cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Distinct Clinical Syndromes Are Defined by ADAMTS13 Activity in Idiopathic TTP: Results of the SERF-TTP Study.

Abstract Background: The Surveillance, Epidemiology & Risk Factors for TTP (SERF-TTP) study is the largest prospective cohort of idiopathic TTP cases to date. Methods: Patients with first episode of idiopathic TTP were enrolled at 11 sites in the US. Exclusion criteria include solid organ or allogeneic stem cell transplant, anti-neoplastic therapy or malignancy. All patients underwent therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE). Remission is defined as platelet count >150,000/mm3. ADAMTS13 activity was measured by fluorescence resonance energy transfer assay (FRETS-vWF73, Peptides Int.). ADAMTS13 inhibitor was assessed by ELISA (Technozym ADAMTS13 INH ELISA, Technoclone) and functional inhibition of normal ADAMTS13 activity (modified FRETS). Differences between the groups was evaluated by Chi-square test, t-test or Fisher's exact test. Results: Complete data is available for 57 cases. 84% were female & median age was 42. ADAMTS13 was severely deficient ( 50%) in 39%. Adverse events were frequent & most commonly include citrate toxicity and allergic reactions. Long-term followup was available for 56 patients, and overall relapse rate was 25% with median time to relapse of 11 months. The relapse rate was 41% in patients with severe ADAMST13 deficiency & 0% in patients with normal ADAMTS13 activity (p=0.0077). Conclusions: Severe ADAMTS13 deficiency does not define all cases of idiopathic TTP, yet is associated with a unique syndrome characterized by severe thrombocytopenia, normal renal function, presence of ADAMTS13 neutralizing autoantibodies & high risk of relapse. Non-ADAMTS13 deficient idiopathic TTP has clinical features similar to thrombotic microangiopathies associated with stem cell transplant or drugs such as quinine, yet has a better than expected overall survival after TPE. There is likely an alternate disease mechanism for this cohort, possibly immunologic, which may be responsive to TPE and warrants further study. ADAMTS13 ADAMTS13 > 50% n=22 p-value Presenting Labs Hemoglobin (mean) 8.5 9.2 0.22* Platelet count (mean x10^9/L) 19 57 Serum creatinine (mean) 1.33 3.9 0.0012* ADAMTS13 antibody (neutralizing & non-neutralizing) % 100 63.6 0.0004** ADAMTS13 neutralizing antibody % 83 35 .0003# Presenting Symptoms Neurologic symptoms present 45 52.4 0.23# Diarrhea 23 30.4 0.79# Infection 40 43.5 0.79# Past Medical History Connective Tissue Disease % 10 8.5 0.28# Family history of TTP % 0 4.6 0.11# Remission Labs Hemoglobin (mean) 12.2 8.5 0.16* Platelet count (mean x10^9/L)) 169 152 0.15* Serum creatinine (mean) 1.02 3.7 0.0009* Outcomes Therapy-related Adverse events % 71 55 0.24# Time (days) to remission (plt > 150,000) 9.7 9.2 0.89* Early remission ( 73 57 0.20# 30 day Exacerbation rate % 35 28 0.63# 30 day Survival % 96.6 90.0 0.56** Long-term Relapse % 41 0 0.0077** * t-test, ** Fisher's Exact Test, # Chi-Square Test
Evolutionary computation for the automated design of category functions for fuzzy ART: an initial exploration

Fuzzy Adaptive Resonance Theory (ART) is a classic unsupervised learning algorithm. Its performance on a particular clustering problem is sensitive to the suitability of the category function for said problem. However, classic Fuzzy ART employs a fixed category function and thus is unable to benefit from the potential to adjust its category function. This paper presents an exploration into employing evolutionary computation for the automated design of category functions to obtain significantly enhanced Fuzzy ART performance through tailoring to specific problem classes. We employ a genetic programming powered hyper-heuristic approach where the category functions are constructed from a set of primitives constituting those of the original Fuzzy ART category function as well as additional hand-selected primitives. Results are presented for a set of experiments on benchmark classification tasks from the UCI Machine Learning Repository demonstrating that tailoring Fuzzy ART's category function can achieve statistically significant superior performance on the testing datasets in stratified 10-fold cross-validation procedures. We conclude with discussing the results and placing them in the context of being a first step towards automating the design of entirely new forms of ART.
Diffusivity permeability and solubility of hydrogen in platinum

