cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Direct radiative effect of mineral dust and volcanic aerosols in a simple aerosol climate model

[1] Airborne mineral dust can influence the climate by altering the radiative properties of the atmosphere, but the magnitude of the effect is uncertain. An idealized global model is developed to study the dust-climate system. The model determines the dust longwave and shortwave direct radiative forcing, as well as the resulting temperature changes, based on the specified dust distribution, height, and optical properties. Comparisons with observations and general circulation results indicate that the model produces realistic results for the present-day dust distribution as well as for volcanic aerosols. Although the model includes many simplifications, it can still provide insight into dust-climate system behavior. Recent observations suggest that dust may absorb less solar radiation than previously thought. Experiments with the model suggest that previous studies which used more absorbing dust may be underestimating the effect of dust. Increasing the solar single scattering albedo value from 0.85 to 0.97, corresponding to recent measurements, more than doubles the modeled global average top-of-theatmosphere (TOA) shortwave direct forcing for the present-day dust distribution, while the surface shortwave forcing is halved. The corresponding temperature decreases are larger for the larger single scattering albedo, and the latent and sensible heat fluxes decreases are smaller. The dust forcing and climate response are approximately linear with respect to optical depth. However, the relationship depends on the relative magnitudes of shortwave versus longwave TOA forcing. Thus the net TOA forcing alone does not determine the steady state climate response.
MRI criteria for the diagnosis of pleomorphic adenoma: a validation study.

Abstract Objectives To validate an MRI algorithm characteristic of pleomorphic adenoma (PA). Study design Cross-sectional analysis. Setting Academic tertiary-care medical center. Methods A radiologic algorithm for the MRI diagnosis of PA was developed on the basis of five “high probability” criteria that all must be fulfilled for the MRI to qualify as a positive test result: bright T2-signal, sharp margins, heterogeneous nodular enhancement, lobulated contours, T2-dark rim. We then identified MRI images from our institutional database to test the diagnostic accuracy of the proposed algorithm. Results A total of 103 parotidectomy cases with adequate MRI studies were identified (pleomorphic adenoma n = 41, mucoepidermoid carcinoma n = 11, Warthin's tumor n = 8, adenoid cystic carcinoma n = 6, oncocytoma n = 6, acinic cell carcinoma n = 5, salivary duct carcinoma n = 5, and other n = 21). Eighteen of 21 cases that met all five “high probability” MRI criteria were consistent with PA on final histopathology; 3 were consistent with carcinoma. MRI had a specificity of 95.1% [95% confidence interval: 85.6–98.7%] and sensitivity of 43.9% [95% C.I.: 28.8–60.1%] for PA. The positive predictive value was 85.7% [95% C.I.: 70.4–100%] and the negative predictive value was 71.9% [95% C. I.: 62.0–81.9%]. The overall diagnostic accuracy was 74.8% [95% C.I.: 66.2–83.3%]. Conclusion A “high probability” MRI is about 95% specific for pleomorphic adenoma. A subset of patients with MRI imaging that is highly suggestive of PA may reliably avoid further workup. The value of MRI in this setting is especially useful if preoperative fine needle aspiration is not readily available. A significant proportion of PAs, however, have indeterminate imaging features that overlap considerably with other benign and malignant lesions.
Technosphere insulin: inhaled prandial insulin

Introduction: Insulin therapy is a mainstay for treatment of diabetes mellitus; however, many barriers to insulin exist. Insulin human inhalation powder (technosphere insulin) is a new FDA-approved alternative to subcutaneous bolus insulin.Areas covered: This is an overview of technosphere insulin (TI). Pharmacokinetics, clinical efficacy, safety and tolerability are discussed.Expert Opinion: TI is more quickly absorbed than subcutaneous insulin therapies and has a shorter duration of action. It appears to be noninferior compared with subcutaneous insulin regimens, and is associated with less hypoglycemia. Thus, it may serve as an alternative insulin agent in patients reluctant to administer multiple subcutaneous injections of insulin daily or in patients who experience late postprandial hypoglycemia with subcutaneous insulin. Cough is the most common side effect, but tends to be mild and transient. A small decrease in the forced expiratory volume has been demonstrated, but does not appear to progress and...
Relation of membrane potential to basolateral TEA transport in isolated snake proximal renal tubules

We measured the effects of changes in bath K+ concentration ([K+]) on basolateral membrane potential difference (PD) and [3H]tetraethylammonium (TEA) transport in isolated snake (Thamnophis) proximal renal tubules (25 degrees C; pH 7.4). Increasing bath [K+] from 3 to 65 mM decreased PD from -60 mV (inside of cells negative) to -20 mV and 2-min uptake of [3H]TEA by approximately 25%, indicating that PD influences TEA entry into the cells. Uptake of [3H]TEA was inhibited similarly at both K+ concentrations by unlabeled TEA, indicating that uptake is carrier mediated. Kt (approximately 18 microM) for 2-min uptake of [3H]TEA in 3 mM K+ increased significantly in 65 mM K+, suggesting that the decrease in PD or the increase in [K+] alters the affinity of the transporter for TEA. The steady-state cell-to-bath ratio for [3H]TEA with 3 mM K+ (-60 mV PD) was approximately 16, significantly above the ratio of 10 predicted for passive distribution at electrochemical equilibrium. With 65 mM K+ (-20 mV PD) this ratio decreased to approximately 6, again significantly above the predicted ratio of 2. These data suggest that the PD can account for much, but not all, of the steady-state uptake of TEA. Efflux of [3H]TEA across the basolateral membrane was identical with either 3 or 65 mM K+ in the bath but was almost completely inhibited in either case by tetrapentylammonium, a potent inhibitor of TEA uptake. These data indicate that virtually all TEA transport across the basolateral membrane is carrier mediated and that transport out of the cells is unaffected by PD.
The use of a tissue expander in club-foot surgery. A case report and review

