cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Client Report on the Society for Financial Service Professionals’ Survey of Needs

The purpose of this survey was to identify what financial service professionals in the target population indicated they need to build their business and what the Society of Financial Service Professionals can do to help meet those needs.Key findings from the survey include:•The objectives of the SFSP should be to both provide support for continuing education and to help members develop innovative products in service of their clients’ needs.•A substantial number of current members responded, providing a strong basis for strategic planning for SFSP services and benefits offers.•There is strong and significant interest in Star Speakers, perhaps the serving as the basis for a Speakers Series to drive attendance and membership initiatives.•A contact database for providing members with access to allied service professionals should be established.•One-day programs on all areas of financial planning are of interest to the respondents.•One-day programs on selected areas of sales support are of interest to the respondents.
Successful Use of Pulmonary Vasodilators in Acute Chest Syndrome Complicated by Persistent Right Ventricular Failure

Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is a known consequence of sickle cell disease (SCD) and is associated with increased mortality and more frequent episodes of acute chest syndrome (ACS). Pulmonary pressures are known to increase during ACS, and right ventricular (RV) failure has been described as a significant cause of mortality in this condition. Management of ACS includes exchange transfusion, pain control, and prevention of hypovolemia and hypoxemia. However, in patients with a history of precapillary PH in whom ACS is complicated by persistent RV failure and cardiogenic shock, RV afterload reduction with pulmonary vasodilators may be an effective treatment strategy. Here, we present a case of a young man with SCD-associated PH and ACS who was successfully managed with inhaled and oral pulmonary vasodilators in the setting of persistent elevations in pulmonary vascular resistance leading to acute RV failure and cardiogenic shock.
Quantification of Cell-Matrix Interaction in 3D Using Optical Tweezers

The behavior of living cells is significantly affected by the mechanical properties of the surrounding soft extracellular matrix (ECM) comprising of various types of biopolymers. More complexity is added as cell-generated forces in turn can mechanically modify their microenvironment. Moreover, these forces can also act as mechanical signals for other cells leading to emergent collective cell dynamics. Bulk measurement techniques are not capable of resolving these local mechanical interactions which are often hidden in 3D, thus, optical tweezers have emerged as a powerful tool to directly characterize microscale mechanics and forces at play. In this chapter, we first introduce a typical experimental setup of optical tweezers and calibration methods that has been widely accepted by the mechanobiology community. Subsequently, we discuss various ways in which optical tweezers can be used to probe mechanics at different length scales such as the cytoplasm at the sub-cellular level, at the level of whole cell and finally explore the cell-cell and cell-matrix interaction. Later, perspectives on the future development of optical tweezers to study cell-matrix interaction is also provided.
Cardiac Myosin Binding Protein-C Phosphorylation Mitigates Age-Related Cardiac Dysfunction: Hope for Better Aging?

Highlights •With aging, phosphorylated-mimetic cMyBP-C mice exhibited better survival, better preservation of systolic and diastolic functions, and unchanging wall thickness compared with control mice. •Aged wild-type equivalent mice exhibited decreasing cMyBP-C phosphorylation (S273 and S282) along with worsening cardiac function and hypertrophy similarly to what was observed in hypophosphorylated cMyBP-C mice. •Intact papillary muscle experiments suggest that cMyBP-C phosphorylation increased cross-bridge detachment rates as the underlying mechanism. •Phosphorylating cMyBP-C is therefore a novel mechanism that can prevent aging-related development of cardiac dysfunction.
Reading in the presence of macular disease: a mini-review.

Author(s): Chung, Susana TL | Abstract: PurposeReading is vital to full participation in modern society. To millions of people suffering from macular disease that results in a central scotoma, reading is difficult and inefficient, rendering reading as the primary goal for most patients seeking low vision rehabilitation. The goals of this review paper are to summarize the dependence of reading speed on several key visual and typographical factors and the current methods or technologies for improving reading performance for people with macular disease.Important findingsIn general, reading speed for people with macular disease depends on print size, text contrast, size of the visual span, temporal processing of letters and oculomotor control. Attempts at improving reading speed by reducing the crowding effect between letters, words or lines; or optimizing properties of typeface such as the presence of serifs or stroke-width thickness proved to be futile, with any improvement being modest at best. Currently, the most promising method to improve reading speed for people with macular disease is training, including perceptual learning or oculomotor training.SummaryThe limitation on reading speed for people with macular disease is likely to be multi-factorial. Future studies should try to understand how different factors interact to limit reading speed, and whether different methods could be combined to produce a much greater benefit.
Reversible Fulminant Hepatitis Secondary to Cocaine in the Setting of β-Blocker Use