Abstract The permeability time-lag method has been used to measure the temperature dependence of the diffusivity of hydrogen in platinum in the temperature range 558–936°C. In this temperature range the diffusivity D was found to be represented by the Arrhenius relation, D = (6.47±1.73) × 10 −7 exp − Q RT m 2 sec where Q = 26.3 ± 2.3 kJ mol . Measurements of the absolute permeation flux in the steady state condition yield values for the permeability coefficient and the solubility. The solubility values obtained from the permeability flux determinations show discrepancies when compared to solubilities determined by direct equilibration techniques. This discrepancy is briefly discussed.
This Offer Self-Destructs in 3… 2… 1…: Improving the Effectiveness of “That's-Not-All” Techniques in Promotional Emails

This study investigated the “that's-not-all” (TNA) technique as a promotional strategy and offered suggestions for maximizing its effectiveness. The research contributes to current literature by ad...
Quantum chemical studies of redox properties and conformational changes of a four-center iron CO2 reduction electrocatalyst

The CO2 reduction electrocatalyst [Fe4N(CO)12]- (abbrev. 1-) reduces CO2 to HCO2- in a two-electron, one-proton catalytic cycle. Here, we employ ab initio calculations to estimate the first two redox potentials of 1- and explore the pathway of a side reaction involving CO dissociation from 13-. Using the BP86 density functional approximation, the redox potentials were computed with a root mean squared error of 0.15 V with respect to experimental data. High temperature Born-Oppenheimer molecular dynamics was employed to discover a reaction pathway of CO dissociation from 13- with a reaction energy of +10.6 kcal mol-1 and an activation energy of 18.8 kcal mol-1; including harmonic free energy terms, this yields ΔGsep = 1.4 kcal mol-1 for fully separated species and ΔG‡ = +17.4 kcal mol-1, indicating CO dissociation is energetically accessible at ambient conditions. The analogous dissociation pathway from 12- has a reaction energy of 22.1 kcal mol-1 and an activation energy of 22.4 kcal mol-1 (ΔGsep = 12.8 kcal mol-1, ΔG‡ = +18.1 kcal mol-1). Our computed harmonic vibrational analysis of [Fe4N(CO)11]3- or 23- reveals a distinct CO-stretching peak red-shifted from the main CO-stretching band, pointing to a possible vibrational signature of dissociation. Multi-reference CASSCF calculations are used to check the assumptions of the density functional approximations that were used to obtain the majority of the results.
Tree Huggers and Money Grubbers: Co-evolution of standards for self-regulation in forestry

We examine the negotiation of multiple institutional logics in an issue-based field. Specifically, how do multiple self-regulatory organizations interact and compete over time for the right to driv...
ASHP national survey of pharmacy practice in hospital settings: Monitoring and patient education—2012

Purpose The results of the 2012 American Society of Health-System Pharmacists national survey of pharmacy practice in U.S. hospital settings are presented. Methods A stratified random sample of pharmacy directors at 1413 general and children’s medical–surgical hospitals were surveyed by mail. SDI Health supplied data on hospital characteristics; the survey sample was drawn from SDI’s hospital database. Results In this national probability sample survey, the response rate was 34.0%. The rate of pharmacist monitoring of most patients (i.e., >75%) in hospitals has increased, from 20.3% in 2000 to 46.5% in 2012. Therapeutic drug monitoring programs are in place at most hospitals; at more than 80% of hospitals, pharmacists have the authority to order laboratory tests and adjust medication dosages. A safety culture assessment has been conducted at 72.4% of hospitals. Pharmacists routinely perform discharge counseling in 24.7% of hospitals. At most hospitals, nurses are primarily responsible for medication reconciliation, but 65.9% of pharmacy directors would like pharmacy to have this responsibility. Computerized prescriber order entry is now used in 54.4% of hospitals, with barcode-assisted medication administration used in 65.5% and smart pumps used in 77% of hospitals. The majority of hospitals have fully or partially implemented electronic health records. An increase in the use of remote pharmacist review of medication orders has reduced the percentage of hospitals where orders are not reviewed before a dose is administered to 32%. Conclusion Pharmacists continue to improve medication use in U.S. hospitals through patient monitoring and education, safety initiatives, collaborative practices with other health care professionals, assisting in the adoption of technologies, and the provision of pharmacy services to outpatients.
An in Vitro Study on the Role of Angiogenesis in Iron Deficiency Induced Reactive Thrombocytosis