Primary skin closure after the surgical correction of severe club-foot may be difficult. We describe the use of a tissue expander to provide sufficient skin, and review some aspects of the use of the method.
“These Infernal Khudai Khidmatgaran”: Defining and Repressing Frontier Nationalism, 1930–1931

In the spring of 1930, after years of ignoring the growing nationalist movement in the North-West Frontier Province (NWFP), the local British administration was suddenly confronted with a full-scale rebellion throughout the province. Beginning with a nationalist demonstration and subsequent shooting of Indian civilians by British troops in Peshawar on 23 April, unrest quickly spread throughout the province. Within days the British had evacuated Peshawar city and much of the NWFP was essentially beyond their control. At the beginning of June, the British position was further weakened by an onslaught of Afridi lashkars who descended upon the Vale of Peshawar to fight the Government’s forces. Taken by surprise, the British, both in Peshawar and in Delhi, struggled to understand the nature of this opposition and how to beat what was now a major challenge to their rule on the Frontier and in India as a whole.1
Magnetic ordering in doped Cd1-xCoxSe diluted magnetic quantum dots

In this study, we report structural, vibrational, and magnetic data providing evidence of random ion displacement in the core of CdSe quantum dots on the Cd2+ sites by Co2+ ions (between x = 0 and 0.30). Structural evidence for core doping is obtained by analyzing the powder X-ray diffraction (pXRD), data which exhibits a linear lattice compression with increasing Co2+ concentration, in accord with Vegard's law. Correlated with the pXRD shift, a hardening of the CdSe longitudinal optical phonon mode and a new local vibrational mode are observed which track Co2+ doping concentration. Consistent with the observed core doping, superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) measurements indicate a surprising increase for the onset of spin glass behavior by an order of magnitude over bulk Co:CdSe. Correlation of SQUID results, pXRD, and Raman measurements suggests that the observed enhancement of magnetic superexchange between Co2+ dopant ions in this confined system arises from changes in the nature of c...
Knotted Versus Knotless Suture Bridge Repair of the Achilles Tendon Insertion: A Biomechanical Study

Background:Surgical treatment of insertional Achilles tendinopathy often involves detachment and debridement of the Achilles tendon insertion. A recent study has shown that knotted suture bridge fixation of the Achilles to the calcaneus is biomechanically superior to single-row fixation, but there is an absence of literature on the use of different suture bridge constructs to repair the Achilles tendon.Hypothesis:There will be no significant difference in the load to failure, mode of failure, tendon strain, tendon stiffness, repair site gapping, or footprint size when comparing knotted suture bridge repair to knotless suture bridge repair of the Achilles tendon after detachment for insertional Achilles tendinopathy.Study Design:Controlled laboratory study.Methods:A single specimen from each pair of 10 cadaveric Achilles tendons was randomized to 1 of 2 Achilles insertion repair groups: knotted (n = 10) or knotless (n = 10) suture bridge repair. Repaired footprint size was measured, and then cyclic testing...
Some desirable results following water drinking with meals

In the continuation of our studies on the influence of water drinking at meal time, data have recently been collected as to the influence of this factor upon some of the activities of the gastro-intestinal tract. Particular attention has been given to the stimulation of gastric secretion, the activity of the pancreatic function, and to the course of intestinal putrefaction. As regards the stimulation of gastric secretion it has been found that the stimulation is directly proportional to the volume of water ingested. The activity of the pancreatic function measured by the fecal amylase (Wohlgemuth's method) was found to be increased during the water period. At the same time intestinal putrefaction, as measured by the indican content of the urine (Ellinger's method) was decreased. Absorption was also facilitated and the excretion of fecal bacteria lowered when large volumes of water were ingested at meal time.
IR Jamming of the Ferromagnet/Carbon Composite

Zinc ferromagnet/carbon composites doped manganese,cobalt and nickel were prepared.Infrared spectrums were tested by using infrared spectrophotometer(KBr pellets) in the range of 2.5-25 μm while the extinction coefficients were calculated by using Lambert-Beer law.The extinction coefficients of manganese zinc ferromagnet/carbon composite and cobalt zinc ferromagnet/carbon composite first increased and dropped later with increasing temperature.Manganese zinc ferromagnet/carbon composite attained 0.1 m2/g in the range of 8-14 μm calcined at 800 ℃.Cobalt zinc ferromagnet/carbon composite calcined at 700 ℃ reached 0.2 m2/g and 0.25 m2/g in the range of 3-5 μm and 8-14 μm,respectively.The extinction coefficients of nickel zinc ferromagnet/carbon composite decreased with increasing temperature.
Analysis of Vibrio cholerae isolates in Jiaxing

