cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Storage Characteristics of Fresh Swordfish Steaks Stored in Carbon Dioxide-Enriched Controlled (Flow-Through) Atmospheres

A flow-through controlled atmosphere packaging system using a number of different carbon dioxide-enriched gaseous compositions was demonstrated to be effective in retarding the growth of microorganisms on fresh swordfish steaks held at 2°C for 22 d. During the first 14 d of storage, Pseudomonas spp. either dominated or represented a major part of the microflora of steaks in all gaseous atmospheres tested. However, in atmospheres containing 70% CO2 or in pure CO2, heterofermentative Lactobacillus spp. and Brochothrix thermosphacta were a major part of the microflora, particularly after the 14th day of storage. Both total volatile nitrogen and trimethylamine, often used as quality indicators for fresh seafoods, increased more slowly for swordfish steaks stored in CO2-enriched atmospheres than steaks stored in air. Advantages of using a controlled atmosphere flow-through system for storage of fresh seafoods include: (a) a stable gas composition, (b) individual portions can be removed from a master package without losing or disrupting the gaseous atmosphere, and (c) volatile off-odors which accumulate during storage in sealed CO2-enriched atmospheres are carried off with the flow-through gas.
Abstract B59: Black raspberries inhibit pancreatic carcinogenesis by suppressing Raf/MEK/ERK/STAT3 signaling pathways and promoting apoptosis

Background: Despite improved understanding of the pathophysiology of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) in the past two decades, PDAC has an extremely low 5-year survival rate (7%). However, diets rich in fruits and vegetables have been reported to reduce the risk of cancer development. We previously demonstrated that black raspberries (BRBs) have chemopreventive effects in human colorectal cancer patients and mouse models of colorectal cancer. Our current study aimed to investigate the potential effects of BRBs against PDAC in mice. Methods: Mice that carry a constitutively activated KrasLSL.G12D/+ oncogene and loss-of-function Trp53LSL.R172H/+ tumor-suppressor gene in the pancreas (KrasLSL.G12D/+-Trp53LSL.R172H/+-Pdx-1-Cre) spontaneously develop PDAC that recapitulates the human PDAC. Four-week-old KrasLSL.G12D/+-Trp53LSL.R172H/+-Pdx-1-Cre mice were given a control diet or a control diet supplemented with 5% BRBs. In addition, luciferase-transfected human Panc-1 (Panc-1-Luc) cells were orthotopically injected into the pancreas of nonobese, diabetic, severe combined immunodeficient (NOD.SCID) mice. Four weeks after the inoculation of Panc-1-Luc cells, the NOD.SCID mice were given a control diet or a control diet supplemented with 5% BRBs for 6 weeks. Gross tumor volume of orthotopic pancreatic tumors was measured. Results: The 4-week-old KrasLSL.G12D/+-Trp53LSL.R172H/+-Pdx-1-Cre mice developed pancreatic intraepithelial neoplasia (PanIN) lesions, which are the precancerous lesions of PDAC, and they were fed control or 5% BRB diet. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis showed that 5% BRBs significantly prolonged the survival of those PDAC mice with a median survival of 189 days versus 154 days for the mice fed the control diet. Molecular studies suggested that 5% BRBs suppress the Raf/MEK/ERK/STAT3 pathway, which is the downstream of Kras activation, and inhibit cancer cell proliferation in pancreatic tumor tissues. In addition, 5% BRBs significantly decreased the gross tumor volume of orthotopic tumors produced by injecting Panc-1-Luc cells into the pancreas. Orthotopic pancreatic tumors in BRB-treated NOD.SCID mice had a higher rate of apoptosis than tumors from mice fed the control diet. Conclusions: These results support the hypothesis that BRBs have the clinical potential to delay pancreatic cancer progression by suppressing cancer cell proliferation and/or promoting apoptosis. Citation Format: Pan Pan, Chad W. Skaer, Hsin-Tzu Wang, Susan Tsai, Kiyoko Oshima, Yi-Wen Huang, Li-Shu Wang.{Authors}. Black raspberries inhibit pancreatic carcinogenesis by suppressing Raf/MEK/ERK/STAT3 signaling pathways and promoting apoptosis. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference on Pancreatic Cancer: Advances in Science and Clinical Care; 2016 May 12-15; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2016;76(24 Suppl):Abstract nr B59.
Public Investment and Housing Price Appreciation: Evidence from the Neighborhood Stabilization Program

This study assesses impact of the Neighborhood Stabilization Program (NSP), a federal program designed to convert foreclosed properties into renovated affordable housing through public investment. To identify the impact, I exploit a discontinuity in how neighborhoods were selected with respect to a critical threshold. The program caused non-foreclosure housing prices in targeted neighborhoods to appreciate 6.5% between 2009 and 2011. These pricing gains remained stable through the end of my sample in 2014. Furthermore, the program caused changes in neither the supply of foreclosures nor neighborhood income. This suggests quality improvement externalities were behind the price appreciation. Lastly, low market liquidity and asymmetric information in targeted neighborhoods may justify the NSP public initiative, despite foreclosure resale proﬁtability after 2009.
Response of Turkish and Trojan fir to Phytophthora cinnamomi and P. cryptogea