Background. Fulminant hepatitis is acute hepatic injury with severe decline in hepatic function manifested by encephalopathy, hypercoagulable state, jaundice, renal failure, hypoglycemia, or a constellation of these symptoms in patients without preexisting liver disease. Etiologies include viral infections, hepatotoxic drugs, autoimmune diseases, vaso-occlusive diseases, sepsis, and malignant infiltration. Case Report. A 56-year-old man presented with acute heart failure in the setting of cocaine use. The patient subsequently developed fulminant hepatic failure manifested by acute hypoglycemia, elevated liver enzyme, and worsening liver function, which resolved over 1 week with supportive care. The patient was on β-blocker, which was stopped during the admission. He was again admitted on several different occasion for cocaine-induced acute heart failure but did not develop hepatic failure as his β-blocker was discontinued. Discussion. Cocaine has been known to cause hepatotoxicity in humans. However, our patient developed fulminant hepatic failure in the setting of concomitant cocaine and β-blocker use likely secondary to unopposed α-adrenergic activity and ischemic hepatopathy. The patient did not develop hepatic failure on subsequent admissions with cocaine use after discontinuation of β-blockers.
P82 Nutrition-Related Recommendations Provided by Health Care Providers Following Hypertension Diagnosis: Findings from the 2015 Kenya STEPS-Survey

Background Hypertension (HTN) is the main modifiable risk factor in the prevention and management of cardiovascular diseases. Lifestyle modification may prevent development or reverse symptoms of HTN. Objective To determine the proportion of individuals diagnosed with HTN that were provided lifestyle modification advise by Health Care Providers (HCP) in Kenya. Study Design, Setting, Participants Secondary data analysis of cross-sectional data collected among 4500 Kenyan adults (18-69 years) participating in the 2015 Kenya STEPwise Approach to Surveillance study (STEPs). Measurable Outcome/Analysis Lifestyle modification advice was assessed using the question: “During any of your visits to a doctor or other health worker in the past 12 months, were you advised to do any of the following? a) Eat at least 5 servings of fruit and/or vegetables each day, b) Reduce fat in your diet, c) Start or do more physical activity, d) Maintain a healthy body weight or lose weight, e) Reduce sugary beverages in your diet.” Diagnosis of HTN was determined by the response to the question, “Have you ever been told by a doctor or other health worker that you have raised blood pressure or hypertension?” Descriptive statistics and cross tabulations were used for data analysis. Results Almost half (49%) of the participants had been screened for HTN with 484 (21.8%) reporting that they were diagnosed with HTN. Of those diagnosed, 37% were advised to increase intake fruits and vegetables; 37%, 27% and 25% were advised to reduce salt, fat, and sugary beverages intake respectively; and 21% and 22% were advised to start or do more physical activity, and maintain a healthy body weight or lose weight, respectively. Those with no education, low wealth status and younger were significantly (P Conclusions Majority of those diagnosed with HTN had not received lifestyle modification advice from HCP despite this being a policy recommendation in Kenya. Policy makers need to work closely with HCP to develop appropriate policy implementation strategies.
A Comparison of Medication for Opioid Use Disorder Treatment Strategies for Persons Who Inject Drugs With Invasive Bacterial and Fungal Infections.

Background Patients with opioid use disorder (OUD) are frequently admitted for invasive infections. Medications for OUD (MOUD) may improve outcomes in hospitalized patients. Methods In this retrospective cohort of 220 admissions to a tertiary care center for invasive infections due to OUD, we compared 4 MOUD treatment strategies: methadone, buprenorphine, methadone taper for detoxification, and no medication to determine whether there were differences in parenteral antibiotic completion and readmission rates. Results The MOUDs were associated with increased completion of parenteral antimicrobial therapy (64.08% vs 46.15%; odds ratio [OR] = 2.08; 95% CI, 1.23-3.61). On multivariate analysis, use of MOUD maintenance with either buprenorphine (OR = 0.38; 95% CI, .17-.85) or methadone maintenance (OR = 0.43; 95% CI, .20-.94) and continuation of MOUD on discharge (OR = 0.35; 95% CI, .18-.67) was associated with lower 90-day readmissions. In contrast, use of methadone for detoxification followed by tapering of the medication without continuation on discharge was not associated with decreased readmissions (OR = 1.87; 95% CI, .62-5.10). Conclusions Long-term MOUDs, regardless of selection, are an integral component of care in patients hospitalized with OUD-related infections. Patients with OUD should have arrangements made for MOUDs to be continued after discharge, and MOUDs should not be discontinued before discharge.
The Loss of Size Sensitivity in para-Hydrogen Clusters Due to the Strong Quantum Delocalization.

