cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Microcephaly inpatient hospitalization and potential Zika outbreak in Texas: A cost and predicted economic burden analysis

Abstract Objective Estimate inpatient hospitalization costs for patients with microcephaly, and predict cost increases due to a potential Zika virus outbreak. Methods We identified Texas-wide inpatient hospitalization discharge records (2008–2015), for newborns and non-newborns with microcephaly. We estimated the cost of each hospitalization by applying cost-to-charge ratios on the actual hospitalization charge. For comparison, newborn visits for patients without microcephaly were also identified, and hospital costs were compared between patients with and without microcephaly. We estimated costs for microcephaly during the first year of life following a Zika outbreak (possible 1–50% increase in birth prevalence) in Texas. Results There were 8005 microcephaly hospitalizations ($203,899,042; total cost). The median admission cost for newborns with microcephaly (N = 1393) was higher compared to those without microcephaly ($6751 vs $725, p Conclusion Hospitalizations of patients with microcephaly are associated with high costs. An increase in microcephaly prevalence due to a Zika outbreak in Texas could have a considerable impact on health care costs.
Exceptional thermoelectric performance in Mg3Sb0.6Bi1.4 for low-grade waste heat recovery

Bi2Te3 alloys have been the most widely used n-type material for low temperature thermoelectric power generation for over 50 years, thanks to the highest efficiency in the 300–500 K temperature range relevant for low-grade waste-heat recovery. Here we show that n-type Mg3Sb0.6Bi1.4, with a thermoelectric figure-of-merit zT of 1.0–1.2 at 400–500 K, finally surpasses n-type Bi2Te3. This exceptional performance is achieved by tuning the alloy composition of Mg3(Sb1−xBix)2. The two primary mechanisms of the improvement are the band effective-mass reduction and grain size enhancement as the Mg3Bi2 content increases. The benefit of the effective-mass reduction is only effective up to the optimum composition Mg3Sb0.6Bi1.4, after which a different band dominates charge transport. The larger grains are important for minimizing grain-boundary electrical resistance. Considering the limited choice for low temperature n-type thermoelectric materials, the development of Mg3Sb0.6Bi1.4 is a significant advancement towards sustainable heat recovery technology.
Fully Automated Image Preprocessing for Feature Extraction from Knife-edge Scanning Microscopy Image Stacks

Knife-Edge Scanning Microscopy (KESM) stands out as a fast physical sectioning approach for imaging tissues at sub-micrometer resolution. To implement high-throughput and high-resolution, KESM images a tissue ribbon on the knife edge as the sample is being sectioned. This simultaneous sectioning and imaging approach has following benefits: (1) No image registration is required. (2) No manual job is required for tissue sectioning, placement or microscope imaging. However spurious pixels are present at the left and right side of the image, since the field of view of the objective is larger than the tissue width. The tissue region needs to be extracted from these images. Moreover, unwanted artifacts are introduced by KESMâs imaging mechanism, namely: (1) Vertical stripes caused by unevenly worn knife edge. (2) Horizontal artifacts due to vibration of the knife while cutting plastic embedded tissue. (3) Uneven intensity within an image due to knife misalignment. (4) Uneven intensity levels across images due to the variation of cutting speed. This paper outlines an image processing pipeline for extracting features from KESM images and proposes an algorithm to extract tissue region from physical sectioning-based light microscope images like KESM data for automating feature extraction from these data sets.
Estimating growing-season root zone soil moisture from vegetation index-based evapotranspiration fraction and soil properties in the Northwest Mountain region, USA

A soil moisture retrieval method is proposed, in the absence of ground-based auxiliary measurements, by deriving the soil moisture content relationship from the satellite vegetation index-based eva...
Electronic structure properties of CuZn2InTe4 and AgZn2InTe4 quaternary chalcogenides

Quaternary chalcogenides composed of earth-abundant and primarily nontoxic constituents are currently being explored for thermoelectric applications. The representatives of this class, CuZn2InTe4 and AgZn2InTe4, have been synthesized, and here, we present a comparative study of their structure–property relations using first principles simulations. Our calculations show that the lattice structure for both materials is very similar in terms of characteristic atomic distances and lattice structures, which compare well with experimental data. The electronic structure results indicate that both materials are direct gap semiconductors whose electron localization and charge transfer properties reveal polar covalent bonding in the lattice. The calculated phonon structure shows dynamic stability with unique vibrational properties for each material.
Millstones and Ministry: Generational Transmission As the Unifying Factor in Ministerial Exception Jurisprudence for Teachers Post-Hosanna-Tabor

The Ninth Circuit created a circuit split in June 2019 when it denied a petition for a rehearing en banc of Biel v. St. James Sch., 911 F.3d 603 (9th Cir. 2018). The Seventh Circuit and the Ninth Circuit now have produced discordant holdings on how to apply Hosanna-Tabor to teachers at religious schools, raising the question of whether Biel will find its way back to the Court. In the seven years since that landmark religious freedom decision, the majority of lower courts have held that a teacher’s religious functions at a religious school are sufficient to make that teacher a minister, following the words of Justices Roberts and Alito in Hosanna-Tabor. This emerging consensus holds that (1) religious schools should be free to determine what teachers give religious instruction to the younger generation in the faith, and (2) religious schools should be free to determine what constitutes that religious instruction. Using when applicable the four factors utilized by the Court in Hosanna-Tabor, lower courts have engaged in a totality-of-the-circumstances test, giving special weight to a teacher’s religious function at a school in transmitting the faith to the next generation. But, the consensus is by no means unanimous. One state court and the Ninth Circuit have forged their own path. The Ninth Circuit’s creation of a function-plus-one test flouts the consensus practiced by the other courts and used by the Seventh Circuit. The Ninth Circuit’s actions have now led to a circuit split.
Cytogenetic abnormalities in MM: Association with disease characteristics and treatment response.

