cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Starch-Encapsulated Bacillus thuringiensis: A Potential New Method for Increasing Environmental Stability of Entomopathogens

Bacillus thuringiensis Berliner was encapsulated within a starch matrix and assayed for biological activity against neonate and second-instar larvae of the European corn borer, Ostrinia nubilalis (Hubner). When larvae ingested encapsulated B. thuringiensis , they digested the starch matrix and released into their guts B. thuringiensis crystals and spores, which initiated infection. Nearly 100% mortality occurred at all dosages and concentrations tested whenever the starch granules were hydrated and high relative humidity conditions (>80%) were maintained during the 24-h exposure period of the assay. Encapsulated B. thuringiensis stored in the laboratory for 4 mo exhibited no detectable decrease in pathological activity.
Variation in Plebejus icarioides (Lepidoptera, Lycaenidae) II. Parasites of the Immature Stages1

Sixty-two egg samples of the butterfly Plebejus ( Icaricia ) icarioides (Bdv.) were collected from 53 localities in 10 western states and one Canadian province, and the percentage of egg parasitism for each population sample recorded. Trichogramma minutum Riley occurred in 26 and an undescribed species of Telenomus in 19 of the samples. The percentage of egg parasitism varied in different populations from 0% to 88%. Various factors of the ecology of the host and parasites were discussed in terms of the effects they may have on percentage parasitism. It was noted that when both parasites occurred in one population the percent parasitism increased, and in one case, increased parasitism was associated with a decrease in host density. Because of the extreme territorial fragmentation and the small size of the host populations it was postulated that the egg parasites may contribute significantly to the variation (and small population effect) noted in the butterfly.
New and Described Parasites of the Genus Eurytoma Illiger from Rose Galls Caused by Species of the Cynipid Genus Diplolepis Geoffrey (Hymenoptera: Eurytomidae)

The material utilized in this study came from the collections of the United States National Museum, the Illinois Natural History Survey, S. E. Lienk, A. C. Kinsey and my own. The specimens from the United States National Museum were collected by many individuals whose names are given in the list of locality records under each species and subspecies, described below.
The Time Factor in Egg Production

Abstract THE sequence in the time of laying of successive eggs in clutches of various sizes is used as a test of the accuracy of trap-nest records by inspectors in poultry record of performance work. Atwood (1929) observed that there was a high degree of regularity with which birds lay later and later in the day on succeeding days. He stated that if a bird had laid on successive days in the time sequence of 8 a.m.—10 a.m. —11 a.m.—12 m.—1 p.m. and then on the day following the last record an inspector should trap that particular bird at 9 a.m., the inspector would know quite definitely that the record for the preceding day was wrong. Atwood’s observations were made during the month of August in two successive years on a flock of White Leghorns fed normally. It seemed of value to determine whether such factors as age, . . .
Study of the force coefficients on plates using an open source numerical wave tank

Abstract An open source numerical wave tank based on the OpenFOAM ® software was setup and tested to solve the Navier–Stokes equations. This work focused on submerged plates because of their simple geometry, their importance as a design component (e.g., heave plates), and the broad availability of published experimental results. Two-dimensional plates in an oscillatory flow, as well as three-dimensional circular disks and square plates undergoing forced oscillations were simulated in conditions where the nonlinearity of hydrodynamic viscous drag and inertia forces can be probed easily. The effect of plate thickness as well as the ability of the numerical simulations to predict wave radiation damping at shallow plate submergence were also considered. Overall, force coefficient predictions were very satisfactory when compared to experimental data, and generally exhibited less scatter. The influence of both Keulegan–Carpenter number and frequency parameter on the hydrodynamic force could be assessed as well from these numerical simulations as from past laboratory experiments.
Inspiratory Muscle Training Improves Sleep and Mitigates Cardiovascular Dysfunction in Obstructive Sleep Apnea.

STUDY OBJECTIVES New and effective strategies are needed to manage the autonomic and cardiovascular sequelae of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). We assessed the effect of daily inspiratory muscle strength training (IMT) on sleep and cardiovascular function in adults unable to use continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy. METHODS This is a placebo-controlled, single-blind study conducted in twenty four adults with mild, moderate, and severe OSA. Subjects were randomly assigned to placebo or inspiratory muscle strength training. Subjects in each group performed 5 min of training each day for 6 w. All subjects underwent overnight polysomnography at intake and again at study close. RESULTS We evaluated the effects of placebo training or IMT on sleep, blood pressure, and plasma catecholamines. Relative to placebo-trained subjects with OSA, subjects with OSA who performed IMT manifested reductions in systolic and diastolic blood pressures (-12.3 ± 1.6 SBP and -5.0 ± 1.3 DBP mmHg; P < 0.01); plasma norepinephrine levels (536.3 ± 56.6 versus 380.6 ± 41.2 pg/mL; P = 0.01); and registered fewer nighttime arousals and reported improved sleep (Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index scores: 9.1 ± 0.9 versus 5.1 ± 0.7; P = 0.001). These favorable outcomes were achieved without affecting apneahypopnea index. CONCLUSIONS The results are consistent with our previously published findings in normotensive adults but further indicate that IMT can modulate blood pressure and plasma catecholamines in subjects with ongoing nighttime apnea and hypoxemia. Accordingly, we suggest IMT offers a low cost, nonpharmacologic means of improving sleep and blood pressure in patients who are intolerant of CPAP.
Prediction of In-Service Pavement Structural Capacity Based on Traffic-Speed Deflection Measurements

