cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Reducing CO2 Inhalation in Clinical Pulmonary Investigations

Patient comfort during any scanning procedure always complements the quality of the scan being done. Many of our patients undergoing clinical pulmonary investigations were becoming progressively nervous; sometimes we were unable to complete the study. We later determined that this was caused by the rebreathing of expired CO2 gas, which collected in a 12-in. flexible tube connecting the mouthpiece to the delivery arm of the machine. This problem was alleviated by affixing two one-way disposable valves to the mouthpiece in order to prevent backflow of expired CO2 gas and at the same time allow fresh room air to be breathed. By eliminating the backflow of C02 and making it possible for the patient to breath easily in ample room air, we reduced the apprehension previously observed. As a result, complete and improved pulmonary function studies on our patients were produced.
Optimum Design: Numerical Solution Process and Excel Solver

An introduction to the numerical methods for solution of optimum design problems is presented. Search methods are classified into different categories, such as derivative-based methods, direct search methods, derivative-free methods, and nature-inspired methods. A key step in the solution process is the refinement of the problem formulation since the initial formulation of the problem may be deficient; that is, it may be infeasible or unbounded, constraint limits may not be proper, etc. This process of refinement of the initial formulation is illustrated with an example problem. “What to do if the solution process fails?” is discussed. Simple scaling of variables, which can help in the solution process, is described. Scaling of constraints is discussed and illustrated. The Excel Solver is introduced and illustrated for solution of nonlinear equations and for unconstrained and constrained linear and nonlinear programming problems. Then two practical problems, design of coil springs and design of plate girders, are formulated as optimum design problems and solved using the Solver.
Length of Stay in Skilled Nursing Facilities Following Total Joint Arthroplasty.

Abstract Background The most commonly used postacute care facility after total joint arthroplasty is a skilled nursing facility (SNF). However, little is known regarding the role of physical therapy achievements and insurance status on the decision to discharge from an SNF. In this study, we aim to compare functional outcomes and length of stay (LOS) at an SNF among patients with Medicare vs private health coverage. Methods We retrospectively collected physical therapy data for 114 patients who attended an SNF following acute hospitalization for total joint arthroplasty. Medicare beneficiaries were compared with patients covered by Managed Care (MC) policies (health maintenance organization [HMO] and preferred provider organization [PPO]) using several SNF discharge outcomes, including LOS, distance ambulated, and functional independence in gait, transfers, and bed mobility. Results LOS at the SNF was significantly longer for Medicare patients (Medicare: 24 ± 22 days, MC: 12 ± 7 days, P = .007). After adjusting for LOS and covariates, MC patients had significantly greater achievements in all functional outcomes measured. In a study subanalysis, Medicare patients were found to achieve similar functional outcomes by SNF day 14 as MC patients achieved by their day of discharge on approximately day 12. Yet, the Medicare group was not discharged until several days later. Conclusion Medicare status is associated with poor functional outcomes, long LOS, and slow progress in the SNF. Our results suggest that insurance reimbursement may be a primary factor in the decision to discharge, rather than the achievement of functional milestones.
Thermoelectric properties of crystalline and amorphous polypyrrole: A computational study

Abstract Organic thermoelectric (TE) materials are flexible, cost-effective, and eco-friendly. Their state-of-the-art ZT values are, however, far below inorganic thermoelectrics. In this work, we use first-principles calculations based on density-functional theory (DFT) and the Boltzmann transport equation to study the electronic transport properties of polypyrrole (PPy), which is one of the conducting polymers. We apply molecular dynamics simulations for its thermal transport properties. For hexafluorophosphate ( PF 6 - ) doped PPy (PPy-PF6), we find that the crystalline phase has exceptionally high electrical conductivity, while the amorphous phase possesses a high Seebeck coefficient and a low thermal conductivity. The ZT value along the chain direction of the crystalline phase is higher than that of the amorphous phase. The results may shed light on further improving ZT of PPy and conducting polymers in general for potentially energy-efficient thermoelectric applications.
Communications flow considerations in vehicle navigation and information systems

The advent of numerous intelligent vehicle/highway system projects has brought to the forefront issues that must be decided before an integrated approach can proceed. The author discusses possible methods of transferring information to and from the vehicle navigation system, outlining some of the advantages and disadvantages of each method, and presents some of the types of information that may be communicated in future vehicle navigation and traffic control systems. He concludes, from knowledge of the minimum desired functionality of a vehicle navigation system, that the need for some type of two-way infrastructure to facilitate data transfer is apparent. He points out that a thorough investigation of the alternative uses for the vehicle navigation system and its communications network must be conducted, and expansion must be taken into account in all standards for vehicle navigation systems and their infrastructures. >
Enrolled 1919–1929

Vincent Joseph Anyzeski brought meteor study back to New Haven, Connecticut, where the serious study of meteors began in the USA in 1833.
A Novel Antithrombotic Mechanism Mediated by the Receptors of the Kallikrein/Kinin and Renin–Angiotensin Systems