ABSTRACTPhytophthora root rot, primarily caused by the oomycete Phytophthora cinnamomi, is a large problem for the Christmas tree industry in North Carolina. Fraser fir (Abies fraseri) has no known innate resistance to this pathogen while some exotic fir species, such as Trojan (Abies equi-trojani) and Turkish (Abies bornmuelleriana) fir display varying amounts of resistance. A Phytophthora-resistance screening trial was completed with 1600 seedlings from 12 Turkish and Trojan fir families and Fraser and momi fir (A. firma). Seedlings from each family or species were inoculated with each of eight Phytophthora isolates, six P. cinnamomi and two Phytophthora cryptogea, in an effort to describe variability in isolate aggressiveness. Mortality was assessed as percent shoot necrosis bi-weekly for 16 weeks. Overall, rankings of resistance in fir species confirmed previous single-isolate-based results; momi fir was the most resistant, followed by Turkish, Trojan, and Fraser fir. P. cinnamomi isolates were genera...
The underlying structure of skin wrinkles: a hyperspectral approach to crows feet

Skin wrinkles are visually perceived by consumers but they are also known to possess an underlying structure not apparent at the surface of the skin. This underlying structure can be brought out by polarized hyperspectral imaging. Wrinkle patterns of eye crow’s feet are used as example to show a deeper existing pattern and their characterization versus age on a group of volunteers. The skin inhomogeneity changes within each layer of the skin and can be observed in the shorter wavelength region of the spectrum, about 450nm to 500nm which are well suited to image skin surface inhomogeneities within the central and deep epidermis. Imaging in the 550nm range can serve as a larger scale topology reference because of its deeper penetration into the upper dermis. This serves to bring out the underlying wrinkle pattern as imprinted by collagen anisotropies around deep folds but unapparent to the eye yet. The approach has potential applications in evaluating the internal skin patterns non visible to the eye by mapping their spectral dispersion. This method has thus potentials to evaluate the extent of subsurface structures such as acne and other scars and thereby the efficacy of treatments.
Isolation of yeast and mammalian stress granule cores.

Stress granules are dynamic, conserved RNA-protein (RNP) assemblies that form when translation is limiting; and are related to pathological aggregates in degenerative disease. Mammalian stress granules are comprised of two structures – an unstable shell and more stable cores. Herein we describe methodology for isolation of stress granule cores from both yeast and mammalian cells. The protocol consists of first enriching for stress granule cores using centrifugation and then further purifying stress granule cores using immunoprecipitation. The stress granule core isolation protocol provides a starting point for assisting future endeavors aimed at discovering conserved RNA regulatory mechanisms and potential links between RNP aggregation and degenerative disease.
The Road to Growth: Measuring the Tradeoffs between Economic Growth and Ecological Destruction

Summary Roads bring significant economic benefits that are vital for development. But they are often also the precursors to deforestation and other adverse environmental impacts. This paper examines the road-induced tradeoffs between economic growth, deforestation, and biodiversity loss in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Decades of conflict have left the DRC’s transport infrastructure among the sparsest and most dilapidated in the world. Most of the provincial capitals are unconnected to the capital city, and improving road connectivity could lead to a significant boost in trade and economic growth. At the same time the DRC is also home to the second largest rainforest in the world. The iconic Congo forests are a trove of ecological value—some monetizable and most that is not. So the destruction of the DRC’s forests will have significant environmental ramifications. We provide empirical estimates of the economic benefits of improving market access and reducing transportation costs. We then estimate a forest destruction function to assess the impact that new or improved roads have on forest clearing. In addition, a novel biodiversity index is developed to identify forests of high biodiversity significance. Two simulations are performed to quantitatively demonstrate the impacts of road improvement projects in terms of increased GDP, forest loss, and biodiversity that are put at risk. To our knowledge, this is the first study to jointly examine the economic benefits and ecological risks to infrastructure investments. It is envisioned that the methods employed here can be used to guide future infrastructure investments toward designs which have a large economic impact while minimizing ecological risks.
Investigating the effect of inherent safety principles on system reliability in process design

Abstract During the last decade, inherent safety has emerged as an area of interest in both academic and industrial research. Various regulatory bodies have enforced the consideration of inherently safer design alternatives. This enforcement, however, may not serve the purpose of reducing the risk associated with process incidents due to the drawback of risk migration associated with inherent design philosophy. The philosophy of inherent safety has emerged from the need to reduce the consequence element of risk with an objective to prevent high consequence–low likelihood events. Thus, this philosophy is plagued with the drawback of risk migration where the lowering of consequence element can lead to an undesired increased likelihood element, leading to an overall increase in risk associated with the system. The likelihood element of risk of the system under consideration depends on the system reliability. The developed methodology involves quantifying inherent safety based on the design stage under consideration using a quantification technique that utilizes process data available during the specific stage of design. This is followed by determining reliability and availability of the system using reliability databases or static reliability modeling for various design alternatives considered during the specific design stage. Lastly, the trend observed between quantified inherent safety and reliability/availability is used to determine the required relationship between inherent safety and reliability. Thus, this developed methodology evaluates the possibility of increased risk due to lowered system reliability caused by the implementation of inherent design philosophy.
The Sand Land Soil System Placement (Taxonomy) and Society