Objective To analyze the serotype,virulence genes and molecular typing of Vibrio cholerae strains isolated in Jiaxing.Methods The serotype,virulence genes(ctxA,ace,zot,tcpA,cri and rtxA)and ERIC-PCR typing of 13Vibrio cholerae strains isolated in recent years were studied by serological and molecular biological methods.Results Out of 13Vibrio cholerae strains,2were identified as serogroup O139and 11were serogroup O1which included 9Ogawa and 2Inaba strains.2O139strains carried 3virulence genes.10 O1strains harbored all 6virulence genes and only one carried 4.ERIC-PCR typing analysis showed that the genetic diversity existed among different Vibrio cholerae strains.Conclusions Majority of Vibrio cholerae strains isolated in Jiaxing carried multiple virulence genes with various origins.Therefore,more work needs to be done for the prevention.
The Triumph of Techniques Over Purpose: Evaluating Police Officer Selection

This article examines the tension that often arises between the values of public personnel administration and the technical/psychometric characteristics found in the Uniform Guidelines on Employee Selection. It is recommended that selection examinations for police officers move beyond focusing on logical-mathematical skills and expand to include additional individual variables that affect behavior in organizations. A comprehensive review and reassessment of police officer recruitment, selection, training, supervision, and evaluation is needed.
Non-Brittle and Brittle Thin Films — Lectures I, II

Using Γ-convergence techniques the relaxed 2-D energy is obtained for non-brittle and brittle thin films as a result of a dimension reduction analysis for thin domains.
Association Between Hyponatremia and Higher Bronchiolitis Severity Among Children in the ICU With Bronchiolitis

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: It remains unclear whether hyponatremia independently predicts a higher severity of bronchiolitis in children. The objective of this study was to investigate the association between hyponatremia and bronchiolitis severity in children hospitalized in the ICU for bronchiolitis. METHODS: We conducted a 16-center, prospective cohort study of hospitalized children aged <2 years with bronchiolitis during the winters of 2007 through 2010. Patients were classified into 2 groups (normonatremic [135–145 mEq/L] and hyponatremic [<135 mEq/L]) based on the first-measured serum sodium concentration on the day of hospitalization. Outcomes were use of mechanical ventilation and ICU length of stay (LOS). To examine the association of sodium status with outcomes, we fit logistic and linear regression models with propensity score adjustment. RESULTS: Of 231 children hospitalized in the ICU for bronchiolitis, 193 (84%) were categorized into the normonatremic group and 38 (16%) into the hyponatremic group. Compared with children with normonatremia, those with hyponatremia had higher risks of mechanical ventilation use (40% vs 58%; P = .04) and longer ICU LOS (median, 3 vs 6 days; P = .007). Likewise, in the adjusted analyses, children with hyponatremia had significantly higher risks of mechanical ventilation use (odds ratio, 2.14 [95% confidence interval, 1.03–4.48; P = .04) and longer ICU LOS (β-coefficient, 2.21 days [95% confidence interval, 0.68–3.73; P = .005]). CONCLUSIONS: In this prospective, multicenter study of children hospitalized for bronchiolitis, hyponatremia on the day of hospitalization was associated with a higher severity of disease. Our data support hyponatremia as a prognostic factor that might improve the ability of clinicians to predict the disease course of children with severe bronchiolitis.
Supervenience and psychiatry: Are mental disorders brain disorders?

Prominent psychiatrists have moved to rebrand psychiatry as clinical neuroscience and rechristen mental disorders as brain disorders. Recent shifts in research and funding priorities have followed suit, privileging neuroscience over psychological and behavioral research. With the possible exception of identifying general paresis with advanced syphilitic brain infection, however, no theorized identities between mental and brain disorders have been empirically corroborated. Consequently, we regard the thesis that mental disorders are brain disorders as an ontological hypothesis. Any robust formulation of the hypothesis that mental disorders are brain disorders logically requires the minimal thesis that mental disorders supervene upon brain disorders. A mental disorder supervenes upon a brain disorder if there could be no change in the mental disorder without a change in the brain disorder. In this paper we analyze contemporary diagnostic criteria used to individuate certain mental disorders to argue that at least some mental disorders fail to supervene upon brain disorders. Hence, we conclude that at least some mental disorders are not and cannot be (merely) brain disorders. This conclusion highlights a basic heterogeneity in psychiatry’s subject matter: some mental disorders constitutively involve psychological experiences or sociocultural relationships to the external environment that cannot be identified with or reduced to brain states or functioning. We propose that establishing cases of supervenience failure represents a method for discriminating between more robustly mental (as opposed to brain) disorders.
Pattern Recognition: Diffuse Thyroid Disease