The contact activation (CAS) and kallikrein/kinin (KKS) systems regulate thrombosis risk in two ways. First, the CAS influences contact activation-induced factor XI activation and thrombin formation through the hemostatic cascade. Second, prekallikrein (PK) and bradykinin of the KKS regulate expression of three vessel wall G-protein-coupled receptors, the bradykinin B2 receptor (B2R), angiotensin receptor 2, and Mas to influence prostacyclin formation. The degree of intravascular prostacyclin formation inversely regulates intravascular thrombosis risk. A 1.5- to 2-fold increase in prostacyclin, as seen in PK deficiency, increases vessel wall Sirt1 and KLF4 to downregulate vessel wall tissue factor which alone is sufficient to lengthen induced thrombosis times. A twofold to threefold increase in prostacyclin, as seen the B2R-deficient mouse, delays thrombosis and produces a selective platelet function defect of reduced GPVI activation and platelet spreading. Regulation of CAS and KKS protein expression has a profound influence on thrombosis-generating mechanisms in the intravascular compartment.
Multiple Sclerosis Biomarker Discovery via Bayesian Feature Selection

Recent work proposes a hierarchical Bayesian framework for feature selection, where a prior describes the identity of each feature set and the underlying distribution parameters. Assuming jointly Gaussian features, a posterior is found in closed form, and an approximation is presented to develop fast suboptimal algorithms. Applying this method to multiple sclerosis data we find highly ranked genes and pathways suggested to be involved in multiple sclerosis.
Patterns and anomalies in k-cores of real-world graphs with applications

How do the k-core structures of real-world graphs look like? What are the common patterns and the anomalies? How can we exploit them for applications? A k-core is the maximal subgraph in which all vertices have degree at least k. This concept has been applied to such diverse areas as hierarchical structure analysis, graph visualization, and graph clustering. Here, we explore pervasive patterns related to k-cores and emerging in graphs from diverse domains. Our discoveries are: (1) Mirror Pattern: coreness (i.e., maximum k such that each vertex belongs to the k-core) is strongly correlated with degree. (2) Core-Triangle Pattern: degeneracy (i.e., maximum k such that the k-core exists) obeys a 3-to-1 power-law with respect to the count of triangles. (3) Structured Core Pattern: degeneracy–cores are not cliques but have non-trivial structures such as core–periphery and communities. Our algorithmic contributions show the usefulness of these patterns. (1) Core-A, which measures the deviation from Mirror Pattern, successfully spots anomalies in real-world graphs, (2) Core-D, a single-pass streaming algorithm based on Core-Triangle Pattern, accurately estimates degeneracy up to 12 $$\times $$ faster than its competitor. (3) Core-S, inspired by Structured Core Pattern, identifies influential spreaders up to 17 $$\times $$ faster than its competitors with comparable accuracy.
Entomophthoromycosis and mucormycosis as causes of pneumonia in Vietnamese potbellied pigs

Two Vietnamese potbellied pigs ( Sus scrofa) had respiratory disease and, on autopsy, both pigs had large masses in the lungs and thoracic cavity. Microscopically, pulmonary and pleural masses contained large areas with hyphae surrounded by hypereosinophilic cellular debris rimmed by abundant eosinophils, lymphocytes, plasma cells, and histiocytes with occasional multinucleate giant cells. The hypereosinophilic debris usually formed tight cuffs, or "sleeves" around the hyphae, compatible with Splendore-Hoeppli-like material. The fungal organisms were determined by PCR to be Conidiobolus incongruus in one pig and Mucor circinelloides in the other. Entomophthoromycosis and mucormycosis should be included in the differential diagnoses for swine pneumonia, particularly when there is evidence of granulomatous pulmonary masses and pleural effusion with eosinophilic inflammation.
The Invisible Colleges Revisited: An Empirical Review

ABSTRACTThis study undertook an empirical examination of those institutions identified as “invisible” in The Invisible Colleges: A Profile of Small, Private Colleges With Limited Resources. As of 2...
Influence of environmental factors on capelin distributions in the Gulf of Alaska

Abstract Capelin (Mallotus villosus) are an important mid-trophic link within marine food webs, yet there is limited information describing fluctuations in distributions and abundances of capelin in the Alaskan North Pacific. The influence of physical and biological environmental factors on capelin distributions was investigated over continental shelf waters in the central Gulf of Alaska (CGOA). Acoustic, oceanographic, and trawl sampling were conducted in summer and fall of 2011 and 2013 as part of the Gulf of Alaska Integrated Ecosystem Research Program. Continuous acoustic sampling across bathymetric gradients showed capelin distributions on the CGOA shelf were primarily concentrated over submarine banks less than 100 m in depth. Acoustic densities of capelin were higher over banks in summer of both years compared to in deeper troughs (≥ 100 m depth). Length-based distributions indicated that capelin occurring over banks were mostly age-1 fish, while larger age-2 + capelin were more prevalent in troughs. Environmental factors that influenced occurrence and density of capelin in summer 2013 were identified at two spatial resolutions associated with systematic sampling at discrete stations and continuous sampling along transects. At the station resolution (37 km), the probability of capelin occurrence was associated with relatively warmer bottom temperatures and increased chlorophyll concentrations, while capelin density was associated with close proximity to the edges of banks and reduced thermal stratification. At the transect resolution (0.5 km), increases in capelin density were associated with increases in density of a potential competitor (age-0 pollock, Gadus chalcogrammus) over banks and with increases in prey (macrozooplankton) and predator (semi-demersal groundfish) densities in troughs. We infer that in summer, age-1 capelin concentrate over shallow banks on the CGOA shelf in waters that are well-mixed and more productive to feed on abundant copepods, whereas age-2+ capelin primarily occupy deeper waters in troughs where they consume larger euphausiid and amphipod prey. This suggests that distributions of both life stages over the shelf were likely driven by changes in the availability and composition of prey.
Spin Memory in Triplet-Triplet Energy Transfer