e20520Background: Cytogenetic abnormalities detected by FISH are found in the majority of multiple myeloma (MM) patients. Although their prognostic value has been studied extensively, less is known...
Things Transformed: Inalienability, Indigenous Storytelling and the Quest to Recover from Addiction

The impact that the systemic invisibility of indigenous people in the national narrative has on addiction and the recovery process cannot be overstated. An exploration of the nature of how this inv...
The Spectrum of Histopathologic Findings in Lungs of Patients With Fatal Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Infection.

Context.— Respiratory failure appears to be the ultimate mechanism of death in most patients with severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection. Studies of postmortem COVID-19 lungs largely report diffuse alveolar damage and capillary fibrin thrombi, but we have also observed other patterns. Objective.— To report demographic and radiographic features along with macroscopic, microscopic, and microbiologic postmortem lung findings in patients with COVID-19 infections. Design.— Patients with confirmed COVID-19 infection and postmortem examination (March 2020-May 2020) were included. Clinical findings were abstracted from medical records. Lungs were microscopically reviewed independently by 4 thoracic pathologists. Imaging studies were reviewed by a thoracic radiologist. Results.— Eight patients (7 men, 87.5%; median age, 79 years; range, 69-96 years) died within a median of 17 days (range, 6-100 days) from onset of symptoms. The median lung weight was 1220 g (range, 960-1760 g); consolidations were found in 5 patients (62.5%) and gross thromboemboli were noted in 1 patient (12.5%). Histologically, all patients had acute bronchopneumonia; 6 patients (75%) also had diffuse alveolar damage. Two patients (25%) had aspiration pneumonia in addition. Thromboemboli, usually scattered and rare, were identified in 5 patients (62.5%) in small vessels and in 2 of these patients also in pulmonary arteries. Four patients (50%) had perivascular chronic inflammation. Postmortem bacterial lung cultures were positive in 4 patients (50%). Imaging studies (available in 4 patients) were typical (n = 2, 50%), indeterminate (n = 1, 25%), or negative (n = 1, 25%) for COVID-19 infection. Conclusions.— Our study shows that patients infected with COVID-19 not only have diffuse alveolar damage but also commonly have acute bronchopneumonia and aspiration pneumonia. These findings are important for management of these patients.
Human–Machine Interface of Rehabilitation Exoskeletons with Redundant Electromyographic Channels

A method for controlling an exoskeleton by means of instructions obtained by decoding an electromyography (EMG) signal is considered. The method allows to minimize errors when positioning the exoskeleton in the verticalization mode. The EMG signals are segmented into intersecting or non-intersecting windows and for each segment obtained in the previous step, they receive many signs of the EMG signal (vector of informative signs). The vector of informative features is fed to the neural network classifier, which controls the controller of the exoskeleton servomotors. The vector of informative features is obtained through a multilevel comparator, and the number of levels of which determines the dimension of the vector of informative features. The EMG classifier includes a comparator unit, a multiplexer, an informative feature calculation unit, a first neural network, a memory unit and a second neural network, the outputs of which control the servo motor controller. In order to adapt the exoskeleton control system to the patient, additional channels for classifying EMG signals are introduced into the human–machine interface. Each channel of the EMG signal is associated with a specific muscle or group of muscles that control the movement of the same limb joint. The servo motor controller uses a third neural network to aggregate these signals into a single control signal. The neural network control method with redundant EMG channels has been tested on the exoskeleton at the moment of controlling the verticalization of the patient.
MONITORING IMMUNE DEACTIVATION AFTER PAEDIATRIC CARDIAC SURGERY IN PLASMA

Objectives Immune deactivation has been well described in patients following acute inflammatory events such as sepsis, trauma and major surgery. During the recovery phase of a systemic inflammatory response patients are at risk of developing serious infectious complications. We studied the immune response of children recovering from cardiac surgery to gain an understanding of the mechanisms involved in the hypoinflammatory phase. Methods 20 children, who underwent cardiac surgery for a septum defect, were included in the study. Samples were taken before surgery and at several time points, up to 48 h postoperatively. Monocytes were characterised by flow cytometry. Plasma cytokines were determined by multiplex immunoassay. In-vitro plasma studies included stimulation assays with plasma and lipopolysaccharide, followed by intracellular cytokine staining. Results Cardiac surgery ignited a systemic inflammatory response, illustrated by rapid cytokine changes in plasma. Most notably IL-10 levels soared immediately after surgery, followed closely by typical pro-inflammatory cytokines such as IL-8 and IL-6. Monocytes showed phenotypic characteristics of immune deactivation by reduced HLA-DR expression, with the nadir at 24 h post-surgery. Culture with plasma 4 h after surgery gave a significant decrease of intracellular cytokine staining (IL-6 and TNFα) in monocytes compared with culture with plasma before surgery. Conclusion Children undergoing cardiac surgery show a rapid systemic inflammatory response. Together with increased pro-inflammatory cytokines, monocytes have characteristics of immune deactivation. Alongside the general immune activation after cardiac surgery, there are soluble factors reducing this response and protecting against unbridled inflammatory damage.
Soluble pectin acts as a particle stabilizer of tomato suspensions: The impact on tomato products rheological characterization

