil society. While not an advocate of laissez-faire, Ropke believed that a competitive market economy was essential to a free and humane society, which was the opposite of the totalitarianisms of the twentieth century. In the postwar period, Ropke considered the welfare state and inflation to be new dangers threatening the freedom and stability of Western societies from within. Ebeling shows that Ropke’s ideas can also be applied to the contemporary dilemma of the continuing growth of the welfare state, the controversy over European economic integration, the crisis of international migration, and the new dangers from religious fanaticism.
TokSearch: A search engine for fusion experimental data

Abstract At a typical fusion research site, experimental data is stored using archive technologies that deal with each discharge as an independent set of data. These technologies (e.g. MDSplus or HDF5) are typically supplemented with a database that aggregates metadata for multiple shots to allow for efficient querying of certain predefined quantities. Often, however, a researcher will need to extract information from the archives, possibly for many shots, that is not available in the metadata store or otherwise indexed for quick retrieval. To address this need, a new search tool called TokSearch has been added to the General Atomics TokSys control design and analysis suite. This tool provides the ability to rapidly perform arbitrary, parallelized queries of archived tokamak shot data (both raw and analyzed) over large numbers of shots. The TokSearch query API borrows concepts from SQL, and users can choose to implement queries in either Matlab™ or Python.
Advances in difference equations and discrete dynamical systems (Osaka, Japan, July 2016, ICDEA)

The book Advances in Difference Equations and Discrete Dynamical Systems, edited by Saber Elaydi, Yoshihiro Hamaya Hideaki Matsunaga and Christian Potzsche, contains the proceedings of the 22nd Int...
The Radiobiology, Treatment, and Prevention of Osteoradionecrosis of the Mandible

Osteoradionecrosis of the mandible is neither a recently described disease nor a disease limited to the maxillofacial skeleton. Phemister (1926) and Ewing (1926) reported cases of radium necrosis of bone and radiation osteitis, respectively. Furthermore, osteoradionecrosis has been reported in a variety of anatomic sites including the pelvis, femoral head, sternum, and clavicle. Osteoradionecrosis of the mandible, as a debilitating complication of cancericidal irradiation, was not reported with any frequency until the 1950s, when irradiation of oral malignancies became a well-established practice. Since that time, it has become evident that because of the increasing incidence of malignancies of the head and neck, the effectiveness of irradiation in these cancers, the presence of teeth in the jaws, and the functional and cosmetic importance of the mandible, osteoradionecrosis is not only most common in this area, but also tremendously impacts on the patient ’s quality of life. Numerous publications have followed related to the broad spectrum of presentations of osteoradionecrosis of the mandible, as well as speculation as to the etiology of the disease (Happonen et al. 1983; Obwegeser and Sailer 1978). Indeed, this author ’s experience includes cases of osteoradionecrosis of the mandible presenting as painless, intraoral areas of exposed mandible, all the way to painful pathologic fractures of the mandible with large orocutaneous fistulae and significant loss of surrounding soft tissue (Figs. 1, 2).
A single amino acid in the SH3 domain of Hck determines its high affinity and specificity in binding to HIV-1 Nef protein

We have examined the differential binding of Hck and Fyn to HIV-1 Nef to elucidate the structural basis of SH3 binding affinity and specificity. Full-length Nef bound to Hck SH3 with the highest affinity reported for an SH3-mediated interaction (KD 250 nM). In contrast to Hck, affinity of the highly homologous Fyn SH3 for Nef was too weak (KD > 20 microM) to be accurately determined. We show that this distinct specificity lies in a variable loop, the 'RT loop', positioned close to conserved SH3 residues implicated in the binding of proline-rich (PxxP) motifs. A mutant Fyn SH3 with a single amino acid substitution (R96I) in its RT loop had an affinity (KD 380 nM) for Nef comparable with that of Hck SH3. Based on additional mutagenesis studies we propose that the selective recognition of Nef by Hck SH3 is determined by hydrophobic interactions involving an isoleucine residue in its RT loop. Although Nef contains a PxxP motif which is necessary for the interaction with Hck SH3, high affinity binding was only observed for intact Nef protein. The binding of a peptide containing the Nef PxxP motif showed > 300-fold weaker affinity for Hck SH3 than full-length Nef.
Salts of Aromatic Cations and Related Graphite Salts