We have used optical methods to detect paramagnetic resonance signals from triplet excitons and from trapped triplet excitations in henzophenone, and we have shown that spin angular momentum is conserved in triplet-triplet energy transfer from the excitons to the traps.
A kind of fuzzy linear programming problems based on interval-valued fuzzy sets

The objective of this paper is to deal with a kind of fuzzy linear programming problem based on interval-valued fuzzy sets (IVFLP) through the medium of procedure that turns IVFLP into parametric linear programming via the mathematical programming. Some useful results for the benefit of solving IVFLP are expounded and proved, developed and discussed. Furthermore, that the proposed techniques in this paper allow the decision-maker to assign a different degree of importance can provide a useful way to efficiently help the decision-maker make their decisions.
The Standardization Agreement (STANAG) on the Protection of NATO Personnel against Radiofrequency Radiation

A standard is a general term incorporating both regulations and guidelines and can be defined as a set of specifications or rules to promote the safety of an individual or group of people. Absolute assurances are rarely if ever attainable and specifying permissible exposure limits for different hazards depends on the degree of risk that is scientifically and socially acceptable.1 Among the many factors that go into the development of an exposure standard, the selection of a good scientific biological effects data base plays, quite obviously, the most important role.
Uranium and Thorium Resources

Uranium is a widely distributed element which is essential, at least in the near term, to the use of nuclear fission as a source of energy. Uranium is ubiquitous in the earth because of the wide variety of minerals in which it can occur, and because of the variety of geophysical and geochemical processes that have transported it since the primordial formation of the earth from the debris of supernovae. Uranium is approximately as common in the earth’s crust as tin or beryllium, and is a minor constituent in most rocks and in seawater.
Expanding Goals of Care Conversations Across a Health System: The Mapping the Future Program.

Abstract Context Clinician failure to discuss goals of care (GOC) with seriously ill patients remains prevalent. Small-scale educational interventions have demonstrated improvement in physician communication skills, but it is unknown if these results translate into practice changes. Objectives To implement a large-scale educational intervention that would facilitate increased GOC discussions in at-risk patients, increase clinician confidence in having GOC discussions, and prove to be sustainable. Methods The Mapping the Future courses were four-to-eight-hour trainings, with brief lectures and demonstrations followed by practice with simulated patient cases. Participants completed precourse and postcourse surveys, including demographic information, self-confidence in a variety of communication tasks, willingness to initiate GOC discussions, barriers to GOC discussions, and self-perceived skill at having GOC conversations. We compared the rate of documentation of GOC discussions with at-risk inpatients in three hospitals for physicians who had taken the course and those who had not. Results Over a two-year period, we trained 512 clinicians in 42 sessions. After the course, participants felt that they had improved in all the skills that we taught and agreed that they would be more likely to initiate GOC conversations. Trained physicians were more likely than their nontrained colleagues to document a GOC discussion with at-risk patients (30.8% vs. 27.2%; P = 0.0001). Conclusion A large-scale educational intervention involving simulated patient cases increased GOC documentation across a health system. Other programs might consider collaboration with quality improvement specialists to measure the impact of education and situate it within other system changes to support increased GOC discussions.
Bridging the Stressful Gap Between ICU and Home: Medical Simulation for Pediatric Patients and Their Families

Objectives:Introduce an expanding role for pediatric critical care and medical simulation to optimize the care for children with technology dependence.Data Sources:Limited review of literature and practice for current teaching paradigms, vulnerability of the patient population, and efficacy of simul
Platelet PGD: Effect on Platelet Waste and Financial-efficiency in a Local Blood Bank

Maintaining a blood product supply is essential to optimal patient care; however, daily use is difficult to anticipate. Platelet products are the most variable in daily usage, have short shelf lives, and are expensive to produce, test, and store. As a result of need, unpredictable demand, and short half-life, platelets are frequently wasted due to expiration. The purpose of this study is to monitor the use of the Verax Biomedical Platelet PGD Test (PPT) on managing platelet (PLT) waste and cost utilization. Minimal research has been conducted on PPT’s financial impact. PPT is used for bacterial monitoring and allows for the increase storage of PLTs of up to 7 days. Its implementation should reduce waste and attribute to efficient cost management of on-hand supplies. A secondary analysis was performed to compare data between a six-month period in 2016 and the same six-month period in 2017. The audit reviewed the utilization and waste of PLT apheresis products (aPPT) prior to (2016) and after the implementation of PPT (2017) at a local level 1 trauma center blood bank. A financial analysis was performed to determine the percent of cost attributed to both utilization and waste for each timeframe, with the addition of included cost of PPT implementation for 2017. With the implementation of the PPT there was an average decrease of 43.48% of waste from the 2016 to the 2017 six-month time periods, an estimated $5,300 in savings per 6-months. With PPT implementation, the blood bank was able to utilize 93.22% of their cost from the total cost aPLTs ordered including the cost of testing in the 2017 time period in comparison to 89.23% of cost utilization in the 2016 time period. The implementation of PPT was useful in monitoring inventory and extending the on-hand supply of platelets.
Neurosurgical Resident Exposure to Pediatric Neurosurgery: An Analysis of Resident Case Logs.