Abstract We studied the flow behavior of reconstituted suspensions of tomato pulp dispersed in different pectin solutions to determine the effects of soluble pectin content and its chemical characteristics on the rheology of suspensions. Their rheological properties were characterized using the cone-plate and vane geometries and a Bostwick instrument. Pectin solutions exhibited Newtonian behavior and their viscosity increased with pectin concentration and its degree of methylation. The concentration of soluble pectin in the medium solution (serum) had a limited effect on viscosity whereas the physical characteristics of the tomato particles were a dominant factor. The average tomato particle size slightly increased with soluble pectin concentration and influenced viscosity. Increases in the soluble pectin concentration in serum increased interparticle interaction resulting in suspensions with larger flocculated particles that promoted the stability of the suspension. The vane geometry minimized slippage during testing and the measured viscosity was strongly correlated to Bostwick measurements. The cone-plate geometry induced significant phase separation and slippage at low serum pectin concentrations. Although the effect of soluble pectin on the viscosity of a suspension is minor, it does play a role in stabilizing suspensions by increasing the interparticle interaction and reducing serum separation.
Skeletal element independence and implications for quantification

Abstract This work was undertaken to test skeletal element types for independence of recovery. This informs the accurate representation of uncertainty in existing estimators of number of individuals, such as Most Likely Number of Individuals (MLNI). Calculations based on elements that have dependent recovery probability will underestimate uncertainty. Appendicular skeletal inventories were collected from three forensic and three archaeological samples of individuated remains (N = 201). Analyses were performed in R on a distance matrix derived from correlation of 18 left and right skeletal elements. The effect of dependent element types and dependent antimeres on MLNI estimation was tested via simulation from a multivariate normal distribution with an initial population size of 100, 3 element types, and a 50% recovery rate. Hierarchical clustering showed a consistent division between the upper and lower extremities. The clavicle showed potential association of antimeres and buried remains showed a positive correlation between recovery rate and recovery relatedness. According to simulations, element type dependence increases MLNI variability without a corresponding increase in Highest Probability Density Region (HPD) width, resulting in reduced HPD accuracy. Antimere dependence causes a rapid decline in MLNI values, reducing HPD accuracy five times faster than type dependence. When calculating MLNI, avoidance of highly dependent antimeres should be prioritized. The analyst should then select taphonomically robust elements from both the upper and lower extremities.
On the Way to the Other: Dread, Wonder, Awe

Imagine a young child who shrinks from—but can’t take her eyes off—a Stranger who’s been invited into her home. This child’s dread-charged awe before the Stranger brings into focus the tension fund...
Abstract 15251: Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction in Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy With and Without Septal Myectomy

Introduction: Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) can lead to heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) due to left ventricular outflow tract obstruction (LVOTO). Septal myectomy can rel...
Automatic Equivalent Mutants Classification Using Abstract Syntax Tree Neural Networks

Mutation testing is a testing technique that is effective at designing tests and evaluating an existing test suite. Even though mutation testing has been developed to be applicable and effective towards different types of software systems and programing languages for many years, wide industrial use of mutation testing has not yet been seen. One primary reason that prevents developers and testers from using mutation testing is the expensive computational cost. Specifically, the need to manually identify equivalent mutants is a major obstacle and makes mutation testing very time consuming and labor intensive. This paper addresses this limitation and proposes a machine learning-based approach that designs and trains an abstract syntax tree recurrent neural network model to automatically classify equivalent mutants during the process of mutation testing. A pilot study with 582 mutants shows that the proposed machine learning-based approach can automatically classify equivalent mutants with an accuracy higher than 90%. The approach can significantly save the manual effort and time spent on identifying equivalent mutants during the process of mutation testing.
High-Affinity ZnT8 Autoantibodies by Electrochemiluminescence Assay Improve the Risk Prediction for Type 1 Diabetes