Arid soils of the world require different strategies for optimum land utilization due to the delicate balance between annual climatic cycles and general trends toward desertification. Arid lands are an irreplaceable natural resource covering one-third of the global land surface and harbor within them the potential to elevate the standards of living of more than two billion people. The soils of the arid areas are underutilized due to inadequate public knowledge of the soil system. In a modern age of precise measurements and categorization, it is time to use the available tools to greatly enhance the productivity and use of the soil system in general and arid soils in particular. Quantification of multifunctional and dynamic ecosystems within arid regions can provide opportunities for land users to diversify agroecological systems and for food security based upon well-defined representative soil units in each region. Thus, the soil scientists by considering soil as a system and correlating its taxonomic units would have the ability to extrapolate results of studies and by keeping “balance” between “inputs” and “outputs” in “soil system” would promote national productivity and regional economy. In this study, selected soils in various arid environmental and ecological regions of countries such as Ghana, Jordan, and Iran that have already been investigated (USDA soil taxonomy) to the level of soil series/farmland units on applicable scales will be compared to the soils of the Abu Dhabi Emirate.
Finite Time State Regulator Design

In this chapter, the numerical optimization based extremum seeking control (NOESC) idea introduced in Chap. 3 is expanded upon and studied at length. Specifically, we consider the problem of incorporating two numerical optimization approaches, line search and trust region methods, into the set up of an extremum seeking control scheme. The convergence of the extremum seeking control scheme can be guaranteed if the optimization algorithm is globally convergent and the closed-loop system is outfitted with appropriate state regulation. We also analyze the robustness of line search methods and trust region methods, which allows us to relax the design requirement for the state regulator. In this manner, the robustness analysis provides further flexibility in designing extremum seeking controllers. Numerical examples are given to illustrate the analysis results.
Mapping Cerebral Responses to Volatile Anesthetics in Humans

The cerebral targets of volatile anesthetics have remained obscure despite abundant in vitro and in vivo animal studies addressing various aspects of anesthetic action. Recent advances in functional brain imaging, such as positron emission tomography (PET), offer an opportunity to investigate the net effects of a drug or stimulus on regional neuronal activity in vivo, in the entire human brain.
Endothelium-Dependent Vasodilation and the Nature of the Endothelium-Derived Relaxing Factor

In 1980, Furchgott and Zawadzki reported that the relaxation of the smooth muscle of in vitro preparations of rabbit aorta and other arteries induced by acetylcholine and other agonists for muscarinic receptors was dependent on the presence of endothelial cells in the preparations. After complete removal of the endothelial cells, either mechanically or enzymatically, acetylcholine no longer induced any relaxation, but in most arteries, actually caused some contraction at higher concentrations (Figure 1). In the case of isolated rings or strips of rabbit thoracic aorta, the muscarinic receptor mediating relaxation appeared to be the same subtype (M2) as the receptor on the smooth muscle cells mediating contraction (Furchgott et al., 1981; Furchgott, 1986).
Teaching at the Secondary Level

This essay briefly traces the history of secondary education, the development of its curriculum and of its teachers, and describes the consequences of these changes for teachers and teaching. This background material allows us to then focus on research concerning contemporary issues and policies in secondary teaching, including teacher quality, the sources of challenges to successful secondary school teaching, and some of the efforts to increase the effectiveness of schools and of teachers.
Influence of Aging on Healing of Asphalt Binder

This study investigates the effect of aging on the healing behavior of asphalt binder. Asphalt binders were subjected to the different types of aging in a laboratory to simulate the field aging. In this study, Rolling Thin-Film Oven, Pressure Aging Vessel (PAV), and double PAV were used to condition the binder in the laboratory. Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy analysis was used to identify the change in the functional groups of the asphalt binder that is due to aging. Dynamic Shear Rheometer was used for the healing (fatigue with rest period) test at different rest periods. Also, the tack test was used to evaluate the change in the cohesion of the binder that was due to aging. Finally, the healing test data were fitted to a physicochemical healing model developed by Wool and O’Connor. This model divides the overall binder healing into two parts: instant healing and long-term healing. Results show that the overall healing decreases because of aging, and the long-term healing rate is inversely proportional to the sulfoxide groups in the aged binder. Aging causes a reduction in both the instant and the long-term healing by reducing the molecular mobility and the long-chained molecular structure of the asphalt binders. In summary, the healing of asphalt binder deteriorates when the binder is aged.
Introduction to evaluating energy justice across the life cycle: A social life cycle assessment approach