AbstractNonstructural factors, such as surface distresses and ride quality, have been commonly used as the main indicators of in-service pavement conditions. In the last decade, the concept of implementing a structural condition index in pavement management system (PMS) to complement functional condition indices has become an important goal for many highway agencies. The rolling wheel deflectometer (RWD) provides the ability to measure pavement deflection while operating at the posted speed limits causing no user delays. The objective of this study was to develop a model to predict pavement structural capacity at a length interval of 0.16 km (0.1 mi) based on RWD measurements and to assess its effectiveness in identifying structurally deficient pavement sections. Rolling wheel deflectometer data collected from 153 road sections (more than 1,600 km) in District 05 of Louisiana were used in this study. The predicted structural number (SNRWD0.16) showed an acceptable accuracy with a root-mean square error (R...
Atomic Layer Deposited (ALD) coatings for future astronomical telescopes: recent developments

Atomic Layer Deposition (ALD) can create conformal, near stoichiometric and pinhole free transmissive metal fluoride coatings to protect reflective aluminum films. Spectral performance of astronomical mirror coatings strongly affect the science capabilities of astronomical satellite missions. We are utilizing ALD to create a transmissive overcoat to protect aluminum film mirrors from oxidation with the goal of achieving high reflectance (> 80%) from the UV (~100 nm) to the IR (~2,000 nm). This paper summarizes the recent developments of ALD aluminum fluoride (AlF3) coatings on Al. Reflectance measurements of aluminum mirrors protected by ALD AlF3 and future applications are discussed. These measurements demonstrate that Al + ALD AlF3, even with an interfacial oxide layer of a few nanometers, can provide higher reflectance than Al protected by traditional physical vapor deposited MgF2 without an oxide layer, below ~115 nm.
Basic Principles of Sports Nutrition

Proper nutrition is a key component in the preparation and training of the competitive athlete. The dietary recommendations for sports nutrition are surprisingly conventional, similar to that for the prevention of chronic disease (such as cancer, diabetes, stroke, hypertension, and cardiovascular disease). Few specialized supplements are required above a well-balanced diet of sufficient protein and carbohydrate. Total caloric requirements, macronutrient composition, and need for electrolyte/micronutrient repletion may vary from one sport to another (and between various positions within a single sport). The type and duration of the sporting event affect the utilization of energy systems, substrate availability, and the training adaptations required to optimize athleticism. Undernutrition, dehydration, and electrolyte abnormalities can reduce cognition, endurance, thermoregulation, overall performance, and recovery. A properly designed dietary program throughout training, competition, and the off-season should benefit and help protect both the recreational and the elite athlete.
A comparative study on manganese-doped lanthanum-strontium chromite mixed with 8YSZ and 10ScSZ in oxidizing and reducing atmospheres

Abstract This paper reports a comparative assessment of the chemical and structural stability of LSCM perovskite composites fabricated with 8YSZ and 10ScSZ. Role of oxidizing and reducing atmospheres are examined on the processing and electrochemical performance of the composites. Higher density is obtained during the sintering of LSCM mixed with 10ScSZ when compared to composite mixtures containing 8YSZ in oxidizing as well as reducing atmosphere. Above composites also densified more in Ar-3%H2-3%H2O atmosphere than air along with the formation of SrZrO3 in reducing atmosphere. MnCr2O4 formation is found only in LSCM-8YSZ composite in Ar-3%H2-3%H2O. Electrochemical tests conducted using symmetric cell configurations indicates low polarization resistance and higher performance for Gas (air/fuel)/LSCM-10ScSZ//8YSZ/LSCM-10ScSZ/Gas (air/fuel). Unlike cell containing LSCM-8YSZ composite, no significant changes are identified in the polarization resistance of LSCM-10ScSZ cell for 80 h. Sr-segregation on the surface of LSCM in electrically tested LSCM-8YSZ cell is attributed to performance degradation in the reducing atmosphere.
Dietary management of presumptive protein-losing enteropathy in Yorkshire terriers