Background: A cohort of children with single ZnT8 autoantibody (ZnT8A) positivity were identified in two large clinical trials, Autoimmunity Screening for Kids (ASK) and Diabetes Autoimmunity Study in the Young (DAISY), and their risk of type 1 diabetes (T1D) have never been studied. Methods: Three cohorts were analyzed using a high-affinity electrochemiluminescence (ECL) ZnT8A assay including 302 new onset T1D patients, children with positive ZnT8A (n=135) by radio-binding assay (RBA) from 23400 general population children screened in the ASK study, and children (n=123) with multiple islet autoantibodies (IAbs) or single ZnT8A by RBA identified from 2547 longitudinally followed cases in DAISY. In addition, 1098 samples with all IAbs negative were also analyzed for ECL-ZnT8A. Findings: In ASK study, 0.58% (135/23400) of children were detected ZnT8A by RBA and 47.4% (64/135) of these ZnT8A were unexpectedly found as ZnT8A alone. Of 64 children with single ZnT8A, only 9 were detectable by ECL-ZnT8A. ZnT8A by RBA not confirmed by ECL were found low affinity with low risk. Positive predictive value of ECL-ZnT8A, in terms of high risk from T1D stage 1 to stage 3, was significantly higher (P<0.0001) than that of RBA-ZnT8A. Similarly in 2547 children of DAISY cohort, 11 cases in total were identified as single ZnT8A while only three who developed clinical T1D were detected ECL-ZnT8A. Interpretation: Majority of single ZnT8A positivity detected in screening by RBA were of low affinity with low T1D risk while ZnT8A detected by ECL assay were of high-affinity with high prediction for T1D development. Funding: JDRF, NIH Declaration of Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest related to this study. Ethics Approval Statement: All subjects were provided written or electronic informed consent and all studies were approved by the University of Colorado Institutional Review Board.
Introduction to Informatics

Clinical (medical) informatics involves the acquisition, storage, use, and management of health care-related data. Informatics in health care not only involves technology but also deals with personnel and the workflow processes impacted by the technology. Informatics applies many principles of computer and information science to clinical practice. It also relies heavily on business, people, and project management skills. Pathology informatics is the practice of informatics specific to pathology (or clinical laboratory) data for clinical service, education, and research. It is different from information technology (IT) and biomedical informatics (or bioinformatics). IT refers more to the technical aspects of this field related to computers, telecommunications (networking), and digital imaging equipment.
Thermal decomposition of anionic organoaluminum compounds : IV. The formation of alkali metal tetramethylaluminates and the crystal structure of Rb[Al(CH3)4]

Thermolytic or photolytic decomposition of M[Al2(CH3)6N3] in aromatic solvents produces quantitative yields of M[Al(CH3)4]. The crystal structure of Rb[Al(CH3)4] has been determined from three-dimensional X-ray data measured by counter methods. Rubidium tetramethylaluminate crystallizes in the tetragonal space group 141/amd with cell dimensions (T23°) a=b=9.931(3), c=8.031(3)A, and ϱcalc=1.45 g·cm-3 for Z=4. Least squares refinement gave a conventional R factor of 0.048 for 214 independent observed reflections. In the distorted tetrahedral anion the two independent carbon-aluminum-carbon angles are 106.0(2)° and 115.6(3)°, and the carbon-aluminum bond length is 2.006(8)A.
The role of early adverse life events in the etiology of depression and posttraumatic stress disorder

The remarkable progress in neurobiological research techniques has now been applied to investigate the pathogenesis of psychiatric disorders. A large body of literature has confirmed an important biological basis for a majority of severe psychiatric disorders, such as affective and anxiety disorders, including posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).' At the beginning of this century, Sigmund Freud's psychoanalytical theory was the major etiological approach for the explanation of psychopathology. According to this theory, conflicts in early life constitute a causal factor for the development of psychological disorders.* In addition to convincing evidence for a genetic contribution in the development of mood and anxiety disorder^,^" evidence for a preeminent role of psychosocial stressors in the pathogenesis of these disorders has also been obtained. For example, episodes of major depression are often preceded by stressful life events6 or are mutually related to episodes of stress.' In a study of identical twins by Kendler et a1.,* lifetime stressors, including childhood abuse and neglect as well as stressful life events in adulthood, were identified as predictors of major depression. In the case of PTSD, a stressful life event outside the range of usual human experiences is required for a diagnosis of the disorder according to DSM-IV criteria.' The inclusion of a stressful event as an etiological factor in the DSM-IV differentiates PTSD from other psychiatric disorders. However, less than one quarter of traumatized individuals subsequently develop syndromal PTSD, suggesting that the disorder does not merely represent a normative reaction to extreme stress.'' Increasing evidence indicates that the Occurrence and persistence of PTSD in response to trauma depends on many factors including other stressful life events"-" as well as minor psychosocial stressors and daily stressors14 before or after the onset of the traumatic event. Furthermore, recent studies suggest a strong relation between early adverse life events, that is,
Public vs Private Ownership, Board Structure and Fund Manager Turnover

We examine the relation between organizational structure (public vs private) and managerial turnover in a large sample of U.S. offered mutual funds. Consistent with the hypothesis that publicly traded firms focus more on shorter term performance, we find that public sponsors are more sensitive to prior fund performance when making replacement decisions and experience smaller post turnover performance improvements. Additional testing suggests a higher likelihood of fund manager replacement when mutual funds are team managed and when fund boards more independent. Overall, our results indicate that organizational form plays a pivotal role in the managerial labor market for mutual funds.
Investment Income Withholding in the United States and Germany