para-Hydrogen (pH2)N clusters have been the focus of numerous computational studies. Originally motivated by the possibility of observing superfluidity, these studies also revealed rich and complex structural properties of (pH2)N. However, their structural analysis was typically limited to attempts to identify "magic number clusters" by computing their ground state energies EN and the chemical potential μN = EN-EN-1 as a function of N. This was followed by structural analysis based on an ill-defined radial density profile. Surprisingly, however, there were remarkable discrepancies between the results reported in the literature for cluster sizes beyond approximately N = 25, and this ambiguity remained unsettled until now. In the present paper, we apply the diffusion Monte Carlo method to resolve inconsistencies in cluster sizes within the range (N = 24-28). Here, we try to avoid speculations based on the highly demanding energy calculations whose numerical accuracy harbors ambiguity. Instead, we focus on the direct and unambiguous structural analysis of the ground state wavefunctions, which supports the conclusion that the clusters are structurally the same in the size range considered. That is, there are no magic number clusters at least in the range N = 24-28, contrary to what some of the previous publications have suggested. This lack of size sensitivity of para-hydrogen clusters is a direct consequence of the strong quantum delocalization in these systems.
Surface modification of cellulose nanofiber film with fatty acids for developing renewable hydrophobic food packaging

Abstract Cellulose Nanofibers (CNF) have been increasingly investigated as an alternative to plastic packages. Despite their excellent mechanical properties, their hydrophilic nature affects their application as a food packaging component. Chemical modification can improve their hydrophobicity, but result in films with the poor mechanical property. In this study, we investigated the modification of premade CNF films with saturated fatty acids lauric, palmitic, and stearic acids using modification techniques that aimed to preserve mechanical property while maintaining hydrophobicity. Two modification techniques were followed: bulk modification, where the entire film was exposed to the reaction medium and surface modification where only one of the surfaces of the CNF film was exposed. The resulting films were investigated for their proof of modification, mechanical and water vapor barrier property, surface free energy, crystallinity, and their thermal stability. Both modification techniques resulted in films with increased surface hydrophobicity; the films that were formed through bulk modification of CNF improved its water vapor barrier property significantly (p
Framing mass shootings as a social problem: A comparison of ideologically and non-ideologically motivated attacks

Abstract Typically regarded as separate phenomena, recent events suggest that mass shootings and terrorism may not be as distinct as previously believed. Given that most members of the public never will directly be impacted by either of these types of tragedies, news media play a critical role in shaping perceptions about these events as social problems. To date, however, there has been little empirical research on the similarities and differences in news coverage of mass shootings and terrorism events. Therefore, the current study analyzes New York Times coverage of 18 mass shootings, both ideological (extreme far-right and radical Islamic) and non-ideological (e.g., school, workplace), in the context of Joel Best's model of social problems creation. Findings indicate that although the basic structure of this model (defining the problem through headlines, using examples and statistics to offer context) is employed across mass shooting types, the way these events are framed diverges based on the motivation of the shooter. Specific disparities exist related to the rhetorical devices used to frame headlines, the way in which shooters and victims are emphasized, and the solutions offered. These differences can have broader implications for shared understandings and policy responses to mass shootings as a social problem.
Accommodating Cardinal, Ordinal and Mixed Preferences: An Extended Preference Domain for the Assignment Problem

We extend the preference domain of the assignment problem to accommodate ordinal, cardinal and mixed preferences together and thereby allow the mechanism designer to elicit different levels of information about individuals' preferences. Given a fixed preference relation over a finite set of alternatives, our domain contains preferences over lotteries which are monotonic, continuous and satisfy independence axiom. Under a natural coarseness relation, the stochastic dominance relation is the coarsest element of the domain and represents fully ordinal preferences. Any von Neumann Morgenstern expected utility preference is a finest element and represents fullycardinal preferences. The extended domain can be characterized by an expected multi-utility representation. We provide a preference reporting language enabling agents to use the extended domain. We generalize the pseudo market mechanism of Hylland and Zeckhauser (1979) for the extended domain and show that the family of pseudo market mechanisms are efficient and weakly envy-free while they fail strategy-proofness. The extended domain naturally admits the impossibility results of the cardinal domain and the ordinal domain. We show, however, that one can find a mechanism which is efficient and weakly strategy-proof for the agents with ordinal preferences.
Statins for primary prevention of cardiovascular disease

Patients need better tools to navigate divergent recommendations Statins are beneficial in patients with known cardiovascular disease (CVD) but less well established for primary prevention in asymptomatic patients.1 At least five authoritative guidelines, including the recent publication from the US Preventive Services Task Force, cover this issue.2 3 4 5 6 7 Their differing recommendations, however, suggest considerable uncertainty in the underlying data, causing confusion for both clinicians and patients. The guidelines share several common themes. The essential elements for primary prevention include a healthy lifestyle, treatment of modifiable risk factors, and measurement of serum lipid concentrations in patients aged over 40 years. They agree that statins are appropriate in patients with a high risk of cardiovascular disease—for example, people over 40 with diabetes. All guidelines also recommend statins in other patients with increased cardiovascular risk but with considerable divergence in the details. The US task force guideline recommends initiating low-to-moderate dose statins in adults aged 40 to 75 years without a history of cardiovascular disease who have at least one risk factor (dyslipidaemia, diabetes, hypertension, or smoking) and a …
Using Past Data to Warm Start Active Machine Learning: Does Context Matter?