Objectives To describe the clinical outcome of dietary management of Yorkshire terriers with protein-losing enteropathy without immunosuppressive/anti-inflammatory medications. Methods Records were searched for Yorkshire terriers with hypoalbuminaemia and a clinical diagnosis of protein-losing enteropathy that were managed with diet and without immunosuppressive/anti-inflammatory medications. Serum albumin changes were compared using a one-way repeated measures ANOVA. Canine chronic enteropathy clinical activity index scores were compared using a Wilcoxon signed-rank test. Results Eleven cases were identified. Clinical signs were variable including: diarrhoea, respiratory signs, vomiting, lethargy and weight loss. Diets fed included home cooked (n=5); Royal Canin Gastrointestinal Low Fat (n=4); Hill's Prescription Diet i/d Low Fat (n=1); or Purina HA Hypoallergenic (n=1). Clinical signs resolved completely in eight dogs, partially resolved in two dogs and failed to respond in one dog. In dogs that responded, albumin significantly improved from baseline (mean 14·9 g/L, sd ±3·7), at 2 to 4 weeks (mean 24·2 g/L, sd ±5·5, P=0·01), and at 3 to 4 months (mean 27·0 g/dL, sd ±5·9, P=0·01). Clinical Significance These results indicate that dietary management of protein-losing enteropathy is a potential management strategy in Yorkshire terriers. Randomised clinical trials in Yorkshire terriers with protein-losing enteropathy are necessary to compare success rate, survival and quality of life with dietary management versus combined dietary and immunosuppressive/anti-inflammatory therapy.
Analysis of temperature effects on performance of spoke-type interior permanent magnet machines

In this paper, the influences of temperature variation on the characteristics and performance of spoke-type interior permanent magnet (IPM) machines are analyzed. Key machine performance metrics, such as flux linkages, torque, and inductances variation as functions of the temperature are simulated and discussed. The paper also shows the influences of temperature variation on constant torque curves, voltage limit ellipses, maximum torque per ampere trajectories, and torque-speed curves. The difference of temperature effects between spoke-type IPM machines and other IPM machines are also compared and discussed. The results and trends shown in this paper set a foundation for developing control algorithm which takes the temperature effects into consideration, especially in the applications where operating temperature varies significantly.
Spatial constraints on probability learning in visual working memory

Visual working memory is limited in capacity so it is essential to use it efficiently. Previous work has shown that statistical learning can help boost working memory efficiency by prioritizing the...
Concentration of Potentially Preventable Spending Among High-Cost Medicare Subpopulations: An Observational Study

Background Little is known about whether potentially preventable spending is concentrated among a subset of high-cost Medicare beneficiaries. Objective To determine the proportion of total spending that is potentially preventable across distinct subpopulations of high-cost Medicare beneficiaries. Design Beneficiaries in the highest 10% of total standardized individual spending were defined as "high-cost" patients, using a 20% sample of Medicare fee-for-service claims from 2012. The following 6 subpopulations were defined using a claims-based algorithm: nonelderly disabled, frail elderly, major complex chronic, minor complex chronic, simple chronic, and relatively healthy. Potentially preventable spending was calculated by summing costs for avoidable emergency department visits using the Billings algorithm plus inpatient and associated 30-day postacute costs for ambulatory care-sensitive conditions (ACSCs). The amount and proportion of potentially preventable spending were then compared across the high-cost subpopulations and by individual ACSCs. Setting Medicare. Participants 6 112 450 Medicare beneficiaries. Measurements Proportion of spending deemed potentially preventable. Results In 2012, 4.8% of Medicare spending was potentially preventable, of which 73.8% was incurred by high-cost patients. Despite making up only 4% of the Medicare population, high-cost frail elderly persons accounted for 43.9% of total potentially preventable spending ($6593 per person). High-cost nonelderly disabled persons accounted for 14.8% of potentially preventable spending ($3421 per person) and the major complex chronic group for 11.2% ($3327 per person). Frail elderly persons accounted for most spending related to admissions for urinary tract infections, dehydration, heart failure, and bacterial pneumonia. Limitation Potential misclassification in the identification of preventable spending and lack of detailed clinical data in administrative claims. Conclusion Potentially preventable spending varied across Medicare subpopulations, with the majority concentrated among frail elderly persons. Primary Funding Source The Commonwealth Fund.
Performance of Ultrafast DCE-MRI for Diagnosis of Prostate Cancer.

Rationale and Objectives This study aimed to test high temporal resolution dynamic contrast-enhanced (DCE) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for different zones of the prostate and evaluate its performance in the diagnosis of prostate cancer (PCa). Determine whether the addition of ultrafast DCE-MRI improves the performance of multiparametric MRI. Materials and Methods Patients (n = 20) with pathologically confirmed PCa underwent preoperative 3T MRI with T2-weighted, diffusion-weighted, and high temporal resolution (~2.2 seconds) DCE-MRI using gadoterate meglumine (Guerbet, Bloomington, IN) without an endorectal coil. DCE-MRI data were analyzed by fitting signal intensity with an empirical mathematical model to obtain parameters: percent signal enhancement, enhancement rate (α), washout rate (β), initial enhancement slope, and enhancement start time along with apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) and T2 values. Regions of interests were placed on sites of prostatectomy verified malignancy (n = 46) and normal tissue (n = 71) from different zones. Results Cancer (α = 6.45 ± 4.71 s−1, β = 0.067 ± 0.042 s−1, slope = 3.78 ± 1.90 s−1) showed significantly (P Conclusion Quantitative parameters from empirical mathematical model fits to ultrafast DCE-MRI improve diagnosis of PCa. DCE-MRI with higher temporal resolution may capture clinically useful information for PCa diagnosis that would be missed by low temporal resolution DCE-MRI. This new information could improve the performance of multiparametric MRI in PCa detection.
Demonstrating Library Impact Through Acknowledgment: An Examination of Acknowledgments in Theses and Dissertations