Diffuse enlargement of the thyroid gland is a common finding during both physical examination and during ultrasound evaluation. While chronic lymphocytic thyroiditis (CLT), Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, is the most common cause of goiter and hypothyroidism in countries with adequate iodine intake, thyroiditis refers to a diverse group of conditions caused by thyroid inflammation. The sonographic hallmark of thyroid autoimmunity is diffuse hypoechogenicity and heterogeneity, with multiple variants having been described. Understanding the various features of thyroiditis provides valuable clinical insight into the disease process. Moreover, pattern recognition of the various sonographic presentations of autoimmune diffuse thyroid disease is essential in determining if a focal abnormality represents a true nodule which may require fine-needle aspiration biopsy or is simply part of the inflammatory process. Doppler interrogation of the thyroid in a patient with thyrotoxicosis can often differentiate Graves’ disease from silent or subacute thyroiditis. Reactive appearing lymph nodes in the paratracheal and adjacent lateral neck regions are common in thyroiditis. Real-time imaging or the use of cine-clips is superior to static imaging in detecting diffuse thyroid disease and ideally is performed by the clinician caring for these patients. As such, this chapter includes electronic supplementary material (ESM).
Study of the temporal characteristics of friction and contact behavior encountered during braille reading

Abstract Beyond the sense of sight, the sense of touch is one of the primary ways that individuals experience their surrounding environment. Fundamentally understanding the relationship of skin-surface tribology and its elicited tactile attributes could provide a breakthrough in improving the ability to efficiently transmit tactile information to those who rely on the sense of touch to interact with their surroundings, such as the blind and visually impaired (BVI) community. The tactile language of braille has been adopted by the BVI community, employing configurations of raised dome-shape dots to convey what is ordinarily presented in text and image form. The coefficient of friction caused by skin sliding across a these dot features is hypothesized to affect the reader's tactile sensitivity, and skin-on-braille coefficient of friction has been investigated in previous work, where macro-scale deformation of the human fingerpad sliding over the dot contour was identified as the dominant friction mechanisms. This investigation succeeds that study by examining a simplified large-scale, two-dimensional representation of skin-on-braille sliding to characterize the underlying contact mechanisms in the loading behaviors that dictate the resulting coefficient of friction. This was accomplished by using a multi-axis tribometer to sliding a 25.4 mm radius cylindrical polyurethane (representing a human fingerpad) rod over a lubricated 3.17 mm aluminum half rod (representing a braille dot) under displacement-displacement-controlled conditions. The results from the tribometer study indicate that the presence of the dot feature drastically affects the vertical and lateral loading behavior by vertically displacing the body's elastic bulk, generating rubber-like Poisson effect contributions. Most importantly, the Poisson effect rapidly increases the lateral load when the body contacts the dot's leading edge, and rapidly decreases when the body rests largely in contact with the dot's trailing edge. This rapid decrease is caused by a “propulsion” effect, where vertical compression expands the material laterally, and when situated on the trailing edge of the dot, propels it into the direction of sliding, virtually negating adhesive surface friction. Computational modeling of this system discovered that while normal contact pressures dominated the fluctuations seen in the vertical loading, effects due to both normal contact pressures and frictional shears nearly equally drove the lateral loading behavior.
The belowground intersection of nutrients and buoyancy in a freshwater marsh

An oligotrophic coastal freshwater marsh converted to open water within months after receiving partially-treated sewage water in fall 2006. Rafts of the upper 60 cm of marsh soil were found throughout the area within two years, as parts of the 1100 year-old marsh were re-distributed in the open water. We examined the marsh soils from 2009 to 2012 to determine some of the cause-and-effect consequences of their decomposition to the formation of these floating mats. There was a lack of herbivory damage in April 2009 where the outer boundary of the soil profile was weakened at 50–60 cm depth, and eventually converted to open water. A 2012 storm event flooded the area by 1.5 m, resulting in new marsh mat ‘pop-ups’ whose bottom underside was coincidental with the layer of maximum decline in soil strength in the sewage treated area. We conclude that the addition of partially-treated sewage weakened the soil structure during this high water event and others to allow for the vertical separation of the marsh as the buoyancy forces exceeded the marsh’s anchor strength, thereby exposing the softer older peats to decomposition, and smothering marsh underneath the mat’s new location. A chronic effect of eutrophication on these marshes was, therefore, revealed in a dramatic flooding event. A bottom up (nutrient addition), not top-down stress (herbivory) contributed to wetland loss in the area, and is a potentially significant chronic stressor for other eutrophied marshes with significant aboveground flooding.
Perioperative safety of laparoscopic versus robotic gastric bypass: a propensity matched analysis of early experience.