In a reversal from its historical roots, the United States income tax system now taxes income from labor significantly more heavily than income from capital. It does so not only facially, through explicit preferences for income from capital, but also more subtly, through more hidden features of the tax system – specifically, enforcement strategies. This Article focuses on a prominent disparity in enforcement between the two forms of income: Wage income is subject to withholding while investment income is not. In its critical examination of this disparity, the Article first offers a brief history of withholding in the United States, in which withholding on wage income was eagerly embraced as a part of a patriotic war effort, while withholding on investment income was rejected again and again. The Article then contrasts the United States experience with that of Germany. Under Germany’s remarkably robust constitutional principle of equality in taxation, the failure to withhold on interest income was held unconstitutional, and the German legislature was required to enact it. However, instead of leading to greater equality in tax enforcement, the new withholding law led to widespread evasion. The German experience is cited as a cautionary tale on the dangers of international tax competition. Yet, ultimately, it may prove to have been the tipping point for countries to engage in the cooperative behavior needed to overcome undesirable tax competition. The last Part of the Article draws upon lessons learned from past U.S. and German experiences to make the normative and practical case that now is the time to adopt investment income withholding in the United States.
Measuring the Quality of Service of Optimistic Replication

In large systems, replication is a useful technique for improving information accessibility and surviving network unreliability. Optimistic replication trades of consistency for availability, allowing updates despite communication failures at a small risk of violating single-copy serializability.
Adjuvant Therapy for Gallbladder Cancer: an Analysis of the National Cancer Data Base.

The role of adjuvant therapy in patients with resected gallbladder cancer (GBC) is unclear. The American College of Surgeons National Cancer Data Base was used to identify patients with resected GBC (pathologic stage 1–3) from 1998 to 2006 (n = 6690). We compared three groups: surgery only (S, 78.6 %), surgery plus adjuvant chemotherapy (AC, 6.2 %), and surgery plus adjuvant chemotherapy and radiation therapy (ACR, 15.1 %). Univariate and Cox regression analyses were used to determine factors influencing overall survival and the use of adjuvant therapy. ACR was associated with improved survival for all patients (HR 0.77, 95 % CI 0.66–0.90), especially node-positive patients (HR 0.64, 95 % CI 0.53–0.78); AC was not associated with changes in survival. Patients were less likely to have their lymph nodes examined if they had any comorbidities, lower income, or were treated at community cancer centers (all p < 0.05). Among patients with unknown lymph node status, those with T2 or T3 disease saw improved survival with ACR (T2: HR 0.79, 95 % CI 0.63–0.99; T3: HR 0.43, 95 % CI 0.30–0.62), while AC did not affect survival. ACR is associated with improved survival for patients with node-positive GBC, as well as those with T2 or T3 GBC with unknown lymph node status.
Structure-function relationships in rat brainstem subnucleus interpolaris. X. Mechanisms underlying enlarged spared whisker projections after infraorbital nerve injury at birth

Prior studies indicate that the central projections of noninfraorbital vibrissae occupy greater than normal transverse areas in the rat trigeminal brainstem complex after infraorbital nerve section at birth. Here, we assessed the development of this phenomenon and possible underlying mechanisms. Cytochrome oxidase patches representing spared supraorbital (SO) or posteroorbital (PO) whiskers in the trigeminal subnucleus interpolaris (SpVi) were not reliably larger than those on the control side 24 hr after the infraorbital lesion. By 72 hr, SO and PO patches were 91% and 28% larger than those on the control side. Reliable increases were also observed on postnatal day 5 (PND5), PND7, and PND10 for the SO (59%, 65%, 66%) and PO (23%, 44%, 51%) patches. To test the hypothesis that central reorganization reflects the maintenance of peripheral supernumerary axons, myelinated and unmyelinated axons in SO vibrissa follicles were counted at PND0, PND7, PND17, and PND60. A corollary hypothesis, that peripheral regeneration errors result in both SO and surviving infraorbital axons, contributing to central SO patches, was tested with retrograde double-labeling methods. Both hypotheses were rejected. Thus, enlargement of SO patches is not due to either the maintenance of an immature peripheral innervation pattern, or regeneration of infraorbital axons into SO follicles. To determine if the enlargement of SO and PO patches produced by infraorbital nerve section is due to an activity-dependent competitive disadvantage imposed upon infraorbital afferents, TTX or bupivicaine was applied to the intact infraorbital nerve over the first 5–9 postnatal days. Brainstem maps developed normally and SO and PO patch areas were unaffected. Thus, impulse activity-based mechanisms do not appear to contribute to injury-induced patch enlargement. To test the hypothesis that patch enlargement is due to central collateral reorganization, intra-axonal recording and staining methods were applied to control and spared-whisker primary afferents in adult rats. Total bouton or collateral numbers did not differ in SpVi; however, arbor areas were reliably larger in experimental (14,879 +/- 350 microns 2) versus control (5527 +/- 1811 microns 2) fibers.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
Support for Physical Education as a Core Subject in Urban Elementary Schools