Abstract Academic libraries are increasingly seeking ways to demonstrate their impact on student learning. Acknowledgments - formal statements of indebtedness – in graduate theses and dissertations provide a rather unexplored area for demonstrating impact of the academic library on student learning. This study uses quantitative and qualitative methods to characterize acknowledgments of the Texas A&M University Libraries (TAMU Libraries) in theses and dissertations, both overall and for three disciplines specifically: civil engineering, geography, and history. This study also searched for mentions of the TAMU Libraries throughout the entire body of theses and dissertations. Overall, acknowledgments to the TAMU Libraries in theses and dissertations were less than 1%, though acknowledgments were found in all three disciplines with over a quarter of the history theses and dissertations containing an acknowledgment to libraries. There was no statistically significant difference found between the numbers of acknowledgments in theses versus dissertations. Acknowledgments to the TAMU Libraries were found in the theses and dissertations of 28 different departments. Mentions to the TAMU Libraries – not necessarily a formal acknowledgment – were found throughout the text of theses and dissertations with most concentrated in the acknowledgment, method, and bibliography sections.
Stimulation renalvenöser Plasmareninaktivitäten mit Apresolin in der Diagnostik des renovasculären Hochdrucks

Der prognostische Wert von Tests, die den gunstigen Ausgang eines chirurgischen Eingriffes bei Patienten mit renovascularem Hochdruck (rvHd) beurteilen sollen, ist immer noch Gegenstand unterschiedlicher Auffassungen. Seitdem die seitengetrennten Nierenfunktionsprufungen wegen ungenugender Zuverlassigkeit weitgehend nicht mehr durchgefuhrt werden, hat man grosere Hoffnung auf die Bestimmung von Plasmareninaktivitaten (PRA) gesetzt, die Aufschlus uber die hamodynamische Signifikanz einer Nierenarterienstenose bezuglich des moglichen postoperativen Ergebnisses geben soll.
Rattus lutreolus (Top) R. tunneyi (Bottom)

The karyotype of R. lutreolus is indistinguishable from that of R. rattus with 42 chromosomes (Folio 475). In R. tunneyi, autosome pair No. 9 possesses a short second arm, probably representing a pericentric inversion. Individuals have been found to have 2n=43 (with an extra B chromosome) and 2n=41 (a fusion between chromosomes 2 and 5.
Catalytic Hydrogel Membrane Reactor for Treatment of Aqueous Contaminants.

Heterogeneous hydrogenation catalysis is a promising approach for treating oxidized contaminants in drinking water, but scale-up has been limited by the challenge of immobilization of the catalyst ...
Real-Time Ray Tracing Algorithm for Dynamic Scene

The ray tracing algorithm can calculate the rendered image with higher authenticity by simulating the actual propagation process of the light in the scene. In terms of the dynamic scene, the problem of scene partitioning and BVH tree structure will directly affect the complexity of ray tracing algorithm. A new bounding box structure and BVH tree building method are designed and implemented to simplify the rendering process. Computational complexity of generating BVH tree is thus lower than the normal top-down methods.
Characterizing DSM-5 and ICD-11 personality disorder features in psychiatric inpatients at scale using electronic health records.

Background Investigation of personality traits and pathology in large, generalizable clinical cohorts has been hindered by inconsistent assessment and failure to consider a range of personality disorders (PDs) simultaneously. Methods We applied natural language processing (NLP) of electronic health record notes to characterize a psychiatric inpatient cohort. A set of terms reflecting personality trait domains were derived, expanded, and then refined based on expert consensus. Latent Dirichlet allocation was used to score notes to estimate the extent to which any given note reflected PD topics. Regression models were used to examine the relationship of these estimates with sociodemographic features and length of stay. Results Among 3623 patients with 4702 admissions, being male, non-white, having a low burden of medical comorbidity, being admitted through the emergency department, and having public insurance were independently associated with greater levels of disinhibition, detachment, and psychoticism. Being female, white, and having private insurance were independently associated with greater levels of negative affectivity. The presence of disinhibition, psychoticism, and negative affectivity were each significantly associated with a longer stay, while detachment was associated with a shorter stay. Conclusions Personality features can be systematically and scalably measured using NLP in the inpatient setting, and some of these features associate with length of stay. Developing treatment strategies for patients scoring high in certain personality dimensions may facilitate more efficient, targeted interventions, and may help reduce the impact of personality features on mental health service utilization.
Fluid-Solid Reaction Kinetics for Solids of Non-basic Geometries: Application of the Law of Additive Times in Combination with the Shape-Factor Method

Fluid–solid reactions often occur under the mixed rate control of chemical and mass transfer processes. The results of this work demonstrate that Sohn’s Law of additive reaction times can be used in combination with the non-basic shape-factor method to obtain closed-form conversion–time relationships for initially porous or non-porous solids of any shape under the mixed control of reaction steps. The conversion–time relationships obtained by this method yield close approximations of the exact numerical solutions of the governing equations for all the cases examined.
Modern calibration of Poa flabellata (tussac grass) as a new paleoclimate proxy in the South Atlantic