Abstract Introduction: Iron deficiency (ID) is one of the recognized causes of reactive thrombocytosis in children. Factors that are commonly associated with megakaryopoiesis such as thrombopoietin (TPO), interleukin 6 (IL-6) and IL-11 are not altered in patients with iron deficiency and thrombocytosis suggesting the role of alternate mechanisms in controlling this process. We have previously shown using an ID rat model that ID increased the number of megakaryocytes in the bone marrow. We have also shown an increase in VEGFR (FLT1) and CXCR4 staining in bone marrow slides of ID rats. This data suggests that angiogenesis plays a vital role in the development of reactive thrombocytosis in response to ID. In this report, we have expanded our study to identify specific angiogenic signaling molecules associated with ID and used functional assays to validate it. Methods: For this study, we used the megakaryoblast cell line MEG-01 as an in vitro model of megakaryopoiesis. MEG-01 cells were adapted to grow in chemically defined serum free medium containing iron (iron replete media). For iron deficiency, serum free iron free media was mixed with iron replete media at a 1% v/v concentration (iron deplete media). For our experiments, MEG-01 cells were grown in both iron replete and depleted media for 7 days. Cell viability was measured using the trypan blue exclusion assay. Messenger-RNA expression of iron-related markers (TFR1, TFR2, FLT1, FLT3, FTL, FTH1, TF, HMOX1 and HMOX2) and angiogenic markers (VEGFA, VEGFB, VEGFC, PDGF, ANGPTL1, ANGPTL2, FGF2) was studied using real time PCR. We performed functional validation of angiogenesis with an in vitro tube formation assay using human umbilical vein endothelial (HUVEC) cells. For statistical analysis of the data we performed the t test using graph pad prism software and we considered p Results: In low iron conditions, MEG-01 cells showed a significant increase in FLT1 (4 fold) and FLT3 (3 fold) expression using real time PCR (p Conclusion: In this study, we were able to validate our earlier in vivo findings on iron deficiency induced reactive thrombocytosis. We show that cells adapt to low iron conditions by upregulating FLT1, FLT3 and FTL. We also show that several markers in the angiogenesis pathway like VEGFB, VEGFC, FGF2 and PDGFA are upregulated in response to iron deficiency. We were also able to show that an increase in these angiogenic molecules induced increased vessel formation in endothelial cells. This report, along with our previous findings, points to the importance of the angiogenic pathway in reactive thrombocytosis induced by iron deficiency. Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.
Using a Culturally Tailored Narrative to Increase Cervical Cancer Detection Among Spanish-Speaking Mexican-American Women.

The objective of this study was to determine the feasibility and effectiveness of translating films, and whether the use of narrative is an effective vehicle for producing changes in knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors regarding cervical cancer compared with a nonnarrative film. A randomized controlled telephone trial surveyed the effectiveness of two films our team produced among a sample of 300 monolingual Spanish-speaking women, ages 25 to 45, who were of Mexican origin. Participants were recruited using random digit dialing (RDD) procedures from 2013 to 2014 in Los Angeles County and were randomly selected to view either a narrative or nonnarrative film. Data were collected by phone at baseline, 2 weeks, and 6 months after viewing. On average, participants arrived in the USA 25 years ago. The majority reported having less than high school education and limited English proficiency. Compared with their nonnarrative counterparts, women who received the cervical cancer–related information in the narrative film showed a significantly greater increase in new knowledge (p = 0.01) and in supportive attitudes about Pap tests expense (p = 0.05). Importantly, at 6 months, although not statistically significant, women who viewed the narrative film were also more likely to have had or scheduled a Pap test (62% vs 42%). Narratives are a useful and underutilized tool to communicate information about cancer prevention. These findings have important implications for the delivery of health education among Spanish-speaking, low-literacy immigrant women, and for the reduction of cancer-related disparities.
A Grounded Theory of Interracial Romantic Partners’ Expectations for Support and Strain with Family Members

ABSTRACTInterracial romantic partners (IRPs) are known to experience additional hardships in their relational functioning compared to same-race partners. This study explores the support processes t...
Phrenic nerve palsy in patients with neuralgic amyotrophy: case series study.