Introduction: The purpose of this study is to identify the national trends of exposure to pediatric procedures during neurosurgical residency and to subsequently evaluate how neurosurgery residents’ experiences correlate with the minimum requirements set forth by the American College of Graduate Medical Education (ACGME). Methods: ACGME resident case logs from residents graduating between 2013 and 2017 were retrospectively reviewed. These reports were analyzed to determine trends in resident operative experience in pediatric procedures. The number of cases performed by residents was compared to the required minimums set by the ACGME within each pediatric surgical category. A linear regression analysis and t tests were utilized to analyze the change in cases performed over the study period. Results: A mean of 98.8 procedures were performed for each of the 877 residents graduating between 2013 and 2017. The total number of pediatric procedures declined at a rate of 1.7 cases/year (r2 = 0.77, p = 0.05). Spine and cerebrospinal fluid diversion procedures showed decreasing trends at rates of 1.9 (r2 = 0.70, p = 0.08) and 1.2 (r2 = 0.70, p = 0.08) cases/year, respectively. The number of trauma and brain tumor cases were shown to have increasing rates at 1.0 (r2 = 0.86, p = 0.02) and 0.3 (r2 = 0.69, p = 0.08) cases/year, respectively, with trauma cases showing significant increases. There was also a trend of increasing cases logged as the lead resident surgeon by 12.9 cases/year (r2 = 0.99, p < 0.001). The number of cases performed by the average graduating resident was also significantly higher than the minimums required by the ACGME; residents, on average, performed 3 times the required minimum number of pediatric cases. Conclusion: Neurosurgical residents graduating from 2013 to 2017 reported significantly higher volumes of pediatric neurosurgery cases than the standards set for by the ACGME. During this time, there was also a significant trend of increasing cases logged as the lead resident surgeon, suggesting more involvement in the critical portions of pediatric cases. There was also a significant, but not clinically impactful, decrease in pediatric case volumes during this time. However, the overall data indicate that residents are continuing to gain valuable pediatric experience during residency training.
A multidimensional analysis of the longitudinal effects of roux en y gastric bypass on fatigue: An association with visceral obesity.

Abstract Background and objectives Severe obesity is associated with fatigue, however, the effects of weight loss after bariatric surgery on particular dimensions of fatigue are unknown. In a secondary analysis of a prospective cohort study of women undergoing roux-en-y gastric bypass (RYGB) we explored relationships among multiple dimensions of fatigue and improving adiposity, insulin resistance and inflammation. Methods Before, and 1 and 6 months after RYBG, dimensions of fatigue were assessed using the validated, self-report, Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory. Total, abdominal visceral (VAT) and subcutaneous (SAT) adiposity, insulin sensitivity (Si and HOMA) and plasma concentrations of leptin, C-reactive protein (CRP) and interleukin-6 (Il-6) were measured using air displacement plethysmography, computed tomography, glucose tolerance testing and enzyme-linked immunoassay. Associations were assessed using Spearman correlations and linear regression. Results At baseline, the majority of our female participants (N = 19, body mass index, 46.5 kg/m2, age 37.2 years) were experiencing elevated levels of fatigue. By 6 months, dimensions of physical (−43%), reduced activity (−43%), reduced motivation (−38%), general (−31%; all p Conclusions In the 6 months after RYGB, fatigue improved, especially physical fatigue. Decreases in mental fatigue were strongly associated with decreases in visceral adiposity. Nevertheless, the biologic mechanisms underlying changes in these specific fatigue dimensions remain undetermined.
The Impact of a Varied Field Experience on Preservice Teachers’ Perceptions of their Personal Growth: A Summer Mathematics Academy for Early Learners

AbstractThis study was organized to examine the impact of a field experience for elementary preservice teachers working with young children enrolled in a summer academy focusing on early mathematic...
An Update on Epidemiology and Management Trends of Vestibular Schwannomas.