Abstract As our energy systems are transitioning towards low-carbon energy sources and their environmental and economic sustainability are assessed, their potential social impacts must also be determined. These social impacts may be disproportionate to a population, leading to energy justice concerns. The social life cycle assessment framework can be used to comprehensively address energy justice concerns by different stakeholder groups and at all life cycle stages associated with a low-carbon energy system. Indicators for a social life cycle assessment framework that addresses energy justice are introduced and discussed. These indicators are organized by four categories of stakeholders for electrical energy systems: workers, electricity consumers, local communities, and society as a whole. The social life cycle assessment framework allows for variations in justice and equity to be determined not only at the generation stage, but through multiple points in the life cycle of the same energy system, from raw material extraction, through manufacturing, transportation, distribution, electricity generation, and waste management. This framework can address potential energy justice issues along the life cycle of new energy systems and assist in their design and planning for optimizing their social sustainability without overlooking vulnerable populations.
Land Cover Changes on Ambergris Caye, Belize: A Case Study of Unregulated Tourism Development

Measuring land-use, land-cover change in biodiverse, tropical countries is critical for conservation management and sustainable planning because it provides quantifiable data regarding broad enviro...
Incidence of Respiratory Complications Following Lumbar Spine Surgery.

ABSTRACT Background: The purpose of this study is to assess the incidence, risk factors for, and types of respiratory complications occurring in patients undergoing lumbar spine surgery. Methods: Patients undergoing various lumbar spine surgeries from 2007 to 2014 were identified using the PearlDiver patient record database from the nationwide insurance provider Humana Inc. Patient records were analyzed using International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision codes and Current Procedural Terminology codes to determine the incidence of pneumonia, pleural effusion, pulmonary collapse, and acute respiratory failure for each procedure type. The incidence of these complications in patients with the risk factors diabetes mellitus, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and smoking was also examined. Results: A total of 64,891 patients (33,280 females; 31,611 males) within the Humana database underwent various lumbar procedures from 2007 to 2014. The overall incidence of respiratory complications in patients undergoing lumbar procedures was 5.7% (n = 3694) within 1 month of having the procedure. Pulmonary collapse was the most common complication with an incidence of 4.3% (n = 2792), followed by pneumonia 1.98% (n = 1285), acute respiratory failure 1.97% (n = 1279), and pleural effusion 1.6% (n = 1048). For each respiratory complication studied, single level discectomy had the lowest complication rate and multilevel anterior lumbar interbody fusion had the highest complication rate. The incidence of each individual respiratory complication was higher in patients who had a history of smoking, COPD, or diabetes mellitus than it was in patients with none of these 3 risk factors (P Conclusion: The results of this study show that patients who have a history of smoking, COPD, or diabetes mellitus are at a greater risk for respiratory complications following lumbar spine surgery. These findings are useful for patient selection, clinical decision-making, and preoperative counseling.
Distribution and Correlates of Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) and ACT-Like Programs: Results From the 2015 N-MHSS.

Objective:The study examined the availability and characteristics of assertive community treatment (ACT) programs across mental health treatment facilities in the United States.Methods:Prevalence a...
The relevance of persisters in tuberculosis drug discovery

Bacterial persisters are a subpopulation of cells that exhibit phenotypic resistance during exposure to a lethal dose of antibiotics. They are difficult to target and thought to contribute to the long treatment duration required for tuberculosis. Understanding the molecular and cellular biology of persisters is critical to finding new tuberculosis drugs that shorten treatment. This review focuses on mycobacterial persisters and describes the challenges they pose in tuberculosis therapy, their characteristics and formation, how persistence leads to resistance, and the current approaches being used to target persisters within mycobacterial drug discovery.
Maryland’s Global Hospital Budgets: Impacts on Medicare Cost and Utilization for the First 3 Years

Background Global budgets have been proposed as a way to control health care expenditures, but experience with them in the United States is limited. Global budgets for Maryland hospitals, the All-Payer Model, began in January 2014. Objectives To evaluate the effect of hospital global budgets on health care utilization and expenditures. Research design Quantitative analyses used a difference-in-differences design modified for nonparallel baseline trends, comparing trend changes from a 3-year baseline period to the first 3 years after All-Payer Model implementation for Maryland and a matched comparison group. Subjects Hospitals in Maryland and matched out-of-state comparison hospitals. Fee-for-service Medicare beneficiaries residing in Maryland and comparison hospital market areas. Measures Medicare claims were used to measure total Medicare expenditures; utilization and expenditures for hospital and nonhospital services; admissions for avoidable conditions; hospital readmissions; and emergency department visits. Qualitative data on implementation were collected through interviews with senior hospital staff, state officials, provider organization representatives, and payers, as well as focus groups of physicians and nurses. Results Total Medicare and hospital service expenditures declined during the first 3 years, primarily because of reduced expenditures for outpatient hospital services. Nonhospital expenditures, including professional expenditures and postacute care expenditures, also declined. Inpatient admissions, including admissions for avoidable conditions, declined, but, there was no difference in the change in 30-day readmissions. Moreover, emergency department visits increased for Maryland relative to the comparison group. Conclusions This study provides evidence that hospital global budgets as implemented in Maryland can reduce expenditures and unnecessary utilization without shifting costs to other parts of the health care system.
Optimal Timing of Repeat Multiplex Molecular Testing for Respiratory Viruses.