Despite the abundance of data generated from students’ activities in virtual learning environments, the use of supervised machine learning in learning analytics is limited by the availability of labeled data, which can be difficult to collect for complex educational constructs. In a previous study, a subfield of machine learning called Active Learning (AL) was explored to improve the data labeling efficiency. AL trains a model and uses it, in parallel, to choose the next data sample to get labeled from a human expert. Due to the complexity of educational constructs and data, AL has suffered from the cold-start problem where the model does not have access to sufficient data yet to choose the best next sample to learn from. In this paper, we explore the use of past data to warm start the AL training process. We also critically examine the implications of differing contexts (urbanicity) in which the past data was collected. To this end, we use authentic affect labels collected through human observations in middle school mathematics classrooms to simulate the development of AL-based detectors of engaged concentration. We experiment with two AL methods (uncertainty sampling, L-MMSE) and random sampling for data selection. Our results suggest that using past data to warm start AL training could be effective for some methods based on the target population's urbanicity. We provide recommendations on the data selection method and the quantity of past data to use when warm starting AL training in the urban and suburban schools.
Development of a Cultural Intelligence Framework in Pharmacy Education.

Objective. Pharmacists must be equipped with the knowledge, skills, and attitudes necessary to provide culturally intelligent and patient-centered care; however, most are not trained to do so. In order to prepare culturally intelligent pharmacists, standards and curricula for cultural intelligence must be defined and implemented within pharmacy education. The objective of this study was to create a cultural intelligence framework (CIF) for pharmacy education and determine its alignment with Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) training. Methods. An extensive literature analysis on current methods of cultural intelligence education was used to construct a CIF, which integrates leading models of cultural intelligence in health care education with Bloom’s Taxonomy. Five student focus groups were conducted to explore and map their cultural experiences to the CIF. All focus groups were recorded, transcribed, deidentified and deductively coded using the CIF. Results. The four CIF domains (awareness, knowledge, practice, desire) were observed in all five focus groups; however, not every participant expressed each domain when sharing their experiences. Most students expressed cultural awareness, knowledge, and desire, however, only a few students discussed cultural practice. Participant comments regarding their experiences differed by race and year in the curriculum. Conclusion. This study was a first step toward understanding cultural intelligence education and experiences in pharmacy. The CIF represents an evidence-based approach to cultural intelligence training that can help prepare pharmacy learners to be socially responsible health care practitioners.
Adhesion barriers in cardiac surgery: A systematic review of efficacy.

BACKGROUND Postoperative pericardial adhesions have been associated with increased morbidity, mortality, and surgical difficulty. Barriers exist to limit adhesion formation, yet little is known about their use in cardiac surgery. The study presented here provides the first major systematic review of adhesion barriers in cardiac surgery. METHODS Scopus and PubMed were assessed on November 20, 2020. Inclusion criteria were clinical studies on human subjects, and exclusion criteria were studies not published in English and case reports. Risk of bias was evaluated with the Cochrane Risk of Bias Tool. Barrier efficacy data was assessed with Excel and GraphPad Prism 5. RESULTS Twenty-five studies were identified with a total of 13 barriers and 2928 patients. Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) was the most frequently evaluated barrier (13 studies, 67% of patients) with adhesion formation rate of 37.31% and standardized tenacity score of 26.50. Several barriers had improved efficacy. In particular, Cova CARD had a standardized tenacity score of 15.00. CONCLUSIONS Overall, the data varied considerably in terms of study design and reporting bias. The amount of data was also limited for the non-PTFE studies. PTFE has historically been effective in preventing adhesions. More recent barriers may be superior, yet the current data is nonconfirmatory. No ideal adhesion barrier currently exists, and future barriers must focus on the requirements unique to operating in and around the heart.
ULTIMATE STRENGTH OF LATERALLY LOADED COLUMNS

Analytical procedures are developed for computing the maximum carrying capacity of steel columns subjected to combined axial thrust and lateral load. It is assumed that the columns are permitted to deflect only in the plane of the applied load and that failure is always caused by excessive bending in the same plane. Numerical results are obtained for four types of columns with different loading and support conditions and are presented in the form of interaction curves relating axial thrust, lateral load, and slenderness ratio. The analytically obtained results are compared with the predictions based on an empirical interaction formula and good agreement is observed.
I'll Come Back and Stalk You

Abstract In this article, I analyze conflicts between advocacy and research on offenders and specifically male offenders. The analysis is based on the contradictory investments I had as a female researcher and an advocate during Kevin's final months on death row until his execution. My activism on Kevin's behalf facilitated research access. The interviews provided Kevin with a rare forum for enacting a powerful masculine self, a demonstration that eventually positioned me as his victim. The assuredness of Kevin's execution allowed me to ignore his harassment and to continue data collection. As criminologists, we are likely to be consumers of state control. Criminologists, and specifically women, may also be objects of informants' control. Presented in their structural context, research interactions can illuminate both the far reach of state power and the gendered nature of criminology.
Inserting Micro-Breaks into Crowdsourcing Workflows