Introduction Physical inactivity and childhood obesity are prevalent in American children, with increased vulnerability in minority, low-resource populations. The aim of this study was to quantify the impact of physical education (PE) on in-school physical activity quantity and intensity in urban minority children attending public elementary schools. Methods This observational study included elementary children (N=212; mean age, 9.9 years; 81.7% black) in Grades 2–5 attending urban public schools with high eligibility for the National School Lunch Program. In-school physical activity was quantified during 4 school weeks across 4 months (January–April 2012) using Omron HJ-151 accelerometer–pedometers. Fitness was assessed with the 20-meter Progressive Aerobic Cardiovascular Endurance Run. Data were analyzed in 2013 using generalized estimating equations to determine the influence of PE and sex on total in-school steps and moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) steps. Results Based on 3,379 observation days (mean, 15.9 school days/student), students achieved higher in-school physical activity on days with PE (4,979 steps) than on days without PE (3,683 steps, p p Conclusions PE significantly increases total in-school and MVPA steps in urban minority elementary children. PE as a core subject can provide opportunities for urban, minority public school children in low-resource areas to achieve age-appropriate physical activity and fitness goals.
DEGRADATION OF ERGOTHIONEINE BY CELL-FREE EXTRACTS OF ALCALIGENES FAECALIS II. Production of Glutamic Acid

Booth, James S. (University of Southern California, Los Angeles) and Milo D. Appleman. Degradation of ergothioneine by cell-free extracts of Alcaligenes faecalis. II. Production of glutamic acid. J. Bacteriol. 85:654-657. 1963.-On the basis of oxidation and paper chromatographic procedures, glutamic acid was identified as the end product of ergothioneine degradation by cell-free extracts of Alcaligenes faecalis. Hydrogen sulfide and ammonia yields were determined. Several differences between the metabolism of whole cells and cell-free extracts were noted. Cleavage of the imidazole ring by cell-free extracts appeared to be hydrolytic rather than oxidative.
Anterior exposure of spinal deformities and tumors : A 20-year experience

Data from 505 patients (1976 through 1995) who underwent anterior spinal exposure were retrospectively analyzed. There were 222 boys and 283 girls with a mean age of 14.5 years; 166 had thoracic exposure (T), 300 thoracoabdominal (TA), 44 retroperitoneal (R), and 7 transperitoneal (TP); 17 had repeat exposure (5 had initial exposure elsewhere); 70% had scoliosis, 25% kyphosis, 27% a neuromuscular disorder (NMD) and 6.7% a tumor. Average intensive-care-unit stay was 2.5 days, 6.2 days for NMD (P < .05); average ileus was 3.4 days, 4.1 days for NMD (P < .05); and average length of stay was 15.4 days for all patients, 19.3 days for NMD (P < .05). Mechanical ventilation over 96 hours was required in 31 patients, 66% had an NMD (P < .05). The morbidity rate was 9.8%, 10.1% for NMD; the morbidity rate was zero for tumor and repeat exposures. Mortality was zero. Over half of the vessel injuries (57%) and the urinary tract infections (60%) occurred in NMD patients. Differences between the 1976 through 1985 period and the 1986 through 1995 period were a shorter length of stay and a majority of one-stage combined exposures in the latter period. The authors conclude that anterior exposure of spinal deformities is well tolerated by most pediatric patients, and that this technique is easily adaptable to the resection of retroperitoneal and thoracolumbar tumors.
Management of Patients With Atrial Fibrillation A Statement for Healthcare Professionals From the Subcommittee on Electrocardiography and Electrophysiology, American Heart Association

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common sustained arrhythmia encountered in clinical practice. Its incidence increases with age and the presence of structural heart disease. It is a major cause of stroke, especially in the elderly. Although the causes are diverse, hypertension is common. Most patients experience palpitations, but fatigue, dyspnea, and dizziness are not uncommon. Patients with an uncontrolled ventricular response during AF may occasionally develop a tachycardia-induced cardiomyopathy. There are three therapeutic goals to consider for patients with AF: rate control, maintenance of sinus rhythm, and prevention of thromboembolism. The risks and benefits of each treatment must be considered for each patient. ### Restoration and Maintenance of Sinus Rhythm Several drugs effectively restore and maintain sinus rhythm in patients with AF. To date few data are available to confirm superiority of any particular drug over another for this purpose. Agents such as digitalis, verapamil, diltiazem, and β-adrenergic blockers may be useful during AF to decrease the ventricular response that occurs over the atrioventricular (AV) node, but they rarely terminate AF. Intravenous procainamide is the treatment of choice for patients with Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome who have a preexcited ventricular response during AF, provided they are hemodynamically stable. Patients who are unstable (eg, those with hypotension or significant heart failure) may require immediate cardioversion. Drugs selected for long-term oral therapy should be given initially in low to moderate doses and titrated upward, depending on effectiveness and side effects. Drug interactions with warfarin and digoxin should be monitored. Proarrhythmia is the most important risk associated with antiarrhythmic drug therapy. Bradyarrhythmias, especially sinus bradycardia, and ventricular tachyarrhythmias, especially torsade de pointes, can occur. Proarrhythmia often occurs during initiation of antiarrhythmic drug treatment. In patients without heart disease who have a normal baseline QT interval, ventricular proarrhythmia is relatively rare, and outpatient initiation of treatment is reasonable. However, patients with structural …
Fusion in vitro of membranes from animal cells.