OBJECTIVE To determine the current epidemiology and management trends for patients with vestibular schwannomas (VS). STUDY DESIGN Retrospective cohort study. SETTING The Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) tumor registry. PATIENTS The SEER database was queried to identify patients diagnosed with VS from 1973 to 2015. Demographics, patient and tumor characteristics, and treatment methods were analyzed. RESULTS A total of 14,507 patients with VS were identified. The mean age at diagnosis was 55 ± 14.9 years. Age-adjusted incidence from 2006 to 2015 was 1.4 per 100,000 per year and remained relatively stable. Incidence across age varied with sex, as younger women and older men had increased incidences comparatively. A higher percentage of patients underwent surgery alone (43%), followed by observation (32%), radiation alone (23%), and combined radiation and surgery (2%). Age 65 and older was associated with observation (odds ratio [OR] 1.417; p = 0.029) whereas age 20 to 39 and 40 to 49 were associated with surgery (OR 2.013 and 1.935; p < 0.001). Older age was associated with radiation. Larger tumor size was associated with surgery and combined treatment. African American patients and American Indian or Alaskan Native patients were more likely to undergo observation than surgery. CONCLUSIONS The overall incidence of VS is 1.4 per 100,000 per year and has remained relatively stable. There is a trend toward more conservative management with observation, which may be secondary to earlier diagnosis given widespread use of magnetic resonance imaging. Further studies are necessary to investigate differences in disease patterns and disparities in management.
Finite-Sample Analysis of Stochastic Approximation Using Smooth Convex Envelopes

Stochastic Approximation (SA) is a popular approach for solving fixed-point equations where the information is corrupted by noise. In this paper, we consider an SA involving a contraction mapping with respect to an arbitrary norm, and show its finite-sample error bounds while using different stepsizes. The idea is to construct a smooth Lyapunov function using the generalized Moreau envelope, and show that the iterates of SA have negative drift with respect to that Lyapunov function. Our result is applicable in Reinforcement Learning (RL). In particular, we use it to establish the first-known convergence rate of the V-trace algorithm for off-policy TD-learning. Moreover, we also use it to study TD-learning in the on-policy setting, and recover the existing state-of-the-art results for $Q$-learning. Importantly, our construction results in only a logarithmic dependence of the convergence bound on the size of the state-space.
Chapter 36 – Theoretical Underpinnings

Publisher Summary This chapter constructs a simplified model of the architectural design space in which postfabrication programmable architectures such as field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) are built. It illustrates the trade-offs inherent in different architectures and the impact these trade-offs have on the architectures' efficiency in implementing various applications. This simple analysis illuminates the appropriate roles for processors and FPGAs, underscores how to use FPGAs efficiently, and suggests why, as component capacities continue to grow, reconfigurable architectures may be important for carrying out an ever-enlarging set of high-throughput tasks. The reconfigurable implementation is typically orders of magnitude faster than the processor-based system. Computational density advantage is not an accident. It occurs for real, structural reasons resulting from where silicon is allocated in reconfigurable architectures. FPGAs and reconfigurable architectures organize their instructions differently from processors, making different trade-offs between instruction and computational density. Processors give up raw computational capacity for the ability to support large and irregular computations robustly, while FPGAs give up the ability to switch rapidly among diverse tasks to maximize available compute density and spatial parallelism.
Has depression surpassed HIV as a burden to gay and bisexual men's health in the United States? A comparative modeling study.

While advances in HIV prevention and treatment have changed the epidemic for gay and bisexual men, another epidemic faces this population. Gay and bisexual men represent one of the highest risk groups for depression, which potentially poses quality-of-life and public health challenges comparable to those of HIV. The present study seeks to inform comprehensive care for sexual minority men by estimating and comparing the morbidity of HIV and depression for US gay and bisexual men. In 2018, weighted counts of gay and bisexual men living with HIV and depression were derived from the CDC’s Medical Monitoring Project and the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, respectively. Years lived with disability for HIV and depression were calculated using the Global Burden of Disease Study’s disability weights. Among gay and bisexual adult men in the US, the prevalence of past-year major depressive episodes is 14.17%, while the prevalence of HIV is 11.52%. We estimate that in calendar year 2015, major depressive episodes imposed 85,361 (95% CI 58,293–112,212) years lived with disability among US adult gay and bisexual men, whereas HIV posed 42,981 (95% CI 36,221–49,722) years lived with disability. This analysis shows that depression morbidity currently exceeds that for HIV among US adult gay and bisexual men. While gay and bisexual men are frequently understood to be a high-risk population for HIV, including in guidelines for HIV prevention and treatment, the present analysis suggests that this population should also be considered high-risk for depression.
Polyisobutylene for the rescue: advanced elastomers for healthcare

Abstract This chapter of the book dedicated to Professor Kennedy’s 90th birthday discusses medical applications of polyisobutylene (PIB)-containing materials. The PIB-components are made by living carbocationic polymerizations. The first living system yielding high molecular weight PIB with narrow polydispersity led to the thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) polymeric coating of the Taxus drug eluting coronary stent. The chapter will discuss subsequent generations of PIB-based TPEs: block copolymers with arborescent PIB cores with polystyrene (or derivatives) hard blocks, and triblocks and multiblocks with PIB-soft segments and polyalloocimene hard segments. Biodegradable PIB-disulfides are also discussed, made by living Radical Redox Recombination Polymerization (R3P) of PIB-dithiols. These and other reactive PIBs made by enzyme-catalyzed polymer functionalization will also be discussed. The modular surface functionalization technology yielding “smart” stimuli-responsive surfaces has high potential for future medical applications. Finally, PIB-based polyurethanes will be discussed.
A Comparison of Selected Supervisory Skills of Content Specialist and Non-Content Specialist University Supervisors.