Participants in human computation workflows may become fatigued or get bored over long, interminable working hours. This leads to a slump of motivation and morale, which in the long run causes reductions in both productivity and work quality. In this paper we propose an initial investigation into possible ways to alleviate worker fatigue and boredom by employing micro-breaks that provide timely relax to workers during long sequences of tasks. We experimentally test micro-breaks on Amazon’s Mechanical Turk, showing that micro-breaks can significantly improve worker retention rate as task batches reach hours in length, and appear to increase overall worker engagement and commitment to their work.
Analytic model of the Gruneisen parameter all densities

Abstract We model the density dependence of the Gruneisen parameter as γ(ρ)=1/2+γ1/ρ1/3+γ2/ρq, where γ1,γ2, and q>1 are constants. This form is based on the assumption that γ is an analytic function of V1/3, and was designed to accurately represent the experimentally determined low-pressure behavior of γ. The numerical values of the constants are obtained for 20 elemental solids. Using the Lindemann criterion with our model for γ, we calculate melting curves for Al, Ar, Cu, Pd, and Pt and compare them to available experimental and theoretical melt data. We also determine the Z (atomic number) dependence of γ1.The high-compression limit of the model is shown to follow from a generalization of the Slater, Dugdale–MacDonald, and Vashchenko–Zubarevforms for the volume dependence of the Gruneisen parameter.
BMI as a Predictor for Potential Difficult Tracheal Intubation in Males.

Introduction: Difficult tracheal intubation is a common source of mortality and morbidity in surgical and critical care settings. The incidence reported of difficult tracheal intubation is 0.1 to 13% and reaches 14% in the obese population. The objective of our retrospective study was to investigate and compare the utility of BMI as indicator of difficult tracheal intubation in males and females. Material and methods: We performed a retrospective chart review of patients who underwent abdominal surgeries with ASA I to V under general anesthesia requiring endotracheal intubation. The following information was obtained from medical records for analysis: gender, age, height, weight, BMI, length of patient stay in the Post Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU), past medical history of sleep apnea, Mallampati score, and the ASA classification assigned by the anesthesia care provider performing the endotracheal intubation. Results: Of 4303 adult patients, 1970 (45.8%) men and 2333 (54.2%) women, were enrolled in the study. Within this group, a total of 1673 (38.9%) patients were morbidly obese. The average age of the study group was 51.4 ± 15.8 and the average BMI was 29.7 ± 8.2 kg/m². The overall incidence of the encountered difficult intubations was 5.23%, or 225 subjects. Thus, our results indicate that BMI is a reliable predictor of difficult tracheal intubation predominantly in the male population; another strong predictor, with a positive linear correlation, being the Mallampati score. Conclusions: In conclusion, our data shows that BMI is a reliable indicator of potential difficult tracheal intubation only in male surgical patients.
Dispersed cuticles from the Eocene of North America

KOVACH, W. L. & DILCHER, D. L., 1984. Dispersed cuticles from the Eocene of North America. Macerations of organic-rich clay from the Claiborne Formation (Middle Eocene) of Tennessee have yielded a wide variety of well-preserved dispersed cuticles. Details of the epidermal cell patterns, arrangement of the stomata1 complex, trichomes and trichome attachment have made possible the association of some dispersed cuticles with leaf types known from this formation which have similar cuticle, and with modern families. All dispersed cuticles are classified in a morphologic system. Through both our own work and a review of previous investigations we have found that distinct dispersed cuticle types can be recognized and may be used biostratigraphically to characterize geologic strata, palaeo-ecologically to provide insights into environmental reconstruction, and systematically to follow the history of certain taxa.
Higher Education and the Early Education of African American Ministers

The education of African American ministers in the United States has been little researched. Numerous books address the profession of ministry and the education of Blacks in general, but most do not specifically address issues pertaining to the professional education of Black ministers. The majority of the hurdles African Americans faced were primarily in the South and were incurred by the institution of slavery. This does not imply that African Americans residing in the Northern states did not encounter more than their share of hurdles based on the color of their skin.
Vinca Alkaloids XXXIII [1]. Microbiological Conversions of Vincaleukoblastine (VLB, Vinblastine), an Antitumor Alkaloid from Vinca rosea. LINN

The conversion of VLB using different Streptomycetes led to the isolation of VLB-ether (3) and Hydroxy VLB (6). The structural assignments have been made by NMR. and high resolution mass spectral data.
Quantitative Nuclear Evaporation Theory. II. Proton Evaporation