Abstract Background The role of robotic assistance for gastric bypass remains controversial. Using a large nationwide cohort, we compared early outcomes after robotic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (Robot-RYGB) with the laparoscopic technique (LRYGB). Objective This study aimed to use a bariatric-specific, large, nationwide cohort with several years of data to compare the early postoperative outcomes of the Robot-RYGB and LRYGB. Setting Nationwide register-based cohort study. Methods The Bariatric Outcomes Longitudinal Database from 2007 to 2012 was used to identify patients who underwent nonrevisional Robot-RYGB or LRYGB. Propensity matching was used to account for differences in age, body mass index, sex, American Society of Anesthesiologists classification, multiple preoperative co-morbidities, and procedural year. A second propensity score was calculated with adjustment of operative time in addition to the other adjusted variables. Results We identified 137,455 patients who underwent Robot-RYGB (n = 2415) or LRYGB (n = 135,040) with a mean body mass index of 47.1 ± 8.4 kg/m 2 and age of 45.4 ± 11.7 years. In the propensity-matched cohorts, there were 30-day differences in operative time (150.2 ± 72.5 versus 111.8 ± 47.6, P P = .002); 90-day rates of reoperation (8.8% versus 5.3%, P P = .001), readmission (8.5% versus 6.4%, P = .005), stricture (3.5% versus 2.0%, P = .001), ulceration (1.2% versus .6%, P = .034), nausea or emesis (6.4% versus 4.36%, P = .001), and anastomotic leak (1.6% versus .2%, P Conclusions Despite controlling for patient characteristics, patients undergoing Robot-RYGB developed higher rates of early morbidity compared with LRYGB, suggesting LRYGB may provide improved postoperative outcomes. Further studies are needed to definitively compare these 2 operative approaches.
Perceived Homophily as a Predictor of Classroom Learning

This study conceptualized learning as a unique case of the communication of innovation. Based upon this conceptualization, it was predicted that cognitive, affective, and behavioral learning consti...
Diverse patterns of world and regional piracy: implications of the recurrent characteristics

This study discusses diverse patterns of piracy across time and regions. By comparing various features of piracy, this study highlights recurrent characteristics behind the scenes of piracy inciden...
Discovery and Exploration of Novel Swarm Behaviors Given Limited Robot Capabilities

Emergent collective behaviors have long interested researchers . These behaviors often result from complex interactions between many individuals following simple rules. However, knowing what collective behaviors are possible given a limited set of capabilities is difficult. Many emergent behaviors are counter-intuitive and unexpected even if the rules each agent follows are carefully constructed. While much work in swarm robotics has studied the problem of designing sets of rules and capabilities that result in a specific collective behavior, little work has examined the problem of exploring and describing the entire set of collective behaviors that can result from a limited set of capabilities. We take what we believe is the first approach to address this problem by presenting a general framework for discovering collective emergent behaviors that result from a specific capability model. Our approach uses novelty search to explore the space of possible behaviors in an objective-agnostic manner. Given this set of explored behaviors we use dimensionality reduction and clustering techniques to discover a finite set of behaviors that form a taxonomy over the behavior space. We apply our methodology to a single, binary-sensor capability model. Using our approach we are able to re-discover cyclic pursuit and aggregation, as well as discover several behaviors previously unknown to be possible with only a single binary sensor: wall following, dispersal, and a milling behavior often displayed by ants and fish.
A control-guided failure restoration framework for the design of resilient engineering systems

Abstract When failures are inevitable, a resilient system is expected to restore ideal performance in a timely manner. The resilience of a system can be improved by enhancing the post-failure restoration ability of the system. In order to determine whether resilience in a system is sufficient towards a certain failure, a set of design parameters and performance equations describing the system behavior are essential in performing a resilience assessment. However, in implicit system applications, one of the main concerns is that there are no clearly defined system equations to describe system performance. To overcome this challenge, this paper presents a control-guided failure restoration (CGFR) framework, which combines dynamic system modeling and resilience analysis. Since there are no clearly defined system equations in implicit systems, the dynamic system modeling in the proposed framework is equipped with an artificial neural network to learn system behaviors. To demonstrate the feasibility of the proposed approach, a power transmission system is employed as a case study. The presented study aims to encourage the development of advanced failure restoration strategies for resilient engineered systems.
Adenosine A1 receptor modulation of MMP-2 secretion by trabecular meshwork cells.

PURPOSE Studies have shown that adenosine A(1) agonists can lower IOP in rabbits, mice, and monkeys, and this response is mediated in part by increases in outflow facility. The purpose of this project was to evaluate the response of trabecular meshwork cells to the addition of the adenosine A(1) receptor agonist N(6)-cyclohexyladenosine (CHA). METHODS The human trabecular meshwork (HTM-3) cell line and primary cultures of bovine trabecular meshwork (BTM) cells were used in these studies. Cells were treated with CHA, and the secretion of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2 or the activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK1/2) was determined. RESULTS Treatment of HTM-3 and BTM cells with CHA (0.1 micro M) resulted in a time-dependent secretion of MMP-2 that was measurable as early as 30 minutes after treatment and reached a maximum by 2 hours. This CHA-induced secretion of MMP-2 was inhibited by the adenosine A(1) receptor antagonist 8-cyclopentyl-1,3-dimethylxanthine (CPT) and by the ERK1/2 pathway inhibitor U0126. Treatment of HTM-3 cells with CHA produced a rapid dose-dependent activation of ERK1/2 with an EC(50) of 5.7 nM. The CHA-induced activation of ERK1/2 was inhibited by pretreatment with the adenosine A(1) antagonist CPT and by the ERK pathway inhibitor U0126. CONCLUSIONS The addition of the adenosine A(1) agonist CHA stimulates the secretion of MMP-2 from trabecular meshwork cells. This secretory response involves the activation of adenosine A(1)-linked stimulation of ERK1/2. These results provide evidence for the existence of functional adenosine A(1) receptors in the trabecular cells and that the activation of these receptors stimulates secretion of MMP-2.
Tin Disulfide-Oxide (SnS2-xOx) as n-type Heterojunction Layer Processed by Chemical Bath Technique for Cd Free Fabrication of Compound Semiconductor Thin Film Solar Cells