Abstract. Terrestrial paleoclimate records are rare in the South Atlantic, limiting opportunities to provide a prehistoric context for current global changes. The tussock grass, Poa flabellata, grows abundantly along the coasts of the Falkland Islands and other subantarctic islands. It forms extensive peat records, providing a promising opportunity to reconstruct high-resolution regional climate records. The isotopic composition of leaf and root tissues deposited in these peats has the potential to record variation in precipitation, temperature, and relative humidity over time, but these relationships are unknown for P. flabellata. Here, we measured the isotopic composition of P. flabellata and precipitation and explore relationships with seasonal temperature and humidity variations across four study locations in the Falkland Islands. We reveal that inter-seasonal differences in carbon and oxygen stable isotopes of leaf α -cellulose of living P. flabellata correlated with monthly mean temperature and relative humidity. The carbon isotope composition of leaf α -cellulose ( δ13C leaf ) records the balance of CO2 supply through stomata and the demand by photosynthesis. The positive correlation between δ13C leaf and temperature and negative correlation between δ13 C leaf and relative humidity suggest that photosynthetic demand for CO2 relative to stomatal supply is enhanced when conditions are warm and dry. Further, the positive correlation between δ13 C leaf and δ18O leaf ( r=0.88 ; p ; n=24 ) indicates that stomatal closure during warm dry periods explains seasonal variation in δ13C leaf . We observed significant differences between winter and summer seasons for both δ18 O leaf and δ13C leaf and among study locations for δ18O leaf but not δ13C leaf . δ18 O values of monthly composite precipitation were similar between seasons and among study locations, yet characteristic of the latitudinal origin of storm tracks and seasonal winds. The weak correlation between δ18O in monthly composite precipitation and δ18 O leaf further suggests that relative humidity is the main driver of the δ18O leaf . The oxygen isotopes in root α -cellulose did not reflect, or only partially reflected (at one study location), the δ18O in precipitation. Overall, this study supports the use of peat records formed by P. flabellata to fill a significant gap in our knowledge of the long-term trends in Southern Hemisphere climate dynamics.
Genetic regulation of homeostatic immune architecture in the lungs of Collaborative Cross mice

Summary Variation in immune homeostasis, immune system stability, in organ systems such as the lungs is likely to shape the host response to infection at these exposed tissues. We evaluated immune homeostasis in immune cell populations in the lungs of the Collaborative Cross (CC) mouse genetic reference population. We found vast heritable variation in leukocyte populations with the frequency of many of these cell types showing distinct patterns relative to classic inbred strains C57BL/6J and BALB/cJ. We identified 28 quantitative trait loci (QTL) associated with variation in baseline lung immune cell populations, including several loci that broadly regulate the abundance of immune populations from distinct developmental lineages, and found that many of these loci have predictive value for influenza disease outcomes, demonstrating that genetic determinants of homeostatic immunity in the lungs regulate susceptibility to virus-induced disease. All told, we highlight the need to assess diverse mouse strains in understanding immune homeostasis and resulting immune responses.
Book Review: The Limits of Privacy

In The Limits of Privacy, Amitai Etzioni, of George Washington University, has proposed a paradigm for analyzing privacy conflicts and applied it to five current controversies, mostly in medicine and computer technology. The paradigm is based on a "communitarian" approach-a socio-philosophical construct that Professor Etzioni has spent much of his distinguished career promoting-that balances the privacy rights of individuals against the common good. While the reader may not agree with the conclusions reached regarding each controversy, or even with the underlying paradigm, Etzioni's analyses are all thoughtful and compelling. The end result is a fascinating survey of cutting-edge issues at the intersection of American privacy rights and new kinds of information disclosures. Although only two of the topics addressed in The Limits of Privacy involve health care directly, the ideas and insights revealed throughout certainly provide a useful backdrop for considering a wide range of issues that arise in the health care system. Professor Etzioni's communitarian philosophy begins with the core premise that "we are not merely rights-bearing individuals but also community members who are responsible for each other."2 We have obligations to the rest of society that can be at least as strong as the rights that society grants us. No single right, not even the right to privacy, "can be used to trump all other considerations."' Analyses of privacy interests, therefore, require a balancing of the competing interests inherent in each conflict.
Monetary Policy and Financial Conditions: A Cross-Country Study

Loose financiall conditions forecast high output growth and low output volatility up to six quarters into the future, generating time varying downside risk to the output gap which we measure by GDP-at-Risk (GaR). This finding is robust across countries, conditioning variables, and time periods. We study the implications for monetary policy in a reduced form New Keynesian model with financial intermediaries that are subject to a Value at Risk (VaR) constraint. Optimal monetary policy depends on the magnitude downside risk to GDP, as it impacts the consumption-savings decision via the Euler constraint, and the financial conditions via the tightness of the VaR constraint. The optimal monetary policy rule exhibits a pronounced response to shifts in financial conditions for most countries in our sample. Welfare gains from taking financial conditions into account are shown to be sizable.
Citation Inaccuracies in Influential Surgical Journals.