Determining whether and when multiplex nucleic acid amplification tests (NAATs) for respiratory viruses should be repeated is difficult. We analyzed 5 years of results for a multiplex NAAT targeting 14 respiratory viruses, to determine how often repeat tests were ordered and the time period in which results were likely to change. Results for NAATs performed on nasopharyngeal specimens and repeated within 90 days after initial testing were analyzed. Logistic regression models were used to compare time periods between tests with respect to the odds of a change in the sample result. During the study period, 21,819 nasopharyngeal specimens from 16,779 individuals were submitted. Of these, 8,807 samples (40%) were positive for at least one viral pathogen. Among this cohort, 2,583 specimens (12%) collected from 1,473 patients (9%) were repeat tests performed within 90 days after an initial test. If repeated within 90 days, 71% of tests (1,833 tests) did not have a change in result. Initially negative tests typically remained negative, whereas initially positive tests mostly remained positive until 11 to 15 days. The odds of result change plateaued after 20 days. The odds of result change for tests repeated within 20 days were only 0.52 times the odds (95% confidence interval, 0.43 to 0.62) for those repeated at 21 to 90 days (P < 0.001). Multiplex tests for respiratory viruses that are repeated within short periods lead to redundant results at additional costs. Repeat testing of nasopharyngeal specimens before 20 days demonstrates little change. These results provide a vital component for use in laboratory stewardship to curtail unnecessary respiratory viral testing.
A curve free Bayesian decision-theoretic design for phase Ia/Ib trials considering both safety and efficacy outcomes.

A curve-free, Bayesian decision-theoretic two-stage design is proposed to select biological efficacious doses (BEDs) for phase Ia/Ib trials in which both toxicity and efficacy signals are observed. No parametric models are assumed to govern the dose–toxicity, dose–efficacy, and toxicity–efficacy relationships. We assume that the dose–toxicity curve is monotonic non-decreasing and the dose–efficacy curve is unimodal. In the phase Ia stage, a Bayesian model on the toxicity rates is used to locate the maximum tolerated dose. In the phase Ib stage, we model the dose–efficacy curve using a step function while continuing to monitor the toxicity rates. Furthermore, a measure of the goodness of fit of a candidate step function is proposed, and the interval of BEDs associated with the best fitting step function is recommended. At the end of phase Ib, if some doses are recommended as BEDs, a cohort of confirmation is recruited and assigned at these doses to improve the precision of estimates at these doses. Extensive simulation studies show that the proposed design has desirable operating characteristics across different shapes of the underlying true toxicity and efficacy curves.
Suitability of SCS1 as a Pre-CS2 Assessment Instrument: A Comparison with Short Deliberate-practice Questions

In an entry-level programming course, the instructor needs to assess students' prior knowledge or to evaluate their learning at important milestones. The Second CS1 Assessment (SCS1) is one of the best-known validated tests of programming knowledge. It is a multiple-choice test written in pseudo-code, covering concepts commonly presented in Computer Science 1 (CS1) courses. However, SCS1 is known to be an unwieldy assessment - the questions tend to be difficult and thereby may not provide good discrimination between students with average competencies against the weak ones. In our project, we created a set of short deliberate-practice questions for CS1 topics and used them to evaluate students' prior knowledge at the beginning of a Computer Science 2 (CS2) course. This set of deliberate-practice questions consists of 127 multiple-choice questions. Both SCS1 questions and our short deliberate-practice questions were given to CS2 students as pre-CS2 assessments on an online practice system called HawkQB. Using Item Response Theory (IRT), we analyzed students' responses in both sets of questions as pre-CS2 assessments to examine whether the SCS1 questions are suitable to be used as a pre-CS2 assessment instrument. We found that the SCS1 questions are of greater difficulty and low discrimination compare with our short deliberate-practice questions based on the data from students in four sections of CS2 in fall 2019. Considering the time gap between CS1 and CS2 may vary, we question the suitability of SCS1 as a pre-CS2 assessment used in a formal test setup in the first or second week of CS2 courses.
Modeling Multi-states in Ferroelectric Tunnel Junction

Hafnia and Zirconia oxide (HZO) based ferroelectric tunnel junction (FTJ) has attracted a lot of attention recently due to its energy-efficient, built-in-selector, multi-level-storage, and CMOS-compatible characteristics [1] – [3] . However, FTJ is limited by its low on-state current and small on/off ratio. Furthermore, their optimal programming conditions and operating principles, such as the relation between polarization and different current states, are not fully understood yet [4] [5] . Hence, in this paper, we fabricated and measured multi-state FTJ with on/off ratio > 100. Then, we built a device model, showing the relation between HZO polarization and multi-state current. With the simulated energy band diagrams, we have identified the reasons behind the two increasing rates of current as a function of voltage. Furthermore, we qualitatively explained the asymmetric programming conditions with resistor division model and energy band diagrams.
Analysis of ErAs nanoparticle surface grown using a two-step modified diffusion length process