The chemical bath deposition of wide bandgap n-type SnS 2 films and role of sulphur precursor in suppression of p-type SnS phase is described. The as-deposited films are highly polycrystalline in hexagonal crystal structure. Inclusion of oxygen in the film phase is shown by the x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and Raman scattering methods which suggests the CBD films are better described as tin disulfide-oxide (SnS 2-x O x ) x=0.1. A possible mechanism of film formation is presented. Optical analysis showed energy bandgap 2.76 eV for SnS 2-x O x film which decreases to 2.62 eV with the inclusion of the secondary SnS phases.
Applications of penalized mixture distributions to microarray data analysis

The main goal in analyzing microarray data is to determine the genes that are differentially expressed across two types of tissue samples or samples obtained under two experimental conditions. In this paper we propose a penalized normal mixture model (PMMM) to estimate the parameters within the framework of maximum likelihood. We penalized both the variance and the mixing proportion. The variance was penalized so that the log-likelihood will be bounded, while the mixing proportion was penalized so that we can apply the modified likelihood ratio to test for the number of components. Additionally, a weight function was introduced because the estimation method is sensitive to the presence of statistical outliers. Simulation study is conducted to demonstrate effectiveness of PMMM. Finally, the penalized method is applied to the rat data for genes in middle ear mucosa of rats with and without subacute pneumococcal middle ear infection.
Safety and outcome evaluation on cancer patients treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors either from standard of care or clinical trial enrollment.

e18782Background: This retrospective study included patients (pts) treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) as standard of care (SOC) or clinical trial (CT) enrollment at our institute betwe...
Structural, Optical, and Transport Properties of α‐ and β‐Ag3VO4.

Single crystals of α-Ag3VO4 are hydrothermally prepared from aqueous mixtures of Ag2O, V2O5, and HF as a mineralizer (autoclave, 150 °C, 24 h).
A theoretical model for predicting LED product lifetime based on solder joint failure

LED A-lamps are used in many types of lighting fixtures; however, these lamps can experience different thermal environments and use patterns (on-off switching), resulting in system life that varies in different applications. A recent study showed that on-off switching negatively affects LED system lifetime, and solder joint failure was the main reason. The goal of this study was to investigate and identify a theoretical model that can be used to predict LED A-lamp failure, when the failure is mainly due to solder joint failure. Although several models for solder joint fatigue failure exist in the electronics industry, the Engelmaier model is the most commonly used in industry standards. The study presented here showed that the Engelmaier model with modified fatigue ductility exponents provided a better fit to the experimental lifetime data for LED A-lamps. This paper describes the Engelmaier model prediction method for LED A-lamp failure.
Performance Evaluation of Plasma and Astrophysics Applications on Modern Parallel Vector Systems

The last decade has witnessed a rapid proliferation of superscalar cache-based microprocessors to build high-endcomputing (HEC) platforms, primarily because of their generality,scalability, and cost effectiveness. However, the growing gap between sustained and peak performance for full-scale scientific applications on such platforms has become major concern in high performance computing. The latest generation of custom-built parallel vector systems have the potential to address this concern for numerical algorithms with sufficient regularity in their computational structure. In this work, we explore two and three dimensional implementations of a plasma physics application, as well as a leading astrophysics package on some of today's most powerful supercomputing platforms. Results compare performance between the the vector-based Cray X1, EarthSimulator, and newly-released NEC SX- 8, with the commodity-based superscalar platforms of the IBM Power3, Intel Itanium2, and AMDOpteron. Overall results show that the SX-8 attains unprecedented aggregate performance across our evaluated applications.
Propaganda Versus Economics: Constructing a Myth

The myth of Black buying power is dismantled by taking primarily two lines of argumentation: (a) as an issue born of a media environment itself well suited to the transmission of propaganda and, (b) as an issue of economics, or economics reporting, where substantive research and data on the economic condition of Black people is supplanted by more salacious and fallacious claims of economic strength.
Ideal Criteria for Accurate Mouse Models of Vector-Borne Diseases with Emphasis on Scrub Typhus and Dengue

Nine criteria regarding the infectious agent, mode of transmission, portal of entry, route of spread, target organs, target cells, pathologic lesions, incubation period, and modifiable spectrum of disease and outcomes appropriate to the intended experimental purpose are described. To provide context for each criterion, mouse models of two vector-borne zoonotic infectious diseases, scrub typhus and dengue, are summarized. Application of the criteria indicates that intravenous inoculation of Orientia tsutsugamushi into inbred mice is the best current model for life-threatening scrub typhus, and intradermal inoculation accurately models sublethal human scrub typhus, whereas the immunocompromised mouse models of dengue provide disease outcomes most closely associated with human dengue. In addition to addressing basic questions of immune and pathogenic mechanisms, mouse models are useful for preclinical testing of experimental vaccines and therapeutics. The nine criteria serve as guidelines to evaluate and compare models of vector-borne infectious diseases.
Impervious Surface Area as a Predictor of the Effects of Urbanization on Stream Insect Communities in Maine, U.S.A.