The transmission of protons into an infinitely absorbing Eckart-Bethe diffuse-nuclear-potential well has been calculated exactly as a function of nuclear size, proton energy, and angular momentum. The transmission varies by an order of magnitude from that computed by others in the critical energy range where the peak of the evaporated proton spectrum occurs. The computed transmission is used to calculate the spectra of protons emitted from excited nuclei and the reaction cross sections for ($p, \mathrm{pn}$), ($p, 2n$), and ($p, 2p$) processes. The fit with experimental data is excellent.
Development and Implementation of a Trespass Location Severity Analysis on a Commuter Rail Right of Way

The United States Department of Transportation’s (USDOT) Research and Innovative Technology Administration’s John A. Volpe National Transportation Systems Center (Volpe Center), under the direction of the USDOT Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) Office of Research and Development (R&D), is conducting a Trespass Prevention Research Study (TPRS) in the city of West Palm Beach, Florida. The main objective of this research is to demonstrate potential benefits, including documenting best practices and lessons learned, of implementation and evaluation of trespass prevention strategies on the rail network in West Palm Beach, Florida and all of its rights-of-way.This paper will detail the development and implementation of a risk based data analysis to determine the locations of highest trespass risk along the TriRail commuter rail corridor through the City of West Palm Beach, FL. This feeds into the overall study objective by providing a methodology for prioritizing safety improvement programs for high-risk trespass locations.The research team used a hazard analysis process based on the U.S. Department of Defense’s MIL-STD-882 and the APTA hazard identification/resolution processes. The adaptation of this methodology facilitated the systematic identification, analysis, and resolution/mitigation of hazards for this study.The research team also developed a risk-based prioritization algorithm for analyzing the trespass issue on the corridor. The hazard analysis and risk-based prioritization algorithm were used to identify several trespass high-risk areas along the TriRail corridor. The results of the analysis have been used by the study’s stakeholder group, composed of railroads, state and local agencies, and their safety partners, to develop a set of mitigation strategies for those higher-risk locations as identified though this analysis.© 2013 ASME
Carbon Dioxide Tension and its Relation to the Quiescence of Spermatozoa in vivo

SummaryThere is conflicting opinion concerning the motility of spermatozoa within the generative tract. It has been suggested that a high local tension of carbon dioxide prevents them from becoming motile in the epididymis and vas deferens. The carbon dioxide concentration of various tissues of the rat was studied and found even lower in the generative organs than in liver or skeletal muscle. Furthermore, the concentration of carbon dioxide found in the tissues of the generative tract was much lower than that which is required to immobilize spermatozoa in vitro.
TU‐C‐141‐08: Evaluate Deformable Image Registration for the Lungs Using Hyperpolarized Gas Tagging MRI

Purpose: To evaluate deformable image registration for the lungs using hyperpolarized gas MR tagging technique.Method and Materials: A 3D MR grid‐tagging technique using hyperpolarized helium‐3 (HP‐He3) as gaseous contrast was developed for direct measurement of lung respiratory motion. One healthy subject was imaged at the end‐of‐inhalation (EOI) and end‐of‐exhalation (EOE) phases in a single scan using the HP He‐3 MR tagging technique, as well as a high‐resolution 3D proton MR sequence (TrueFISP) which shows rich internal lung features (pulmonary vessels). 3D displacement vectors of the lungs between the EOI and EOE phases were determined via two Methods: 1) by tracking the movements of the tags between the two phases in the HP He‐3 MR tagging images; and 2) by registering the proton MR images at two phases using deformable image registration (DIR) via commercial software. DIR‐derived 3D displacement vectors were down‐sampled to approximate the resolutions of those derived from the MR tagging method. Furthermore, 3D lung ventilation maps, where ventilation is defined as (Volume_EOE‐Volume_EOI)/Volume_EOI, were created based on the displacement vectors and compared between the two methods. Results: The HP He‐3 tagging MR images clearly revealed 3D lung respiratory motion between the EOI and EOE phases. Tags in the EOE phase were slightly blurred but traceable. 3D displacement vectors derived from the tagging and DIR methods showed distinct differences in motion pattern, amplitude and direction, for the entire lungs and on regional basis. Lung ventilation maps derived from two methods showed different mean values and uniformity: the mean (±SD) ventilation was −0.49 (±0.19) and 0.14 (±0.32) for the MR tagging and DIR methods, respectively. Conclusions: Discrepancies were found in lung respiratory motion and ventilation between the HP He‐3 MR tagging method and the DIR method. Thorough evaluation of DIR accuracy for the lungs is highly desired in future studies.
Vortices and monopoles in Liouville and string theory

Abstract We consider applications of recent results describing Kosterlitz-Thouless type phase transitions of vortices and monopoles defined on a two-dimensional space of spherical topology. It is argued that bosonic Liouville theory, and its N =1 supersymmetric generalization, are in the strong coupling phase unless D N =2 theory, however, it is unlikely that such a restriction is necessary; the theory being in the weak phase for any value of D . We also comment on applications to closed bosonic strings compactified on a circle, in which we obtain results that differ from those in the literature.
Density of semidry silicon carbide bodies made by vibroimpact compaction