Erbium arsenide nanoparticles (ErAs NPs) grown using a two-step modified diffusion length growth process are studied. The process consists of a low diffusion length (LDL) deposition step for nucleation followed by a high diffusion length (HDL) deposition step for the growth of existing nuclei without forming new nuclei. With the LDL and HDL growth conditions properly coordinated, independent control over the NP size is demonstrated over a wide range of NP densities (14–309 NP/μm2). This control is attributed to the change of Peclet number between the LDL and HDL steps, which enables complete capture of the adatoms by the existing nuclei. The appropriate LDL and HDL growth conditions are identified for practical applications of the process. Given the uniqueness of the process, the ErAs nucleus critical size (∼7 Er atoms) is derived in the nucleation regime in the LDL step exhibiting consistency with the previous observation for ErAs NP growth.
Mental Health Among Children and Adolescents in Rural China: A Large-Scale Epidemiological Study

Background: Although children living in low-and middle-income countries (LMICs) account for 90% of the global population of children, mental health among children in LMICs has been understudied. This study examines the prevalence of depression and anxiety and their associations with biological and psychosocial factors among children across China, with a focus on rural areas. Methods: We conduct a large-scale epidemiological study among 53,421 elementary and junior high school-aged children across China’s rural areas. Findings: The results show that 20% are at risk for depression, 6% are at risk for generalized anxiety, and 68% are at risk for at least one type of anxiety. Girls and junior high school students show higher risk for mental health problems; socioeconomic status has varying associations to mental health. Our results also show robust correlations between mental health and cognition. Interpretation: These findings underscore the importance of identification, prevention, and treatment of youth mental health problems in underdeveloped areas. As China constitutes 15% of the global population of children under age 18, this study offers valuable information to the field of Global Mental Health, especially given its findings of high prevalence for multiple mental health problems and robust correlations between mental health and cognition. Funding Statement: This work was supported by the Enlight Foundation. Declaration of Interests: The authors have no conflicts of interest. Ethics Approval Statement: The six surveys conducted by the authors and their colleagues were approved by the Stanford University Institutional Review Board. Study permissions were also obtained from the Chinese government. In accordance with IRB requirements, all children involved in the surveys provided oral assent for the project, and the school principals – who serve as the children’s legal guardians while they are in school—also provided their written consent.
Restoring Trust with Trusts: Constructive and Blind Trusts as Remedies for Presidential Violations of the Constitution's Emoluments Clauses

In two places the Constitution limits the President’s receipt of “emoluments.” As we detail below, to date three lawsuits have claimed that President Trump is guilty of innumerable, continuing violations of these prohibitions. While the complaints in these cases devote many words to describing the alleged unconstitutional conduct, they are surprisingly laconic and vague on what relief would be appropriate were the plaintiffs to prevail. In this essay, we bracket the merits and consider whether a constructive trust, a blind trust, or both would be appropriate remedies were a president deemed to have violated either or both emoluments clauses.
Results of pre-contoured titanium anterior plating of midshaft clavicle fractures.

Background Plating midshaft clavicle fractures anteriorly is gaining popularity because of low complication rates. Improvements in plate fixation constructs for midshaft clavicle fractures have unclear clinical significance. The purpose of this study was to present the early clinical and radiographic outcomes of pre-contoured titanium anterior plates for the treatment of midshaft clavicle fractures. Methods Skeletally mature patients who underwent plate fixation of a midshaft clavicular fracture from 2008 to 2015 using pre-contoured titanium anterior plates were included in this retrospective investigation. The primary outcome measures were union rate and hardware removal rate. The secondary outcome measures included reoperation for all causes and mechanical implant failure. Results A total of 26 patients were included. Complete healing occurred in 96% of patients without further surgical intervention, and all patients achieved union. Medical complications occurred in 2 patients (7.7%), consisting of cellulitis (n = 1) and chronic pain (n = 1). In 1 patient (3.8%), delayed union occurred and the use of a bone stimulator was required postoperatively to achieve union. Finally, 2 patients (7.7%) had symptomatic implants that required removal. Conclusions In the acute fracture setting, the anterior plating system used in this study led to a high rate of union with decreased rates of implant irritation. Only 7.7% of patients required hardware removal for symptomatic hardware, as opposed to the estimated 20%-60% reported in the literature in patients with symptomatic superior clavicle plates.
Design of 99mTc-labeled zinc-chelating imaging probe for SPECT imaging of the pancreas.