In 1974 Bartlett & Richardson used salts of the O2 + ion to prepare the first salt of the hexafluorobenzene cation: $${C_6}{F_6} + {O_2}^ + As{F_6} \to {C_6}{F_6}^ + As{F_6}^ - + {O_2}$$ The salt C6F6 +AsF6 - is a simple paramagnet and the crystal structure is related to that of cesium chloride with each discrete ion rhombohedrally coordinated by eight ions of the other kind.
Impact of location on survival in prostate cancer.

e16590Background: Geographic area is an aspect to consider when working to reduce health disparities. Differences in prostate cancer mortality, especially in the urban-rural continuum, have seldom ...
Conventional Open Versus Hybrid Arch Repair of Aortic Arch Disease: Early and Long-Term Outcomes.

Background It is unclear at present whether conventional open repair or a hybrid technique is preferential in the treatment of aortic arch diseases. Our intent was to compare early and long-term outcomes of both therapeutic strategies. Methods Between January 2002 and December 2017, 238 patients eligible for total arch replacement (TAR; 174) or hybrid arch repair (HAR; 64) qualified for study. A retrospective analysis of clinical outcomes was undertaken, with propensity matching (48 pairs). Mean follow-up duration was 60.2 months. Results In-hospital mortality rates were 4.6% (8 of 174 patients) and 6.3% (4 of 64 patients) in the TAR and HAR groups, respectively (p = 0.739). The TAR group displayed a lower incidence of permanent stroke (2.9%, 5 of 174 patients) by comparison (HAR: 12.5%, 8 of 64 patients; p = 0.004). Overall survival rates at 5 and 10 years differed significantly by group (TAR: 87.0% ± 5.5% and 81.9% ± 4.8%, respectively; HAR: 69.5% ± 7.4% and 40.8% ± 11.1%, respectively; p = 0.003). After propensity matching, in-hospital mortality (4.2% versus 4.2%, p > 0.99) and patient morbidities showed no statistically significant group differences. For patients undergoing HAR, a tendency for permanent stroke (14.5% versus 2.1%, p = 0.070) was evident. In the TAR (versus HAR) group, 10-year overall survival (74.7% versus 42.6%, p = 0.043) and reintervention-free (93.2% versus 34.0%, p Conclusions In the treatment of aortic arch diseases, HAR showed equivalent short-term outcomes compared with TAR but was limited regarding long-term outcomes beyond 5 years after the procedure. Conventional TAR remains the gold standard of therapy, and our findings suggest that the hybrid approach should be reserved for strictly selected patients with significant comorbidities.
Size‐structured habitat selection by arapaima in floodplain lakes of the Lower Amazon

Human modification of floodplain ecosystems is widespread and a major threat to fish populations, particularly in the tropics where fish diversity and rates of floodplain degradation are high. Identifying measures to minimize the susceptibility of floodplain fishes to habitat modification requires understanding dry‐season lake habitat selection for species of conservation concern. This study examined the effects of environmental factors on dry‐season floodplain lake habitat selection by arapaima (Arapaima spp.) and determined the extent to which they differed across three size classes. In floodplain lakes of the lower Amazon River, variables were measured at locations representing habitat availability and compared with measurements taken where arapaima were observed during surface breathing. Regression models were used to account for between‐lake variation in the presence of arapaima owing to nearby fishing communities. The probability of arapaima presence at each sample location was modelled based on the variables measured. The results indicated that arapaima expressed distinct habitat selection patterns, which differed significantly across size classes. The general pattern observed was that all arapaima were more likely to be found in deeper, more turbid, and higher conductivity locations, whereas smaller arapaima were more likely to remain near dense beds of floating macrophytes. The probability of arapaima presence differed among fishing community territories, reflecting differences in management schemes. Deeper, macrophyte‐rich sections of floodplain lakes appear to provide key habitats for arapaima and deserve consideration for becoming priority targets for conservation of the rich diversity of fish species in these systems.
The identification of the goitrogen, (−)5-vinyloxazolidine-2-thione (goitrin), as a bitter principle of cooked brussels sprouts (Brassica oleracea L. var. gemmifera)

(−)5-Vinyloxazolidine-2-thione (goitrin), a well-known goitrogen, has been identified as a bitter principle in cooked Brussels sprouts (Br. oleracea var. L. gemmifera). The identification was carried out by chemical analysis and sensory assessment.