Other conditions being equal, the process time for compaction depends on the excitation force and the contact compression pressure. For each value of excitation force there exists a definite optimum contact pressure, up to which there is a gradual increase in the final density of the material and a reduction in the required vibration time. An increase in the contact pressure above this optimum value causes a reduction in the final density and an increase in the compaction time.
Using Vortex Coreline Detection to Characterize Aneurysmal Flow Activity

Assessing the risk of rupture of cerebral aneurysms is important for planning elective interventions. Since hemodynamics is thought to play a fundamental role in the mechanisms governing aneurysm progression and rupture, numerous investigations have tried to connect aneurysm hemodynamic conditions and rupture. In our previous work aneurysm flow patterns were qualitatively classified into simple / complex and stable / unstable categories by looking at the number of vortices within the aneurysm and their persistence during the cardiac cycle [1, 2]. The purpose of this work is to propose objective hemodynamic metrics that can capture these flow characteristics with the goal of relating them to aneurysm rupture.Copyright © 2012 by ASME
Slow Photoelectron Velocity-Map Imaging Spectroscopy of the ortho-Hydroxyphenoxide Anion

We report high-resolution photodetachment spectra of cryogenically cooled ortho-hydroxyphenoxide anions (o-HOC6H4O–) using slow photoelectron velocity-map imaging spectroscopy (cryo-SEVI). We observe transitions to the three lowest-lying electronic states of the ortho-hydroxyphenoxy radical, and resolve detailed vibrational features. Comparison to Franck–Condon simulations allows for clear assignment of vibronic structure. We find an electron affinity of 2.3292(4) eV for the neutral X2A″ ground state, improving upon the accuracy of previous experiments. We measure term energies of 1.4574(7) eV and 1.5922(48) eV for the A2A′ and B2A″ excited states respectively, representing their first resolution and clear assignment. Photodetachment threshold effects are considered to explain the structure of these bands.
Biomechanics of deep overbite correction

Abstract Correction of deep overbite can be accomplished in different ways depending on the treatment goals chosen for individual patients. The 2 primary methods of correction are intrusion of anterior teeth or extrusion of posterior teeth. Successful intrusion of the incisors depends on careful control of the force system used. Low force magnitude, force constancy, a properly selected single point of force application, and control of force direction are all important factors to consider. The design of the intrusion arch may be continuous, or a 3-piece intrusion arch may be selected depending on the needs of the patient. Alternatively, extrusion of posterior teeth may be indicated in patients who are still actively growing and who have short vertical facial dimensions.
19F NMR studies of the binding of 5-fluoro-2'-deoxyuridylate to thymidylate synthase.

In the presence of thymidylate synthase, the 19F signal of 5-fluoro-2′-deoxyuridylate is shifted upfield 0.6 ppm or 4.5 ppm depending on the enzyme preparation used. The bands at these positions represent different species of binary complex. When either binary complex is reacted with methylenetetrahydrofolate a ternary complex is formed with a 19F signal shifted 12.5 ppm upfield and broadened to 120 Hz.
Role of peroxynitrite in the process of vascular tone regulation by nitric oxide and prostanoids--a nanotechnological approach.

Summary The production of peroxynitrite (ONOO − ) in the endothelium decreases NO bioavailability, decreases vasorelaxation and changes vascular tone. ONOO − can also influence the production of prostacyclin—another vasorelaxant. We used a nanotechnological approach (nanosensors) to elucidate the release of NO, O 2 − , and ONOO − in endothelium and their effect on production of prostanoids. The basal ONOO − concentration near the endothelium (3–5μm) varied from 1 to 50nmol/L and maximal calcium ionophore stimulated ONOO − , did not exceed 900nmol/L. The highest ONOO − concentrations were produced in ischemia/reperfusion atherosclerosis, diabetes, aging and vary among different racial groups (higher in Blacks than in Whites). ONOO − decreased PGI 2 activity with IC 50 ≈150nmol/L for 8min reaction time, but has no effect of short reaction time. Prostaglandin E 1 decreased NO, O 2 − , and ONOO − by limiting Ca 2+ flux into endothelium, decreased edema and vasoconstriction during ischemia/reperfusion. In endothelium (HUVEC's) of Black's the ONOO − concentrations were high 750±50nmol/L while the lowest concentrations of vasorelaxants were 275±25nmol/L of NO, 150±15pb/100μg protein of 6-keto-PGF 1 α as compared to White's (420±30 and 470± nmol/L for ONOO − and NO respectively and 280±20pg/100mg protein for 6-keto-PGF 1 α ).
Selecting livers for transplantation: can beggars be choosers?