The purpose of this study was to describe and contrast selected approaches to the supervision of student teachers between Content Specialist and Non-Content Specialist university supervisors. Content Specialist supervisors were identified as trained university supervisors with a background in physical education. Non-Content Specialist supervisors were identified as trained university supervisors without a background in physical education. Both groups of supervisors assessed a prerecorded stimulus tape of an authentic physical education student teaching lesson. The supervisors were asked to complete a written critique of the lesson and engage in an interview to discuss individual supervisory behaviors, strategies, and conferencing techniques. Both groups displayed minor similarities in preparing for, documenting, and constructing critiques of a student teaching observation. However, the two groups displayed a greater degree of disparity in approaches taken to supervision, resulting in the establishment of notable differences between Content Specialist and Non-Content Specialist supervisors.
Galaxy Formation: Confrontation with Observations

The implications for galaxy formation of inflationary cosmology are reviewed. In particular, I explore some implications of the hypothesis that galaxies form from adiabatic, gaussian density fluctuations in a cold dark matter-dominated universe. Topics discussed include protogalaxies and the epoch of galaxy formation, Lyman alpha clouds, dark halos and dwarf galaxies. Finally I describe how environmental biasing may arise as a consequence of tidally induced star formation in protoclusters.
Piezoelectric transducers for medical ultrasonic imaging

The requirements of a transducer for diagnostic applications are illustrated with specific examples, and the material parameters that influence transducer design are discussed. The current status of piezoelectric transducer design and common approaches taken to improve the design are also presented. The acoustic and electrical impedance criteria that must be satisfied in order to design an ultrasonic transducer with broad bandwidth response are described. It is pointed out that the development over the past decade of several different types of composite materials, PVDF (polyvinylidene fluoride) based copolymers, piezoelectric ceramics with low transverse coupling, and electrostrictive materials offers opportunities to overcome some of the compromises involved in transducer design. >
Pigment epithelium-derived factor enhances differentiation and mineral deposition of human mesenchymal stem cells.

Pigment epithelium-derived factor (PEDF) is a potent antiangiogenic factor found in a wide variety of tissues. Recent findings indicated that lack of PEDF leads to osteogenesis imperfecta type VI whose hallmark is a defect in mineralization. We investigated the effects of PEDF on human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) and signaling pathways through which PEDF displays its activities in hMSCs. hMSCs incubated in a medium supplemented with PEDF induced expression of osteoblastic-related genes. In addition, PEDF induced alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity in MSCs at 14 days of incubation in maintenance medium; hMSCs incubated in osteogenic medium in presence of PEDF expressed 19% more ALP activity (35.655 ± 1.827 U/mg protein, p = .041 than cells incubated in the same medium without PEDF supplementation (29.956 ± 2.100 U/μg protein). hMSCs incubated in osteogenic medium in presence of PEDF deposited 50% more mineral (2.108 ± 0.306 OD/ml per well per 1 × 104 cells per square centimeter, p = .017) than MSCs incubated in absence of the protein (1.398 ± 0.098 OD/ml per well per 1 × 104 cells per square centimeter) as determined by Alizarin Red quantitation. Reduction in PEDF expression in MSCs by siRNA led to decreased ALP activity (33.552 ± 2.009 U/ng protein of knockdown group vs. 39.269 ± 3.533 U/ng protein of scrambled siRNA group, p = .039) and significant reduction in mineral deposition (0.654 ± 0.050 OD/ml per well per 1 × 104 cells per square centimeter of knockdown group vs. 1.152 ± 0.132 OD/ml per well per 1 × 104 cells per square centimeter of wild-type group, p = .010). Decreased ALP activity and mineral deposition were restored by supplementation with exogenous PEDF protein. PEDF activated ERK and AKT signaling pathways in MSCs to induce expression of osteoblastic-related genes. These data suggest that PEDF is involved in MSCs osteoblastic differentiation. Stem Cells 2013;31:2714–2723
Immunologic regulation of lymphoid tumor cells: model systems for lymphocyte function.

Publisher Summary The immune system is known to consist of many functionally and phenotypically distinct but interacting clones of cells that are exquisitely specific, so that only very few cells in an organism are responsive to any one antigenic determinant. Moreover, as lymphoid cells constantly arise, undergo a normal process of differentiation, and are subsequently regulated by positive amplification and negative feedback loops, it is difficult to isolate desired functional clones at any given time for studying the mechanisms that control their growth and function. This chapter aims to detail the experimental systems in which tumor cell lines have been employed as models for normal lymphocytes, with particular emphasis on their physiologic validity, the current state of the analyses, and their future potential. Throughout, the resemblance between results obtained with tumor cells and normal immune-competent cells are pointed out. Finally, the major caveats and problems in the use of tumors as model systems are highlighted, so that optimal experimental conditions can be established to extend the phenomenology to mechanistic analyses. Agents that stimulate or inactivate normal lymphocytes by interacting with surface receptors other than the combining sites for antigens are powerful tools for dissecting the maturational stages and ontogenetic pathways of lymphoid cells. A large number of polyclonal activators of B and T lymphocytes have been described in the chapter, including plant lectins, microbial products, antibodies directed against membrane macromolecules such as, Ig and β 2 -microglobulin, and products of macrophages and lymphocytes themselves, particularly of T lymphocytes.
Effect of Ionic Strength on the Binding of Sindbis Virus to Chick Cells