This study investigates the prevalence and potential etiologies of citation inaccuracies in surgical literature by systematically characterizing influential surgical articles and references they cited.
Benchmarking the World: A Proposal for Regulatory Oversight of Stock Market Index Providers

Wall Street has recently seen a shift from active management, where investors or portfolio managers buy and sell stocks, towards passive management, where investors invest in funds that seek to match the returns of an underlying index. As the popularity of index funds has grown, questions have arisen regarding the role of the index providers that produce the underlying indices. Unlike the funds themselves, these providers are currently not regulated by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. This wide discretion may allow index providers to take control of the market, since they have the ability to control investors’ exposure to different countries’ markets. The role of index providers also raises concerns about investor transparency and market manipulation in the wake of the 2012 LIBOR manipulation scandal. This Note argues that the U.S. investment industry should require index providers to register with the SEC and to solicit comments from the public through notice-and-comment periods when the providers add new rules or modify existing rules.
Substituted pteridinones, pyrimidines, pyrrolopyrimidines, and purines as p90 ribosomal S6 protein kinase-2 (RSK2) inhibitors: Pharmacophore modeling data.

The RSK2 kinase is a downstream effector of the Ras/Raf/MEK/ERK pathway that is aberrantly active in a range of cancer types and has been recognized an anticancer target. The inhibition of RSK2 kinase activity would disrupt multiple pro-cancer processes; however, there are few RSK2 inhibitors. The data have been obtained for a series of pteridinone-, pyrimidine-, purine-, and pyrrolopyrimidine-based compounds, developed to establish a structure-activity relationship for RSK inhibition. The compounds were docked into the ATP-binding site of the N-terminal domain of the RSK2 kinase using Glide. The binding conformations of these molecules was then used to generate a set of pharmacophore models to determine the structural requirements for RSK2 inhibition. Through the combination of these models, common features (pharmacophores) can be identified that can inform the development of further small molecule RSK inhibitors. The synthesis and evaluation of the pteridinone- and pyrimidine-based compounds was reported in the related articles: Substituted pteridinones as p90 ribosomal S6 protein kinase (RSK) inhibitors: A structure-activity study (Casalvieri et al., 2020) and Molecular docking of substituted pteridinones and pyrimidines to the ATP-binding site of the N-terminal domain of RSK2 and associated MM/GBSA and molecular field datasets (Casalvieri et al., 2020). [1], [2]. The synthesis and evaluation of the purine- and pyrrolopyrimidine-based compounds was reported in the related research article: N-substituted pyrrolopyrimidines and purines as p90 ribosomal S6 protein kinase-2 (RSK2) inhibitors (Casalvieri et al., 2021) [3].
A lineage-specific gene encoding a major matrix protein of the sea urchin embryo spicule. II. Structure of the gene and derived sequence of the protein

A lambda gt11 cDNA clone isolated by use of a polyclonal antispicule matrix protein antiserum is shown in the accompanying paper [S. C. Benson, H. M. Sucov, L. Stephens, E. H. Davidson, and F. Wilt (1987) Dev. Biol. 120, 499-506] to encode a prominent 50-kDa spicule matrix protein (SM50). This clone was used to select homologous genomic recombinants, and the structure of the gene was determined. The SM50 gene occurs once per haploid genome. It contains a single intron located within the 35th codon. A unique transcription initiation site 110 nucleotide pairs prior to the translation start signal was mapped by primer extension. The mRNA is 1895 nucleotides in length, excluding the 3' poly(A) sequence, and contains a single open reading frame 450 codons in length. Though rare in whole embryo RNA the prevalence of the SM50 mRNA is calculated to be about 1% of the total mRNA in skeletogenic mesenchyme cells. The derived peptide sequence indicates a typical N-terminal signal peptide, and an N-linked glycosylation site near the C terminus. About 45% of the length of the protein is included in a domain composed of consecutive approximate repetitions of a 13-amino-acid element, the consensus sequence of which is Trp-Val-Gly-Asp-Asn-Gln-Ala-LeuTrp-Val-IleAsp-Asn-GlnPro+ ++-ValGlu. The protein also contains an internal domain unusually rich in proline residues and a very basic C-terminal region.
A new technique for robustly stabilizing uncertain control systems over maximal parameter domain

A technique of finding a fixed controller that will stabilize an uncertain and linear single-input single-output plant over a maximal region in the parameter space is proposed. The approach uses Youla's method and the method of explicitly finding the pseudoboundary of an unstable polytope of polynomials. >
Analysis of Alternative Capacitor Topologies for MEMS Switches Fabricated with Printed Circuit Technology

New architectures to reduce the acuation voltage of a cantilever beam MEMS switch are presented. Voltage reduction is achieved through manipulation of the shape of the capacitor plates to increase the effective area and decrease the effective distance between plates. Improvements are achieved without a physical increase in footprint dimensions, beam to substrate separation, or a decrease in the spring constant of the beam. The architectures are particularly applications that require a small footprint, high degrees of electrical isolation, and low switching times.
Things are Seldom What They Seem: Lawyers and Judges in the Tales of Mark Twain