In this era of critical organ shortage, how should physicians and patients decide whether to accept or decline the offer of a specific deceased-donor liver? The author of this Viewpoint article considers recent data evaluating the impact of donor characteristics and severity of recipient disease on the decision-making process.
External cue control of DRL performance in rats with septal lesions

Abstract Septally-lesioned, thalamically-lesioned, and normal animals were trained to bar-press on a DRL-20 schedule for food reinforcement. For half of the animals, a cue light signalled the end of the required delay during the first half of training. The light cue conditions were reversed for all animals in the last half of training. All animals decreased their rate of response during training, regardless of the presence or absence of the cue light. However, the septal animals, in contrast to the normal and thalamic animals, increased their reinforcement frequency only when the cue light was used. In addition, when the cue light was used, all animals had a bimodal distribution of inter-response times, with one mode at the shortest recorded delay and a mode at the 20-sec delay interval. When the cue light was not used, the thalamic and normal animals again had a bimodal distribution, while the septal animals had a unimodal distribution with the mode located at the shortest recorded delays. The results suggested that the cue light functioned as a discriminative cue for bar-pressing and secondly, as a reinforcing stimulus for behaviors which mediated the required delay. It was concluded that the septal deficit on DRL schedules results from a failure to utilize response-produced, proprioceptive stimuli as cues for bar-pressing.
Self-Identity: The Relationship between Process and Content

Abstract Prior research has demonstrated that individuals differ in the ways in which they approach or manage to avoid the tasks of self-construction and reconstruction. This study was designed to investigate hypothesized relationships between identity processing styles and the nature of the self-attributes in terms of which self-identity is defined. Findings revealed that self-definitional emphases were associated with identity processing styles: informational subjects highlighted private self-elements, normative types emphasized collective self-content, and diffuse/avoiders focused on public self-components. The results are discussed in terms of a process view of identity development.
Interferometric Measurement of Wave-Front Aberrations in Gratings and Echelles*

Modern production of diffraction gratings requires rapid and reliable methods of evaluating quantitatively the wave fronts produced, to determine errors in blank figure and groove positioning. Comparison of methods, including cross ruling, moire patterns with replicas, Foucault knife-edge tests, phase contrast determinations, and various types of interferometry, supplemented by determinations of ghost intensities, indicates that for errors greater than about λ/40, comparison of the wave front with that from a reference mirror in a Michelson interferometer used in the Twyman-Green manner gives the most nearly adequate conditions for good visibility and sensitivity. Tests at great diffraction angles, necessary for high sensitivity, give patterns of higher contrast and greater intensity than those obtained with the Fizeau plano-interferometer. Exposure times of 10 sec give all needed information about errors.Analysis of the straight-line fringe system obtained shows that in a given order m, a spacing error expressed in fringes is given by Δa=a/m per fringe deviation in the interference pattern, if the spacing constant a is also expressed in fringes. The spacing error per fringe aberration in the interferometer has the same absolute value for all gratings and echelles, irrespective of their spacing constant, provided that the interferograms are taken at the same angle of incidence, and in light of the same wavelength. This provides an important way of directly comparing the quality of various diffraction instruments, and of estimating their intrinsic resolving powers separate from the aberrations of other components of the spectrograph, which affect the limit of resolution.Uniqueness of interpretation of the interferograms can be ascertained by taking interferograms of the same grating area in two suitably selected orders, with a graduated reference scale placed directly on the grating surface showing in both.
The theory of the Trojan asteroids, part V

E.W. Brown conjectured (1911) that the family of the long-periodic orbits in the Troian case of the restricted problem of three bodies terminates in an asymptotic orbit passing through the Lagrangian point L3 at t=±∞. In 1977 the author showed that such an orbit deviates from L3 by the epicyclic term mg (±∞). It is shown here that $$g\left( { \pm \infty } \right) = 0,$$ so that the Brown conjecture regarding L3 is false. Contrary to what Brown believed, there is an entire family ofhomoclinic orbits, doubly asymptotic to short-periodic orbits around L3. In the complex z-plane of the Poincare eccentric variables, the latter orbits are circles of radius mR, with R bounded away from zero. The kinematics of the homoclinic family is investigated here in some detail.
ADAPTIVE INPUT–OUTPUT LINEARIZATION OF A pH NEUTRALIZATION PROCESS

Adaptive non-linear control strategies for a pH neutralization process are developed and evaluated via simulation. A non-adaptive non-linear controller is designed using a modified input–output linearization technique which accounts for the implicit output equation in the reaction invariant model. For simplicity the reaction invariants are assumed to be available for feedback. Because the model exhibits significant time-varying behaviour, the input–output linearizing controller is combined with non-linear parameter estimators which account for unmeasured buffering changes. Simulation results demonstrate that a novel indirect adaptive strategy is most suitable for experimental implementation where the reaction invariants must be estimated and sampling is required. © 1997 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.