Abstract Early and sensitive diagnosis of pancreatic diseases is a contemporary clinical challenge. Zinc level in pancreatic tissue and its secretion in pancreatic juice has long been considered a surrogate marker of pancreatic function. The objective of this study was to design a Zn-chelating imaging probe (ZCIP) which could be labeled with 99mTc radionuclide for imaging of pancreas using single photon emission tomography (SPECT). We synthesized ZCIP as a bifunctional chelate consisting of diethylene triamine pentaacetic acid for 99mTc-chelation at one end and bispicolylethylamine for Zn-complexation at the other end. ZCIP was labeled with 99mTc by standard Sn2+-based reduction method. The 99mTc-labeled ZCIP was studied in normal mice (0.3 mCi) for SPECT imaging. We found that ZCIP consistently labeled with 99mTc radionuclide with over 95% efficiency. Addition of ZCIP altered the spectrum of standard dithizone-Zn complex, indicating its ability to chelate Zn. SPECT data demonstrated the ability of 99mTc-ZCIP to image pancreas with high sensitivity in a non-invasive manner; liver and spleen were the other major organs of 99mTc-ZCIP uptake. Based on these results, we conclude that 99mTc-ZCIP presents as a novel radiotracer for pancreas imaging for diagnosis of diseases such as pancreatitis.
Bringing Light in Nine Minutes and 29 Seconds

My message is hire and promote women, minorities, lawyers with disabilities, and LGBTQ lawyers. And also nominate them as arbitrators whether you are a party or an institution. While I am appalled by the lack of diversity in the game, I have no interest in being an arbitrator or a counsel. For in academia until my retirement and afterward I enjoy talking about the field. This article seeks to shed light on diversity of race and gender in international arbitration.
The Effect of Health Insurance on Childhood Cancer Survival in Pediatric Patients Treated With Radiation in Multi-Center Health Systems

Purpose/Objective(s) The impact of health insurance on cancer identification and survival remains understudied in the pediatric cancer population. This study was designed to assess the association between health insurance status and childhood cancer survival. Materials/Methods Data from 464 pediatric oncology patients age Results Mean survival time was 1.52 years shorter in pediatric oncology patients with Medicaid/Medicare than in pediatric oncology patients with private insurance (P = 0.015). In UVA, Medicaid/Medicare patients had significantly worse OS than privately insured patients (HR 2.0, 95% CI 1.27, 3.70). RFS was also significantly worse in Medicaid/Medicare patients compared to privately insured patients (HR 1.79, 95% CI 1.27, 2.5). Inferior OS and RFS in Medicaid/Medicare patients remained significant in MVA when adjusting for diagnosis (OS: HR 2.0, 95% CI 1.04, 3.13; RFS: HR 1.52, 95% CI 1.08, 2.13). No significant survival differences were identified by race, ethnicity, sex, socioeconomic status, or treatment site. Across insurance groups, no significant differences between the times from diagnosis to chemotherapy initiation (P = 0.276), diagnosis to radiation initiation (P = .592), or initial radiation consult to radiation start (P = 0.391) were observed. Conclusion The analysis reveals significantly worse survival outcomes in pediatric cancer patients with Medicaid/Medicare. The disparity in survival between private vs. Medicaid/Medicare patients exists despite no differences in treatment initiation times or differences in survival between treatment sites. These findings suggest that factors outside of treatment in the hospital systems are contributing to the inferior outcomes in Medicaid/Medicare-insured pediatric cancer patients. These factors may include later stage of cancer at time of diagnosis due to inferior healthcare accessibility. Further research is necessary to discern what factors are driving the disparities observed in the Medicaid/Medicare pediatric cancer population in order to improve their outcomes.
De plantis toxicariis e Mundo Novo tropicale commentationes XXXVI. Justicia (Acanthaceae) as a source of an hallucinogenic snuff.

A historia do uso, identificacao botânica, e constituintes quimicos conhecidos deJusticia pectoralis (Acanthaceae), uma das plantas halucinogenas sul-americanas, sao revistos.
Sound and music at the University of Hartford

The University of Hartford, with separate colleges of engineering and technology, and an internationally known conservatory, the Hartt School of Music, determined that it enjoyed what appeared to be a unique situation in the United States. Accordingly the University has evolved three different curricula one based in each of the three schools, which take advantage of the physical, intellectual and human resources present therein, and each of which addresses a different niche in the job market. Acoustics and Music based in the College of Engineering, focuses upon the designing of sound systems, and leads to the degree of Bachelor of Science in Engineering. Audio Engineering Technology, based in the Ward College of Technology stresses the installation, testing, repair and operation of sound systems, and leads to the degree of Bachelor of Science. Music Production and Technology, based in the Hartt School, is for the performer who needs to be able to deal with the technology beyond the realm of a black box, and leads to the degree of Bachelor of Music. All three programs have distinct admission requirements, yet retain the possibility of internal transfer should a student discover following matriculation that his/her talents and/or interests lie in one of the other programs. The curricula of the three-programs are presented along with the underlying educational philosophies of the programs and their evolution.
Effects of restraint and contrast ultrasound imaging on Hsp70 expression in cholesterol-fed rabbit aorta (643.11)

Diagnostic ultrasound imaging (US) is enhanced by the use of circulating microbubble contrast agents (UCAs), but the interactions between US, UCAs, and vascular tissue are not well understood. We h...
Fast DES Implementation for FPGAs and Its Application to a Universal Key-Search Machine