This article explores the many and varies legal characters that populated the bench and bar in Mark Twain’s work. Judges and lawyers have long captivated the minds and talents of authors, and Twain was a prolific creator of jurisprudential characters. This article’s thesis is that a careful study of Twain’s fiction reveals a disturbing pattern of inconsistency between the conduct of his attorneys and judges and the quality of justice that their actions bring about. In all too many of Twain’s tales, true “justice” is far more likely to be achieved where lawyers and judges violate legal rules through deception, ignorance, and disregard for basic procedural and substantive rules. The converse is also true. So many of Twain’s lawyers and judges who do follow the substantive and procedural letters of the law often become parties to grave injustice. The paper’s most important task is to discuss the lessons to be learned from this paradoxical portrayal of legal action. It is the hope that the discomfort that twain’s legal characters generate may inspire, in his readers, the desire to view legal conduct critically to ensure that, unlike in Twain’s work, there is no dichotomy between following the rules of the legal system and the achievement of true justice.
Learning large scale common sense models of everyday life

Recent work has shown promise in using large, publicly available, hand-contributed commonsense databases as joint models that can be used to infer human state from day-to-day sensor data. The parameters of these models are mined from the web. We show in this paper that learning these parameters using sensor data (with the mined parameters as priors) can improve performance of the models significantly. The primary challenge in learning is scale. Since the model comprises roughly 50,000 irregularly connected nodes in each time slice, it is intractable either to completely label observed data manually or to compute the expected likelihood of even a single lime slice. We show how to solve the resulting semi-supervised learning problem by combining a variety of conventional approximation techniques and a novel technique for simplifying the model called context-based pruning. We show empirically that the learned model is substantially better at interpreting sensor data and an detailed analysis of how various techniques contribute to the performance.
Lessons at 30,000 Feet

To the Editor‐in‐Chief Studies of in‐flight emergencies estimates that the death rate in commercial passengers is low, about 0.31 to 0.34 per million passengers, and that about 70% of these are due to cardiovascular events. 1 Nonetheless, such statistics mean little when one has volunteered to be the good Samaritan and faces caring for an ill passenger. Indeed, what we are left with is a humble understanding of our limitations, evident when we are without our white coats, our miracle drugs, our medical teams, and our newfangled machinery. Several hundred passengers waited patiently at the gate for our flight to be called for boarding. Although my home airport is said to be the busiest in the world, it does not seem to host passengers with the same degree of diversity that Narita does, being a gateway to and from the East. While people‐watching, I noted the number of infants, only one nursing, but inevitably with parents overwhelmed by them as well as by all their accompanying paraphernalia. I also particularly noted the number of frail, elderly, and generally compromised‐appearing passengers being lined up in their wheelchairs. One woman, hovered over in her chair, looked similar to those I imagine when reading our government agency's daily quarantine summaries about passengers determined, after arrival in the United States, to have traveled with active pulmonary tuberculosis. In travel medicine, we regularly hear and read about the rising numbers of international travelers. The World Tourism Organization (http://www.unwto.org) posts up‐to‐date statistics on its website regarding the estimated volume of travelers to all countries in the world. In 2012, there will be an estimated 1 billion international travelers. We also read about the increase in the variety of travelers and the increased numbers of those whom we refer to as “special populations,” including children, pregnant women, …
Prediction of Surface Induced Ultrasonic Beam Distortions

One factor which influences the performance of ultrasonic examinations is the condition of the surface of a component through which the ultrasound must pass to enter the material. Often in nuclear reactor components, factors such as weld overlays, claddings, and diametrical shrink can give part surfaces a wavy, corrugated, or abruptly stepped topography. Having to pass an ultrasonic probe over such a surface during an inspection can result in a redirection of beam energy, beam partitioning, or possibly a partial truncation of the beam. These factors could leave regions of the part uninspected or give rise to mislocation of defects or geometrical reflectors.
Season and vitamin D status do not affect probability for surgical site infection after colorectal surgery

Regardless of reports on the prevalence of hypovitaminosis D and seasonal effects in the general population and significant worsening of many outcomes there is a scarcity of studies focusing on surgical patients. We, therefore, designed a study to assess the association and difference in surgical-wound infections between patients having colorectal surgery in winter compared with patients having surgery in summer months. Patients were divided into winter and summer surgical procedures depending on their date of surgery. The relationship between seasons (and Vitamin D) and primary outcome of wound infections using multivariable logistic regression was assessed. Out of 2919 patients, 241 (7.7 %) experience surgical site infection. The observed incidence of any surgical site infection postoperatively was 6.8 %, 9.9 %, 7.3 %, and 8.2 % for patients having surgery in spring, summer, fall, and winter, respectively. Furthermore, vitamin D concentration was not associated with incidence of surgical site infection (Odds Ratio (OR): 0.51(0.01, 27) for a one-unit increase in vitamin D concentration; p = 0.74). Our analysis suggests that perioperative vitamin D concentration is not associated with surgical site infections in colorectal surgical patients, likely because the outcomes are overwhelmingly determined by other baseline and surgical factors.
Dynamic film rigidity observations during electrochemical deposition of polybithiophene films

We use quartz crystal oscillator impedance measurements in the vicinity of resonance to probe the viscoelastic characteristics of a conducting polymer film during its electrochemical deposition and subsequent undoping
The amazing noncollapsing U.S. health care system--is reform finally at hand?