Background Neuralgic amyotrophy (NA) is a relatively uncommon syndrome causing brachial nerves dysfunction. However, it can also affect other nerves including phrenic nerve, which is often misdiagnosed. Case report To determine the incidence and characteristics of phrenic nerve palsy in patients with NA in our population, we analyzed the records of all patients with phrenic nerve palsy and/or NA at the University Hospital and the county hospital within the last 10 years. We found that totally, seven patients were confirmed to have NA and phrenic nerve palsy. All of them are male of average age 51.9 years old (51.9±7.4) and had shortness of breath following shoulder and/or neck pain. All of them had elevated diaphragm found in SNIFF test and/or on chest X-ray. Pulmonary function test done in 6 patients demonstrated restrictive lung disease. Six patients needed long-term bi-level positive airway pressure (BiPAP) treatment but mechanic ventilation was not needed. Clinical rehabilitation impact Our cohort represents one of the largest case series yet reported for phrenic nerve involvement in NA. Most of these patients have had significant pulmonary compromise in the early stage of onset of shoulder/neck pain requiring ongoing BiPAP and specialist monitoring. Recognition of this subset of patients may further require nerve conduction studies/electromyography and respiratory testing.
Judicial perspectives on mental health courts: The role of psychiatric disorder and violence risk.

Abstract Objective The extent to which psychiatric diagnosis, treatment compliance, and violence risk influenced judges perceived benefits of Mental Health Court (“MHC”) for defendants with psychiatric disorders was examined. Method 81 judges completed one vignette in which psychiatric diagnosis (Schizophrenia, Major Depressive Disorder, Posttraumatic Stress Disorder), treatment compliance (yes/no), and violence risk (high/low) were randomized. The online survey was distributed via email and following the vignette, judges answered a question about the appropriateness of MHC. Results Judges assessed defendants with severe psychiatric disorders (Schizophrenia and Major Depressive Disorder) – compared to defendants with PTSD – as more likely to benefit from MHCs. If deemed at low treatment compliance and/or high violence risk, judges were unlikely to appraise MHCs as beneficial, regardless of psychiatric diagnosis. Implications Judges appear to consider relevant factors when determining whether MHC will benefit defendants with psychiatric disorders; however, future research should include more variables (e.g., addictions, history of violence) to examine the combined influence on judges' perception of MHC suitability.
Living in a ‘digital world’: An ethnographic study of film and adolescent literacy education in rural secondary schools in America

This paper explores different ways in which teachers use film as a medium for literacy instruction in secondary settings across different content areas in the American public school system. Three educators participated in an ethnographic interview study serving as a pilot for further enquiry. Educators represented two sites in the southern United States, working in two different subject areas with students aged 12 to 16. Interviews were coded using multiple methods and five themes resulted from the data, focusing on the different ways in which teachers used film-based content, as well as what they observed about their students based on their experiences with film in the classroom.
Temperature Screening for SARS-CoV-2 in Nursing Homes: Evidence from Two National Cohorts.

Background/objectives Infection screening tools classically define fever as 38.0°C (100.4 °F). Frail older adults may not mount the same febrile response to systemic infection as younger or healthier individuals. We evaluate temperature trends among nursing home residents undergoing diagnostic SARS-CoV-2 testing and describe the diagnostic accuracy of temperature measurements for predicting test-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection. Design This is a retrospective cohort study evaluating diagnostic accuracy of pre-SARS-CoV-2 testing temperature changes. Setting and participants Two separate nursing home cohorts tested diagnostically (e.g., for symptoms) for SARS-CoV-2: 1) Veterans residing Veterans Affairs (VA) managed nursing homes, and 2) residents in a private national chain of community nursing homes. Measurements For both cohorts, we determine the sensitivity, specificity and Youden index with different temperature cut-offs for SARS-CoV-2 PCR results. Results The VA cohort includes 1,301 residents in 134 facilities from 03/01/2020 to May 14, 2020, with 25% confirmed for SARS-CoV-2. The community cohort includes 3,368 residents spread across 282 facilities from February 18, 2020 to 06/09/2020, and 42% confirmed for SARS-CoV-2. The VA cohort was younger, less Caucasian and mostly male. A temperature testing threshold of 37.2°C has better sensitivity for SARS-CoV-2, 76% and 34% in the VA and community NH respectively vs 38.0°C with 43% and 12% sensitivity respectively. Conclusion A definition of 38.0°C for fever in nursing home screening tools should be lowered to improve predictive accuracy for SARS-CoV-2 infection. Stakeholders should carefully consider the impact of adopting lower testing thresholds on testing availability, cost and burden on staff and residents. Temperatures alone have relatively low sensitivity/specificity, and we advocate any threshold be used as part of a screening tool, along with other signs and symptoms of infection.
Single Image Super-Resolution for Medical Image Applications