Most modern security protocols and security applications are defined to be algorithm independent, that is, they allow a choice from a set of cryptographic algorithms for the same function. Although an algorithm switch is rather difficult with traditional hardware, i.e., ASIC, implementations, Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs) offer a promising solution. Similarly, an ASIC-based key search machine is in general only applicable to one specific encryption algorithm. However, a key-search machine based on FPGAs can also be algorithm independent and thus be applicable to a wide variety of ciphers. We researched the feasibility of a universal key-search machine using the Data Encryption Standard (DES) as an example algorithm. We designed, implemented and compared various architecture options of DES with strong emphasis on high-speed performance. Techniques like pipelining and loop unrolling were used and their Effectiveness for DES on FPGAs investigated. The most interesting result is that we could achieve encryption rates beyond 400 Mbit/s using a standard Xilinx FPGA. This result is by a factor of about 30 faster than software implementations while we are still maintaining flexibility. A DES cracker chip based on this design could search 6.29 million keys per second.
Optical emission diagnostics of electron cyclotron resonance and glow discharge plasmas for a-Si:H and a-SiC:H film depositions

It is demonstrated that the steady-state and kinetic characteristics of ECR (electron cyclotron resonance) and RF glow discharge plasmas can be readily monitored by OES (optical emission spectroscopy) in real time during a-Si:H and a-SiC:H film depositions using an OMA detection system. The ECR and RF glow discharge plasmas used for a-Si:H and a-SiC:H film depositions were studied by monitoring the emission of SiH, H, H/sub 2/, and CH excited states. The OES of the ECR plasma shows a strong emission at 434 nm from H, which is not detectable in the glow discharge plasma. Steady-state OES studies have established preliminary correlations between SiH and CH emission intensities and the film deposition rate. Transient OES spectra of SiH/sub 4/ and CH/sub 4/ plasmas have shown different kinetics in SiH and CH emission intensities. Transient studies of the SiH emission intensity have indicated that additional mechanisms for producing the SiH species become evident in hydrogen-diluted silane plasmas. >
Inositol dehydrogenase from Aerobacter aerogenes.

Abstract An adaptive inositol dehydrogenase has been partially purified from extracts of Aerobacter aerogenes grown on myo-inositol. Properties of the enzyme have been studied.
Bridge-Assisted Ultrafast Interfacial Electron Transfer to Nanocrystalline SnO2 Thin Films

The electron-transfer rate from methylene-bridged molecular adsorbates to SnO2 semiconductor nanocrystalline film was systematically investigated for short bridge lengths. The synthesized sensitizers were the homologues of Re(CO)3Cl(dcbpy) [dcbpy = 4,4‘-dicarboxy-2,2‘-bipyridine] (ReCnA) with methylene units (CH2)n (n = 1−5) inserted between the bipyridine rings and the carboxylate anchoring groups. Use of femtosecond infrared spectroscopy provided the time resolution necessary to study the ultrafast electron transfer that occurs over these very short bridges. Electron injection is unambiguously observed by signals arising from both the injected electron and the CO stretching mode of the oxidized molecule. All dyes exhibited nonexponential electron injection. The kinetic traces for the different spacers can be superimposed on each other by scaling their time axes, which allows a quantitative comparison of these nonexponential injection rates. This comparison revealed an exponential decrease of injection r...
Is there an anticorruption agenda in utilities

Abstract In a networked utility setting (few, predominantly monopoly providers), it is very hard to measure the extent of grand corruption using perceptions or surveys. It is even harder to measure the extent of damage done specifically by corruption, petty or grand. As a result, it will be hard to develop “actionable indicators” of, or to develop empirically tested responses to, corruption in utilities. How much does this matter? Corruption is the result of a failure of governance. We can measure the impact of poor governance at the level of the utility, and we have a number of tools to improve their governance. It is not clear that, at the sectoral or company level, there is a significant anticorruption agenda not encompassed by this broader agenda of improved governance. To that extent, the “new” anticorruption agenda provides renewed justification for the “old” focus on institutions at the level of utilities management, but does not require a radically different approach.
Economic Considerations and Formulary Management of Oral Antipsychotics

Schizophrenia continues to be a major healthcare expenditure in our society. Antipsychotic drugs were introduced in the 1950s and revolutionised its treatment; however, these drugs also produced numerous adverse effects. The direct and indirect costs of schizophrenia were estimated to total $US33 billion in 1990. Prior to the approval by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) of clozapine in 1989, no new antipsychotics had been introduced in the US for at least 10 years. Clozapine was shown to be an ‘atypical’ antipsychotic as some treatment-resistant patients with schizophrenia responded. Negative symptoms associated with schizophrenia were also shown to improve with clozapine. However, because of the problem of agranulocytosis and the need for intensive blood count monitoring with clozapine, its usage became restricted. The cost of using clozapine was shown to be substantially higher than the older ‘typical’ antipsychotics. This increased cost with clozapine resulted in its careful evaluation on the healthcare environment. Retrospective studies reported that hospitalisation days and number of violent episodes decreased with clozapine.