THE biological implications of membrane fusion are of general importance and several publications deal with the theoretical and practical aspects of this phenomenon1–3. In this report, we describe experiments on the in vitro association or fusion of membranes. Because fusion was observed under physiological conditions it is possible that similar interactions also occur in vivo.
A 2.9-mW 11-b 20-MS/s pipelined ADC with dual-mode-based digital background calibration

We report an 11-b 20-Ms/s pipelined ADC in 0.18-μm CMOS with a novel dual-mode-based digital background calibration method that altogether corrects errors caused by gain insufficiency, gain nonlinearity, and capacitor mismatches. The calibration enables an intentional use of low-gain single-stage op amps instead of conventional high-gain multi-stage op amps, with which we achieve a total ADC power dissipation of 2.9 mW and a short convergence time of 105. The calibration improves the SNDR from 45 dB to 60 dB, and the SFDR from 50 dB to 86 dB. The figure-of-merit is 174 fJ/conversion-step.
Palliative Care and COPD

A 72-year-old male smoker with CAD and COPD was admitted to the ICU with an exacerbation of his COPD severe enough to require intubation. This was his second hospitalization in three months. On the fourth day he showed signs of improvement and tolerated CPAP more than the prior day. Despite this improvement his wife thought he would not want to be kept on the ventilator for this length of time. At her request, the nursing staff asked the resident if a palliative care consult could be made. The palliative care team met with the wife and discussed her concerns about her husband’s being on the ventilator. She stated, “After the last time we were here he told me, ‘Don’t let them keep me on that machine again.’” The palliative care team asked about other family members who would want to discuss this decision, and she indicated a son. At a meeting later that day the senior resident from the team explained the treatment plans and why they were hopeful that within another day or two extubation would be successful. With the son’s encouragement, the patient’s wife agreed with the medical team’s treatment plan.
Mapping genomic features to functional traits through microbial whole genome sequences

Recently, the utility of trait-based approaches for microbial communities has been identified. Increasing availability of whole genome sequences provide the opportunity to explore the genetic foundations of a variety of functional traits. We proposed a machine learning framework to quantitatively link the genomic features with functional traits. Genes from bacteria genomes belonging to different functional traits were grouped to Cluster of Orthologs COGs, and were used as features. Then, TF-IDF technique from the text mining domain was applied to transform the data to accommodate the abundance and importance of each COG. After TF-IDF processing, COGs were ranked using feature selection methods to identify their relevance to the functional trait of interest. Extensive experimental results demonstrated that functional trait related genes can be detected using our method. Further, the method has the potential to provide novel biological insights.
The synthesis and characterization of [MCl3(NNC5H4NH) (HNNC5H4N) from [MO4]− (where MRe, Tc) organodiazenido, organodiazene-chelate complexes. The X-ray structure of [ReCl3 (NNC5H4NH) (HNNC5H4N)]

Abstract The reaction of Na[ReO4] with 2-hydrazinopyridine dihydrochloride in methanol gives [ReCl3(NNC5H4NH) (HNNC5H4N)] in excellent yields. The neutral, six-coordinate complex contains a pyridinium-diazenido ligand and a bidentate organodiazene ligand chelated through the pyridine nitrogen atom. The IR spectrum of this complex displays a series of strong absorptions in the 1600–1150 cm−1 region from the organohydrazide ligands. The FAB(+) mass spectrum displays the protonated parent ion of 507 m/z units and the fragment [ReCl2(NNHC5H4N) (HNNC5H4N)]+ of 470 m/z. The X-ray structure displays a meridional arrangement of chloride ligands, and the pyridine nitrogen atom of the organodiazene chelate ligand trans to the singly-bent, organodiazenido ligand. The molecular coordination geometry is distorted octahedral. The ReN bond length to the pyridine nitrogen atom of the organodiazene chelate is 2.164(7)A, while the ReN bond to the diazene α-nitrogen atom is 1.936(10) A. The NN bond length of this ligand is 1.309(11) A, indicative of multiple bonding within the chelated ligand. The ReN bond length of the pyridinium-diazenido ligand is 1.741(7) A and the NN bond length is 1.253(12) A, again reflecting the multiple bonding throughout the organodiazenido unit. The bond angle for this linkage is 168.1(8)°. Crystal data for ReCl3N6C10H10: triclinic space group P1, unit cell dimensions: a = 7.527(2), b = 7.599(2), c = 13.118(3) A , α = 106.55(3), β = 90.28(3), γ = 93.83(3)°, V = 717.4(4) A 3 , with Dcalc = 2.346 Mg m−3 to give Z = 2. Structure solution based on 2533 reflections converged at R = 3.61. The reaction of ammonium pertechnetate with 2-hydrazinopyridine-dihydrochloride in methanol gives [TcCl3(NNC5H4NH)-(HNNC5H4N)]. The 1H NMR spectrum displays inequivalent organohydrazide ligands. The IR spectrum of the technetium complex displays an extended series of absorptions in the 1600-1150 cm−1 region, analogous to the rhenium complex. The FAB(+) mass spectrum displays the protonated parent ion of 420 m/z as well as the fragment associated with the loss of HCl of 383 m/z. The reaction of the rhenium complex with stoichiometric amounts of triphenylphosphine and a proton scavenger gives [ReCl2(PPh3)(NNC5H4N) (HNNC5H4N)], an organodiazenido-organodiazene complex in which the phosphine has replaced one of the chloride ligands accompanied by the loss of the pyridium proton from the organodiazenido ligand.
Crack initiation in cyclic compression and its applications