In medical imaging, high-resolution images are expected to have the ability to deliver a more precise diagnosis with the practical application of high-resolution displays. This research proposes a deep learning method for single image super-resolution that learns an end-to-end mapping between the low and high-resolution images. It redesigns the SRGAN, using VGG19 network for feature extraction, setting discriminator network’s working space as feature space, and adding the loss function based on the mean square error of pixel space, gaining more details by incorporating SRCNN layers to increase the PSNR in the reconstruction at the same time. To thoroughly investigate the system, we compared the performance with other architectures on MNIST and CIFAR-10 dataset with a further evaluation conducted on Chest x-ray.
Sutured Custom Foldable Silicone Artificial Iris Implantation Combined With Intraocular Lens Implantation and Penetrating Keratoplasty: Safety and Efficacy Outcomes.

Author(s): Bonnet, Clemence; Vazirnia, Parsia; Deng, Sophie X; Aldave, Anthony J; Miller, Kevin M | Abstract: PurposeTo assess safety and efficacy outcomes of sutured custom silicone artificial iris and intraocular lens implantation combined with penetrating keratoplasty (triple procedure).MethodsProspective consecutive surgical case series of patients who underwent the triple procedure between 2010 and 2019 at Stein Eye Institute, UCLA, followed up for 1 year minimum. Safety outcomes were changes from preoperative to last follow-up in corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA), endothelial cell count, intraocular pressure (IOP), and postoperative complications. Efficacy outcomes included changes in subjective glare (none to severe), cosmetic appearance (worse to very much improved), and visual function as assessed by the Visual Function Questionnaire-25 at 1-year follow-up.ResultsAmong 82 eyes implanted with an artificial iris, 14 eyes (17.1%) underwent the triple procedure. The median follow-up was 18.1 months (range 12.0-54.9 months). The median CDVA improved from 2.0 log of minimum angle of resolution (logMAR) (range 0.9-2.3 logMAR) to 0.7 logMAR (range 0.2-2.6 logMAR) (P = 0.02). Average endothelial cell count decreased 57.6% (P l 0.01). Six eyes (42.9%) experienced IOP elevations, 13 eyes (92.3%) developed iritis, and 11 eyes (78.6%) underwent secondary surgery. Graft rejection or secondary graft failure occurred in 7 eyes each (50.0%). Cosmesis improved in 12 eyes (85.7%; P l 0.01). The Visual Function Questionnaire-25 score improved from 72 to 77 (P l 0.01). Glare symptoms did not change significantly.ConclusionsThe triple procedure was effective at improving CDVA, cosmesis, and quality of life; however, it was associated with frequent postoperative complications, of which iritis, IOP elevation, and secondary graft failure were the most common.
High-Performance Probe for Over-the-Air Measurement

We present a low-cost, and compact probe that can be used in an over-the-air (OTA) measurements. The probe is a slot antenna with a ground plane. To simplify detection, the near-field signal of an antenna under test is mixed with an LO at the probe location. The mixer is a self-biased diode quad on the probe. Results are in good agreement with the simulation showing that a range of 35 dB of RF signal power can be detected. This can be used in near-field analysis such as an over-the-air antenna measurements.
Isolation and purification of glycoglycerolipids to induce apoptosis in breast cancer cells