Sindbis virus can adsorb to chicken embryo fibroblasts in two different ways. “Loosely” bound virus can be washed off the cell with buffers of ionic strength 0.2 or greater, whereas “tightly” bound virus remains attached under these conditions. When Sindbis virus is adsorbed to chick cells at 4 C from a buffer of ionic strength 0.17, 40 to 50% of the adsorbed virus is loosely bound, the remainder tightly bound. Infection of chick cells by Sindbis virus has only small effects on the total amount of virus that can be bound to the cells. However, the amount of Sindbis virus that can be tightly bound declines rapidly beginning at 2 to 3 h after infection. By 7 h after infection, the amount of virus that can be tightly bound is only 10 to 20% of the amount bound to uninfected cells. The adsorption (and penetration) of virus at 37 C is most efficient at an ionic strength of 0.15 to 0.17; at this ionic strength most of the adsorbed virus is tightly bound. At higher ionic strengths the virus adsorbs poorly. At lower ionic strengths most of the virus is loosely bound. A second enveloped virus, vesicular stomatitis virus, has been studied for the purposes of comparison; its adsorption behavior differs from that of Sindbis virus.
On the hologram of de Sitter

A careful reduction of three-dimensional gravity to the Liouville description is performed, where all gauge fixing and on-shell conditions come from the definition of asymptotic de Sitter spaces. The roles of both past and future infinities are discussed and the conditions space-time evolution imposes on both Liouville fields are made explicit. Space-times which correspond to nonequivalent profiles of the Liouville field at ${\mathcal{I}}^{\ensuremath{-}}$ and ${\mathcal{I}}^{+}$ are shown to exist. The qualitative implications of this for any tentative dual theory are presented.
Sentiment Measured in Hospital Discharge Notes Is Associated with Readmission and Mortality Risk: An Electronic Health Record Study.

Natural language processing tools allow the characterization of sentiment–that is, terms expressing positive and negative emotion–in text. Applying such tools to electronic health records may provide insight into meaningful patient or clinician features not captured in coded data alone. We performed sentiment analysis on 2,484 hospital discharge notes for 2,010 individuals from a psychiatric inpatient unit, as well as 20,859 hospital discharges for 15,011 individuals from general medical units, in a large New England health system between January 2011 and 2014. The primary measures of sentiment captured intensity of subjective positive or negative sentiment expressed in the discharge notes. Mean scores were contrasted between sociodemographic and clinical groups in mixed effects regression models. Discharge note sentiment was then examined for association with risk for readmission in Cox regression models. Discharge notes for individuals with greater medical comorbidity were modestly but significantly lower in positive sentiment among both psychiatric and general medical cohorts (p<0.001 in each). Greater positive sentiment at discharge was associated with significantly decreased risk of hospital readmission in each cohort (~12% decrease per standard deviation above the mean). Automated characterization of discharge notes in terms of sentiment identifies differences between sociodemographic groups, as well as in clinical outcomes, and is not explained by differences in diagnosis. Clinician sentiment merits investigation to understand why and how it reflects or impacts outcomes.
Simulations of Chesapeake Bay estuary: Sensitivity to turbulence mixing parameterizations and comparison with observations

[1] Regional Ocean Modeling System (ROMS) is used to develop a new three-dimensional hydrodynamic model for the Chesapeake Bay estuary. Hindcast simulations are conducted for 2 years with markedly different annual river discharges and are compared with time series measurements and high-resolution hydrographic data. The model shows skill in reproducing observed temporal variability in sea level height, salinity, and subtidal current. The agreement with observations is better in the normal runoff year 1997 than in the high runoff year 1996. The model qualitatively reproduces the along-channel and cross-channel salinity distributions during low-to-medium runoff periods. However, during high runoff periods it predicts weaker stratification and a more diffuse halocline than shown by observations. This model/data discrepancy is related to the deficiency of turbulent mixing parameterizations in strong stratification. We have experimented with four turbulence closure schemes (Mellor-Yamada/k-kl, k-ɛ, k-ω, and KPP models) in ROMS but found little difference in the model results. However, vertical stratification shows a strong sensitivity to the background diffusivity. The vertical diffusivity inferred from the model is found to be set by the background diffusivity except in the surface and bottom boundary layers where the turbulence schemes produce similar diffusivity distributions. Among the schemes explored, KPP and k-kl scheme with a background diffusivity of 10−5 or 10−6 m2 s−1 provide the best simulations of the Chesapeake Bay estuary. Both the model sensitivity study and model/data comparison highlight the importance of obtaining a more realistic parameterization for turbulence mixing in a strong pycnocline.
The Impact of Accounting Methods, the Doctrine of Election, and Income Distortion on a Start-Up Election