The influence of urbanization on stream insect communities was determined by comparing physical, chemical, and biological characteristics of streams draining 20 catchments with varyinglevels of urban land-cover in Maine (U.S.A). Percent total impervious surface area (PTIA), which was used to quantify urbanland-use, ranged from ∼1–31% among the study catchments.Taxonomic richness of stream insect communities showed an abruptdecline as PTIA increased above 6%. Streams draining catchmentswith PTIA 18 taxa or an EPT richness> 6 taxa. Insect communities in streams with PTIA > 6% were characterized by the absence of pollution-intolerant taxa. The distribution of more pollution-tolerant taxa (e.g.Acerpenna (Ephemeroptera); Paracapnia, Allocapnia (Plecoptera); Optioservus, Stenelmis (Coleoptera); Hydropsyche, Cheumatopsyche (Trichoptera)), however, showed little relation to PTIA. In contrast to the apparent threshold relationship between PTIA and insect taxonomic richness, both habitat qualityand water quality tended to decline as linear functions of PTIA.Our results indicate that, in Maine, an abrupt change in stream insect community structure occurs at a PTIA above a threshold ofapproximately 6% of total catchment area. The measurement of PTIA may provide a valuable tool for predicting thresholds for adverse effects of urbanization on the health of headwater streams in Maine.
Teaching REBT to Children and Adolescents: Creative Techniques that Work

The purpose of this chapter is to describe developmentally appropriate techniques based on the creative arts that can be used to teach young people the basic REBT concepts: self-acceptance, emotions, beliefs and behaviors, changing beliefs and behaviors, and the ABC model. Some of the techniques will be described through short case studies to more clearly illustrate how the basic principles of the theory can be adapted for younger populations. Each section will include techniques for children (ages 6–11) and adolescents (ages 12–18). Many of the activities described were originally developed in my clinical work with young clients, so they have been clinically tested. The chapter will conclude with a section on age-appropriate homework assignments.
Re-evaluation of ortho-para-dependence of self pressure-broadening in the ν1 + ν3 band of acetylene

Optical frequency comb-referenced measurements of self pressure-broadened line profiles of the R(8) to R(13) lines in the ν1 + ν3 combination band of acetylene near 1.52 µm are reported. The analysis of the data found no evidence for a previously reported [Iwakuni et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 117(14), 143902 (2016)] systematic alternation in self pressure-broadened line widths with the nuclear spin state of the molecule. The present work brought out the need for the use of an accurate line profile model and careful accounting for weak background absorptions due to hot band and lower abundance isotopomer lines. The data were adequately fit using the quadratic speed-dependent Voigt profile model, neglecting the small speed-dependent shift. Parameters describing the most probable and speed-dependent pressure-broadening, most probable shift, and the line strength were determined for each line. Detailed modeling of the results of Iwakuni et al. showed that their neglect of collisional narrowing due to the speed-dependent broadening term combined with the strongly absorbing data recorded and analyzed in transmission mode were the reasons for their results.
Neutron Radiation Hardness of Aluminum Gallium Nitride UV LEDs at Various Wavelengths

Radiation hard diagnostics are critical to the success of nuclear fusion at National Ignition Facility, Z, ITER, and prolonged space explorations. We have first demonstrated the exceptional proton radiation hardness of initial GaN devices and qualified their space flight and deployment for missions such as the Laser Interferometer Space Antenna and International Space Station. We have further conducted neutron radiation hardness experiments at Los Alamos Neutron Science Center by opening a new high fluence beam station. During 2014–2016, we irradiated multiple Aluminum Gallium Nitride (AlGaN) LEDs with a maximum fluence of 2.4 × 1013 neutrons/cm2 in 3 years and generated 54 161 current–voltage (I–V) scan traces. Our data processing program analyzes each and all I–V traces. In addition, we retrieved local temperature records to analyze and remove temperature effects in the outdoor environment. The I–V curve families of AlGaN UV LEDs with emitting wavelengths of 265, 275, and 310 nm were compared. The I–V curves of 265 nm AlGaN UV LEDs have the smallest deviations from the average value, while the I–V curves for 310 nm AlGaN LEDs showed the largest deviations from the average value. We have reached another important recommendation for the optimal use of multiple AlGaN optoelectronic devices or imaging arrays for inertially confined fusion diagnostics: Shorter wavelength devices at 265 nm exhibit more consistent radiation hardness performance than the 310 nm devices. Higher aluminum content LEDs or AlxGa1–xN devices with higher mole fraction x for generating shorter wavelengths have better radiation hardness for fusion diagnostics.
Capnocytophaga canimorsus meningitis diagnosed using next- generation sequencing of microbial cell-free DNA