Monogalactosyldiacylglycerol (MGDG) is the most abundant type of glycoglycerolipid found in the plant cell membrane and mostly in the chloroplast thylakoid membrane. The amphiphilic nature of MGDG is attractive in pharmaceutical fields for interaction with other biological molecules and hence exerting therapeutic anti-cancer, anti-viral, and anti-inflammatory activities. In this study, we investigated the therapeutic efficacy of cyanobacteria derived MGDG to inhibit breast cancer cell growth. MGDG was extracted from a cyanobacteria Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 followed by a subsequent fractionation by column chromatographic technique. The purity and molecular structure of MGDG were analyzed by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy analysis. The presence of MGDG in the extracted fraction was further confirmed and quantified by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The anti-proliferation activity of the extracted MGDG molecule was tested against BT-474 and MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cell lines. The in vitro study showed that MGDG extracted from Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 induced apoptosis in (70 ± 8) % of BT-474 (p < 0.001) and (58 ± 5) % of MDA-MB-231 cells (p < 0.001) using ~ 60 and 200 ng/ml of concentrations, respectively. The half-maximal inhibitory concentration, IC50 of MGDG extracted from Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 were (27.2 ± 7.6) and (150 ± 70) ng/ml in BT-474 and MDA-MB-231 cell lines, respectively. Quantification of caspase-3/7 activity using flow cytometry showed (3.0 ± 0.4) and (2.1 ± 0.04)-fold (p < 0.001) higher protein expressions in the MGDG treated BT-474 and MDA-MB-231 cells, respectively than untreated controls conferring to the caspase-dependent apoptosis. The MGDG did not show any significant cytotoxic side effects in human dermal fibroblasts cells. A commercially available MGDG control did not induce any apoptotic cell death in cancer cells substantiating the potential of the MGDG extracted from Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 for the treatment of breast cancer cells through the apoptosis-mediated pathway.
Cervical Dilatation by Transperineal or Translabial Ultrasound

Digital examination has always been the “gold standard” method to evaluate the foetal head descent, cervical ripening and dilatation and foetal head position before and during labour [1] and has led to the development of comprehensive partograms used on most delivery units [2].
Low-Wage Employment in America: Results from a Set of Recent Industry Case Studies

Data from national surveys show the dramatic changes that have taken place in the US wage structure over the past three decades. However, these data provide only very limited information about the complex reasons why those changes have occurred and why there is significant variation in the wages of workers with similar education levels employed in similar industries. Industry case studies, on the other hand, document how firms` responses to economic pressures have affected working conditions, work rules, productivity pressures, skill requirements, and opportunities for training and advancement for workers with less than a 4-year college education. This paper reviews a series of recent case studies on low-wage employment in America funded by the Russell Sage and Rockefeller Foundations, and examines how pressures to cut costs have affected firms` treatment of frontline workers.
Neutron diffraction illustrates residual stress behavior of welded alloys used as radioactive confinement boundary

Abstract Corrosion-resistant welded alloys are frequently used as a leak-tight boundary in critical applications that require confinement of hazardous and/or radioactive substances, including an increasing population of spent nuclear fuel (SNF) canisters. The behavior of residual stresses generated as a result of irregular elastic–plastic deformation during processes such as welding is one of today's key issues to a full understanding of the aging mechanisms that may compromise the confinement boundary. Whether such processes and any subsequent weld repairs, not subjected to post-weld heat treatment, would negatively affect the initial material by introducing through-thickness tensile stresses remains an open question. Here we report the first residual stress measurements using neutron diffraction on the welded joints of a SNF canister. We found significant tensile residual stresses in the as welded sample, indicating that initiation and through-thickness growth of cracks may be possible. Following repair, we observed a stress redistribution and introduction of beneficial compressive stresses. We anticipate our results will improve understanding of confinement susceptibility to aging and guide improvements in repair techniques.
Book Review of the Conscience Wars: Rethinking the Balance Between Religion, Identity, and Equality (Susanna Mancini and Michel Rosenfeld, Eds. 2018)

Book review of "The Conscience Wars" - an anthology of culture war topics that deal with methods for accommodating religion from a domestic and international perspective. The paper reviews the chapters in their respective sections, considers which help further the discussion, and what is left to be desired from the volume.
H-scan trajectories indicate the progression of specific diseases.

PURPOSE The ability of ultrasound to assess pathology is increasing with the development of quantitative parameters. Among these are a set of parameters derived from the recent H-scan analysis of subresolvable scattering. The emergence of these quantitative measures of tissue/ultrasound interactions now enables a study of the unique trajectories of multiparametric features in multidimensional space, representing the progression of specific diseases over time. We develop the mathematical and visual tools that are effective for classifying, quantifying, and visualizing the steady progression of several diseases from independent studies, all within a uniform framework. METHODS After applying the H-scan analysis of ultrasound echoes, we trained a support vector machine (SVM) to classify the unique trajectories of progressive liver disease from fibrosis, steatosis, and pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) metastasis. Our approaches include the development of trajectory maps and disease-specific color imaging stains. RESULTS The multidimensional SVM image classification reached 100% accuracy across the three different studies. CONCLUSION H-scan trajectories can be useful to track the progression of multiple classes of diseases, improving diagnosis, staging, and assessing the response to therapy.
Economic disparity among generations under the Paris Agreement.