ABSTRACT : A taxpayer with an existing business generally can establish return-signing positions to characterize the growth of its business as occurring either through an expansion of the existing business or the start of a new business. The selected character then determines the manner by which the taxpayer recovers costs associated with the growth. This article explores how the taxpayer's initial choice to characterize business growth as an expansion or start-up could become binding on the taxpayer and Internal Revenue Service (IRS) under accounting method rules and/or the doctrine of election, which would permit a recharacterization only to avoid income distortion. The article concludes that those tax accounting concepts could unjustifiably make the initial characterization binding, irrespective of its accuracy, due to the difficulty of showing that a particular characterization causes income distortion.
Tide and Storm Surge Predictions Using Finite Element Model

A finite element (FE) model is used to study tides and hurricane storm surge in the Gulf of Mexico in the region ranging from the Mississippi Sound to the northwest coast of Florida. Issues that are emphasized include the use of large domains, the importance of a high degree of grid resolution in coastal regions of interest, the use of meshes with highly varying nodal densities to minimize the size of the discrete problem, and the use of the generalized wave‐continuity equation (GWCE) for FE‐based solutions to the shallow‐water equations. The computations presented are unprecedented in their scope, level of localized detail, and degree of grid‐size variability. The GWCE‐based FE model leads to very accurate and efficient flow solutions.
Spatial and temporal dispersion patterns of pollinators and their relationship to the flowering strategy of Yucca whipplei (Agavaceae).

A field investigation of the mutualistic interaction between a monocarpic perennial plant, Yucca whipplei, and its host-specific pollinator and seed predator, Tegeticula maculata (Lepidoptera: Prodoxidae), was conducted to determine how the resource utilization pattern and population dynamics of the pollinator have influenced the evolution of the flowering and fruiting pattern of the plant. Although the temporal pattern of emergence of pollinators results in a relatively close tracking of flower abundance within a season, the ratio of pollinators to open flowers does vary significantly within a season, as well as between seasons. At any point in time during the flowering season, the population of adult yucca moths is distributed evenly among the available flowers, so that the number of pollinators on an inflorescence is directly proportional to the number of open flowers available. The relative isolation of individual flowering plants appears to have little effect on the distribution of pollinators among inflorescences. The number of fruits initiated on a plant is directly proportional to the number of flowers produced, and is also partially determined by the time of flowering.
Interface band structure engineering by ferroelectric polarization in perovskite solar cells

Abstract We demonstrate the presence of ferroelectric domains in CH3NH3PbI3 by piezoresponse force microscopy and quantify the coercive field to the switching of the polarization of ferroelectric CH3NH3PbI3. For CH3NH3PbI3 perovskite solar cell, negative electric poling decreases the net built-in electric field, driving potential and width of depletion region inside the absorber layer, which hinders charge separation and deteriorates photovoltaic performance; while positive poling boosts these electrostatic parameters and therefore improves the charge separation inside the absorber. Low coercive field (8 kV/cm) enables the switching of CH3NH3PbI3 polarization during the current density–voltage (J–V) measurement. Forward scan initially activates the negative poling, whereas reverse scan first activates the positive poling, which can lead to the J–V hysteretic behavior. Comparative analysis with a traditional ferroelectric 0.25BaTiO3–0.75BiFeO3 solar cell is conducted to confirm the impact of ferroelectric polarization and J–V scanning direction on photovoltaic performance.
Rhodium Boryl Complexes in the Catalytic, Terminal Functionalization of Alkanes

A series of studies have been conducted by experimental and theoretical methods on the synthesis, structures, and reactions of CpRh boryl complexes that are likely intermediates in the rhodium-catalyzed regioselective, terminal functionalization of alkanes. The photochemical reaction of CpRh(eta(6)-C(6)Me(6)) with pinacolborane (HBpin) generates the bisboryl complex CpRh(H)(2)(Bpin)(2) (2), which reacts with neat HBpin to generate CpRh(H)(Bpin)(3) (3). X-ray diffraction, density functional theory (DFT) calculations, and NMR spectroscopy suggest a weak, but measurable, B-H bonding interaction. Both 2 and 3 dissociate HBpin and coordinate PEt(3) or P(p-Tol)(3) to generate the conventional rhodium(III) species CpRh(PEt(3))(H)(Bpin) (4) and CpRh[P(p-tol)(3)](Bpin)(2) (5). Compounds 2 and 3 also react with alkanes and arenes to form alkyl- and arylboronate esters at temperatures similar to or below those of the catalytic borylation of alkanes and arenes. Further, these compounds were observed directly in catalytic reactions. The enthalpies and free energies for generation of the 16-electron intermediate and for the C-H bond cleavage and B-C bond formation have been calculated with DFT. These results strongly suggest that the C-H bond cleavage process occurs by a metal-assisted sigma-bond metathesis mechanism to generate a borane complex that isomerizes if necessary to place the alkyl group cis to the boryl group. This complex with cis boryl and alkyl groups then undergoes B-C bond formation by a second sigma-bond metathesis to generate the final functionalized product.