Capnocytophaga canimorsus meningitis is frequently caused by exposure to dog or cat bites and occurs more commonly in immunocompromised individuals. CSF analysis is the first step in diagnosis; however, in situations where CSF cultures turn negative, molecular techniques such as 16S rRNA gene amplification followed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) product sequencing have shown promise. Next generation sequencing of cell free DNA (NGS cfDNA) can assist in identifying the causative agent in a quick and accurate manner. We present a rare case of C. canimorsus meningitis in an immunocompetent host that highlights the utility of NGS cfDNA in timely diagnosis after exhausting all other available diagnostic techniques.
Deformation Twinning Versus Slip in Ni-Based Alloys, Containing Pt2Mo-Structured, Ni2Cr-Typed Precipitates

Abstract Nickel-based alloys are extensively used in a wide range of extreme environments because of their exceptional mechanical properties. The excellent strength of these alloys is derived from the addition of long-range ordered precipitates, introduced by thermal aging. The interactions between the dislocations and LRO precipitates dictate the deformation modes and plastic response in these alloys. While the majority of studies have focused on L12-structured precipitate-strengthened Ni-based alloys, less work has considered the Ni-based alloys containing Pt2Mo-structured, Ni2(Cr,Mo)-typed precipitates. In these alloys, Pt2Mo-structured precipitates enable room-temperature deformation twinning in addition to slip, which increases strain hardenability measured from bulk mechanical testing. Although previous geometric-based model suggested that deformation twinning is favored over slip, the factors that influence the activation between twinning versus slip have not been thoroughly explored in this class of Ni-based alloys. In this work, molecular dynamics examined the possible types of dislocation and Pt2Mo-structured precipitate interactions at low temperature. Combined with in situ micromechanical testing, the role of resolved shear stresses on dislocation partials were shown to directly influence the activation of slip versus twinning. Additionally, using an energy-based approach, molecular dynamics results demonstrated a novel twin formation process, caused by the dislocation interaction with the Pt2Mo-structured precipitates.
Cellular Toxicity of Protein Aggregates

Originally published in: Amyloid Proteins. Edited by Jean D. Sipe. Copyright © 2005 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA Weinheim. Print ISBN: 3-527-31072-X The sections in this article are Introduction Aggregation Cellular Mechanisms of Oligomeric Toxicity Loss of Function Hypothesis Receptors for Advanced End-products of Glycation (RAGE) Receptors Oxidative Stress The Channel Hypothesis Aβ PrP106-126 IAPP ANP SAA AS β2M AL Amyloidosis PG HypF Calcitonin (CT) Lysozyme Keywords: amyloid peptides; amyloid protens; protein aggregation; prion protein; Alzheimer's disease; cytotoxic proteins
A user modeling-based performance analysis of a wizarded uncertainty-adaptive dialogue system corpus

Motivated by prior spoken dialogue system research in user modeling, we analyze interactions between performance and user class in a dataset previously collected with two wizarded spoken dialogue tutoring systems that adapt to user uncertainty. We focus on user classes defined by expertise level and gender, and on both objective (learning) and subjective (user satisfaction) performance metrics. We find that lower expertise users learn best from one adaptive system but prefer the other, while higher expertise users learned more from one adaptive system but didn't prefer either. Female users both learn best from and prefer the same adaptive system, while males preferred one adaptive system but didn't learn more from either. Our results yield an empirical basis for future investigations into whether adaptive system performance can improve by adapting to user uncertainty differently based on user class. Copyright © 2009 ISCA.
Perceived visual ability for independent mobility in persons with retinitis pigmentosa.

PURPOSE. TO determine the distribution of perceived ability for independent mobility in people who are at variovis stages of retinitis pigmentosa (RP). METHODS. A questionnaire was developed to ask subjects to rate how difficult they found each of 35 mobility situations if they had no assistance. The scale was 1 (no difficulty) to 5 (extreme difficulty). In each of 127 subjects, the Rasch analysis, a latent trait analysis, was used to convert the ordinal difficulty ratings into interval measures of perceived visual ability for independent mobility. RESULTS. Content validity of the questionnaire was shown by good separation indexes (4.55 and 8.0) and high reliability scores (0.96 and 0.98) for the person and the item parameters. Construct validity was shown with model fit statistics. Criterion validity of the questionnaire was shown by good discrimination among mobility-related behavior such as "limit independent travel," "always ask for accompaniment," "use a mobility aid," and "have a fear of falling." The mobility situation shown to require the least visual ability was "moving about in the home"; the situation requiring the most was "walking at night." Bivariate regression analysis determined that for ever)' decade of disease progression, perceived visual ability for mobility decreased by approximately 0.5 logit, which was slightly less than 10% of the total range in the study sample. A linear combination of the visual function measures, log minimum angle of resolution, log contrast sensitivity, and log retinal area accounted for 57% of the variability in the person measure. CONCLUSIONS. The patient-based assessment, developed to determine difficulty across a range of mobility situations, is a valid way to measure perceived ability for independent mobility. This latent trait varies systematically with the progression of RP and with visual function measures. (Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 1999;40:865-877)
Color Vision Defects

Color blind individuals see many fewer colors than do people with normal color vision. Among color blind people there is tremendous variation in the capacity for color vision, ranging from no color vision to nearly normal color vision. Keywords: color vision deficiency; cone photoreceptors; red–green color vision; congenital color vision defects; cone photopigment