The costs and benefits of climate change mitigation are known to be distributed unevenly across time and space, while their intergenerational distribution across nations has not been evaluated. Here, we analyze the lifetime costs and benefits of climate change mitigation by age cohorts across countries under the Paris Agreement. Our results show that the age cohorts born prior to 1960 generally experience a net reduction in lifetime gross domestic product per capita. Age cohorts born after 1990 will gain net benefits from climate change mitigation in most lower income countries. However, no age cohorts enjoy net benefits regardless of the birth year in many higher income countries. Furthermore, the cost-benefit disparity among old and young age cohorts is expected to widen over time. Particularly, lower income countries are expected to have much larger cost-benefit disparity between the young and the old. Our findings highlight the challenges in building consensus for equitable climate policy among nations and generations. The intergenerational distribution of costs and benefits of climate change mitigation is not well understood. Here the authors analyze lifetime costs and benefits of climate change mitigation by age cohorts across countries under the Paris Agreement.
A Call for a Humanistic Stance Toward K–12 Data Science Education:

There is growing interest in how to better prepare K–12 students to work with data. In this article, we assert that these discussions of teaching and learning must attend to the human dimensions of...
Lange, Caniglia, and the Myth of Home Exceptionalism

For over a hundred years, the Supreme Court has employed rhetoric in its Fourth Amendment cases that supports the concept of “home exceptionalism”—that is, the idea that protecting the home is the “very core” of the Fourth Amendment. Two cases from this year’s Supreme Court term, Lange v. California and Caniglia v. Strom, appear at first to support this doctrine, since a narrow reading of their holdings appears to enhance Fourth Amendment protection of the home. However, a closer examination of Supreme Court doctrine reveals that home exceptionalism is a myth. Although the home does receive small amounts of special protection in some areas, such as the arrest warrant requirement and the protection of curtilage, these special protections are far weaker than the court’s rhetoric implies. In fact, the recent trend is for the Court to limit the Fourth Amendment protection given to the home. Lange and Caniglia are consistent with this trend, as the Court’s holding in fact did little to increase the protections for the home and re-affirmed many of the doctrines that permit police to enter a home without a warrant. This essay is one of the first to analyze Lange and Caniglia, the Court’s two most recent Fourth Amendment cases. It does so by placing the cases in the proper historical and doctrinal context, first tracing the roots of home exceptionalism back to the 1800s and separating the broad language that the Court has often employed in these cases from the narrow legal rules that the cases actually establish. The essay demonstrates that Lange and Caniglia follow a well-established pattern, beginning with bold precatory language about the sanctity of the home, then delivering a narrow holding, and finally qualifying the reach of that holding with further language limiting its practical effect.
Literacy and Education

Series Editor Introduction Preface Chapter 1: Introduction Chapter 2: Literacy Chapter 3: The Social Mind Chapter 4: Digital Media References Index
Behavioral Neurochemistry: Application of Neurochemical and Neuropharmacological Techniques to The Study of Operant Behavior

Publisher Summary This chapter focuses on the techniques that permit the simultaneous analysis of behavior and central nervous system activity. The purpose of studying such processes is not necessarily to explain behavior as much as it is to determine the influence that behavior and behavioral variables have on neurochemistry and vice versa. Techniques that yield a more detailed analysis of behavior by providing access to other variables can only extend and clarify basic behavioral processes. Almost all of the methods and approaches necessitate the use of a stereotaxic instrument for precise location and placement of cannulae or probe devices used in the collection of fluid, the injection of a drug, or insertion of a recording electrode into specific brain regions. In addition to basic surgical skills—use of a stereotaxic instrument, or administration and maintenance of anesthesia—animals are monitored much more extensively than is typical or customary in most behavioral studies.
Functional capacity evaluation

The functional capacity evaluation (FCE) is a tool for assessing the extent of a patient's disability. Several factors help to determine whether an FCE should be conducted. Once underway, the evaluation includes an intake interview, musculoskeletal and functional assessments, validation of effort, and interpretation and recommendation. Language: en
Bombesin‐like Peptides