For roughly 40 years, health care professionals, policymakers, politicians, and the public have concurred that the U.S. health care system is careening toward collapse. Lawrence Brown asks, if the consensus is so incontestable, why has the system not already collapsed?
Full-scale validation of wireless hybrid sensor on an in-service highway bridge

With the rapid development of electrical circuits, Micro electromechanical system (MEMS) and network technology, wireless smart sensor networks (WSSN) have shown significant potential for replacing existing wired SHM systems due to their cost effectiveness and versatility. A few structural systems have been monitored using WSSN measuring acceleration, temperature, wind speed, humidity; however, a multi-scale sensing device which has the capability to measure the displacement has not been yet developed. In the previous paper, a new high-accuracy displacement sensing system was developed combining a high resolution analog displacement sensor and MEMS-based wireless microprocessor platform. Also, the wireless sensor was calibrated in the laboratory to get the high precision displacement data from analog sensor, and its performance was validated to measure simulated thermal expansion of a laboratory bridge structure. This paper expands the validation of the developed system on full-scale experiments to measure both static and dynamic displacement of expansion joints, temperature, and vibration of an in-service highway bridge. A brief visual investigation of bridges, comparison between theoretical and measured thermal expansion are also provided. The developed system showed the capability to measure the displacement with accuracy of 0.00027 in.
Anticipating anticipation: pursuing identification of cardiomyocyte circadian clock function

Diurnal rhythms in myocardial physiology (e.g., metabolism, contractile function) and pathophyiology (e.g., sudden cardiac death) are well establish and have classically been ascribed to time-of-day-dependent alterations in the neurohumoral milieu. Existence of an intramyocellular circadian clock has recently been exposed. Circadian clocks enable the cell to anticipate environmental stimuli, facilitating a timely and appropriate response. Generation of genetically modified mice with a targeted disruption of the cardiomyocyte circadian clock has provided an initial means for deciphering the functions of this transcriptionally based mechanism and allowed predictions regarding which environmental stimuli the heart anticipates (i.e., “anticipating anticipation”). Recent studies show that the cardiomyocyte circadian clock influences myocardial gene expression, β-adrenergic signaling, transcriptional responsiveness to fatty acids, triglyceride metabolism, heart rate, and cardiac output, as well as ischemia-reperfusion tolerance. In addition to reviewing current knowledge regarding the roles of the cardiomyocyte circadian clock, this article highlights putative frontiers in this field. The latter includes establishing molecular links between the cardiomyocyte circadian clock with identified functions, understanding the pathophysiological consequences of disruption of this mechanism, targeting resynchronization of the cardiomyocyte circadian clock for prevention/treatment of cardiovascular disease, linking the circadian clock with the cardiobeneficial effects of caloric restriction, and determining whether circadian clock genes are subject to epigenetic regulation. Information gained from studies investigating the cardiomyocyte circadian clock will likely translate to extracardiac tissues, such as skeletal muscle, liver, and adipose tissue.
A Gas Turbine Powered LNG Tanker

The author discusses some of the design features of the power plant for the world’s first gas turbine LNG carrier. The basic features of the dual fuel system are examined with respect to the use of LNG boil-off gas fuel, and marine operating and automation requirements. Marine classification society design criteria and operating constraints are briefly studied with respect to plant safety and functional interfaces with ship control systems. The concept of locked-shaft flaring of boil-off gas in port is discussed with emphasis on land-based system experience. The conclusion emphasizes safety and reliability features of this new marine application of the Heavy Duty Gas Turbine.Copyright © 1973 by ASME
Reaction of OH Radical with C2H3Cl: Rate Constant and Reaction Pathway Analysis

There are two different carbon sites in C2H3Cl where OH addition or abstraction reactions can occur, α and β to the Cl atom, with several dissociation and isomerization products of each addition adduct. Thirteen elementary reactions and 18 species are included in the analysis of this reaction system. Thermochemical kinetic parameters are developed for each elementary reaction process. Chemical activation kinetic analysis with multifrequency QRRK theory for k(E) and master equation for falloff are used to estimate overall rate constants as functions of temperature and pressure. Thermodynamic parameters, including ΔHf°298, S°298, and Cp°(T) (300 ≤ T/K ≤ 1500), of stable species are from the literature when available or estimated by the group additivity method. Values for CHClOHĊH2 are determined by density functional calculation and isodesmic reactions. Results are compared with the experimental data. Rate constants (300∼2000 K, in cm3 mol-1 s-1, Ea in cal/mol) for the important addition and abstraction cha...