Abstract The characteristics and applications of crack initiation under far-field cyclic compressive loads are examined in notched specimens of a lower strength steel. The fatigue cracks, initiated at the notch root due to residual tensile stresses, grow at a progressively decreasing velocity before arresting completely. Simple correlations are explored between the total fatigue crack growth distance and the size of an effective damage zone estimated from the initial crack growth rate. Some important applications of crack initiation in cyclic compression in both long and short fatigue crack problems are demonstrated. Experimental results are presented to show that crack initiation in cyclic compression offers some interesting possibilities for obtaining accelerated estimates of slow fatigue crack growth rates, while minimizing some of the inherent uncertainties arising from the artifacts of conventional test techniques. Possible applications of this method are also discussed with respect to the study of physically-short flaws and of the evaluation of the progressive development closure during fatigue.
ROTATIONAL QUENCHING OF CO DUE TO H2 COLLISIONS

Rate coefficients for state-to-state rotational transitions in CO induced by both para- and ortho-H2 collisions are presented. The results were obtained using the close-coupling method and the coupled-states approximation, with the CO-H2 interaction potential of Jankowski & Szalewicz. Rate coefficients are presented for temperatures between 1 and 3000 K, and for CO(v = 0, j) quenching from j = 1-40 to all lower j' levels. Comparisons with previous calculations using an earlier potential show some discrepancies, especially at low temperatures and for rotational transitions involving large |Δj|. The differences in the well depths of the van der Waals interactions and the anisotropy of the two potential surfaces lead to different resonance structures in the energy dependence of the cross sections which influence the low temperature rate coefficients. Applications to far infrared observations of astrophysical environments are briefly discussed.
Blockade of the central effects of d-amphetamine sulfate by amantadine hydrochloride

Abstract Amantadine hydrochloride, unexpectedly, was found to block certain effects of d-amphetamine sulfate. In mice pretreated with amantadine, 150 mg/kg, d-amphetamine, 2 mg/kg or 5 mg/kg, failed to produce hyperactivity. This pretreatment also protected aggregated mice from the lethal effects of d-amphetamine, 30 mg/kg. Both d-amphetamine, 15 mg/kg, and chlorpromazine hydrochloride, 10 mg/kg, caused elevations in the homovanillic acid (HVA) concentrations in the caudate nucleus of mice, and amantadine pretreatment blocked this response to d-amphetamine but not that to chlorpromazine. Due to the many similarities in the pharmacological, behavioral, biochemical and clinical effects of amantadine and d-amphetamine, they may act at the same receptor and the observed antagonism may be due to a competitive blockade so that d-amphetamine fails to reach its site of action.
Evidence for regulation of Fe(II) oxidation by organic complexing ligands in the Eastern Subarctic Pacific

Abstract Redox cycling of iron in natural seawater is an important process that can affect iron availability to marine phytoplankton. In this work, luminol chemiluminescence was used to measure picomolar Fe(II) oxidation rate constants in continental shelf waters and oceanic surface (upper 200 m) waters of the iron-limited eastern subarctic Pacific. In both cases, Fe(II) oxidation rate constants were faster within the chlorophyll maximum than in UV oxidized seawater (UVOS), while rate constants were comparable to UVOS rate constants in waters from below the mixed layer. The larger Fe(II) oxidation rate constants in surface waters converged with UVOS rate constants upon stepwise additions of either Fe(II) or Fe(III), while Fe titrations did not affect Fe(II) oxidation rate constants in waters from below the mixed layer. Direct measurements of hydrogen peroxide, a common Fe(II) oxidant in surface waters, do not explain the high Fe(II) oxidation rate constants. We hypothesize that excess concentrations of strong Fe(III)-complexing organic ligands measured in surface seawater increase Fe(II) oxidation, and that titration of these ligands with added Fe explains the observed slowing of Fe(II ) oxidation rates. Given that Fe(III)-complexing ligands are found in both surface and deep waters, and higher Fe(II) oxidation rate constants were measured only near the chlorophyll maximum, we suggest that the chemical nature and perhaps origin of natural Fe(III)-complexing organic ligands differ between in surface and deep waters.
Outside scene obscuration by a millimeter-wave radar image presented on a HUD

We investigated whether a raster image on a Head-Up Display (HUD) might interfere with runway recognition during a low-visibility (CAT II and IIIa) approach. The primary reason for incorporating a HUD into the flight deck is to allow the pilot to observe instrument information while maintaining a view of the outside scene. The raster image could, however, obscure the outside scene, leaving the pilot unaware that the approach or runway lights are visible. In our HUD lab, twenty-one subjects were asked to observe a simulated outside scene through a HUD and indicate when they first saw runway approach lights. Each subject was presented 12 data runs with a simulated 35-GHz raster radar image and stroke symbology simultaneously presented on the HUD, and 12 data runs with only stroke symbology on the HUD. Each run was conducted under simulated fog conditions of either 700-ft Runway Visual Range (RVR) or 1200-ft RVR. We found that the presence of the radar image decreased the recognition range by 24 percent (z equals 5.71, p < 0.001). Subjective comments by the study participants show that the radar serves as a valuable aid in confirming flight path alignment with the runway under low-visibility conditions.© (1995) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.