The sections in this article are: 1 Isolation and Characterization of Mammalian Bombesin-Like Peptides 2 Ontogeny and Species Differences 2.1 Ontogeny 2.2 Species Differences and Nomenclature 3 Distribution and Location 3.1 Mammalian Gut 3.2 Mammalian Sympathetic Ganglia and Spinal Cord 3.3 Mammalian Brain 3.4 Mammalian Lung 3.5 Nonmammalian Gut and Brain 4 Biological Activities and Physiological Role 4.1 Gastrin Release and Gastric Secretion 4.2 Cholecystokinin Release and Pancreatic Secretion 4.3 Gastrointestinal Smooth Muscle Effects 4.4 Hormone-Releasing Effects of Bombesin and Gastrin-Releasing Peptide 4.5 Effects on Electrolyte Transport 4.6 Trophic and Mitogenic Effects 4.7 Other Central Nervous System Effects
Role of oxidative/nitrosative stress-mediated Bcl-2 regulation in apoptosis and malignant transformation

Bcl-2 is a key apoptosis regulatory protein of the mitochondrial death pathway. The oncogenic potential of Bcl-2 is well established, with its overexpression reported in various cancers. The antiapoptotic function of Bcl-2 is closely associated with its expression levels. Reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (ROS/RNS) are important intracellular signaling molecules that play a key role in various physiological processes including apoptosis. We have recently reported that ROS and RNS can regulate Bcl-2 expression levels, thereby impacting its function. Superoxide anion (*O(2)(-)) plays a proapoptotic role by causing downregulation and degradation of Bcl-2 protein through the ubiquitin-proteasomal pathway. In contrast, nitric oxide (NO)-mediated S-nitrosylation of Bcl-2 prevents its ubiquitination and subsequent proteasomal degradation, leading to inhibition of apoptosis. Interestingly, NO-mediated S-nitrosylation and stabilization of Bcl-2 protein was the primary mechanism involved in the malignant transformation of nontumorigenic lung epithelial cells in response to long-term carcinogen exposure. We describe a novel mechanism of Bcl-2 regulation by *O(2)(-) and NO, providing a new dimension to reactive species-mediated Bcl-2 stability, apoptotic cell death, and cancer development.
The enthalpy of oxidation of flavin mononucleotide: Temperature dependence of in vitro bacterial luciferase bioluminescence

Abstract The enthalpy of the bioluminescent reaction FMNH 2 + RCHO + O 2 → luciferase FMN + RCOO + H 3 O + + hv has been studied by direct calorimetric methods. Bacterial luciferase, isolated from Beneckea harveyi (formerly strain MAV) has been used to catalyze the oxidation of reduced flavin mononucleotide (FMNH 2 ) and a long chain aliphatic aldehyde (dodecanal, RCHO) by molecular oxygen to give the indicated products and blue-green light. The enthalpy measured for this process was found to be ΔH L = −338.9 k.J (mol FMN) −1 (−81.0 kcal) at 25.00 °C and −402.9 kJ (mol FMN) −1 (−96.3 kcal) at 7.00 °C. Calculations based on redox electrode potentials indicate a corresponding value of the free energy change, ΔG L = −464.8 kJ (mol FMN) −1 (−111.1 kcal), at 25 °C. Measurements were performed in 0.15 m phosphate buffer, pH 7.0 and the values were arrived at by correcting the observed heats for the heat associated with the autoxidation process: FMNH 2 + O 2 ⇌ FMN + H 2 O 2 ; ΔH D = −158.5 kJ (mol FMN) −1 (−37.8). These data and a detailed thermodynamic analysis have demonstrated the need for two parameters, referred to as the intrinsic free energy, ΔG 1 , and intrinsic enthalpy, ΔH 1 , which are functionally defined by the relations ΔG I = ΔG L − uhv ΔH I = ΔH L − uhv , where u is the quantum yield of the reaction expressed in einsteins mole −1 . These parameters reflect the thermochemistry of the bioluminescent reaction corrected for emitted photons. Thus, they are useful for comparing the thermochemistry of a chemiluminescent process. Their values for the bacterial luciferase system at 25 °C and pH 7.0 are −391.6 and −266.9 kJ (mol FMN) −1 (−93.6 and −63.8 kcal), respectively, assuming a value of 0.3 for the quantum yield. The calorimetric data also suggest the existence of a long-lived species which persists after photon emission.
Mistral: A comprehensive model for tritium transport in lithium-base ceramics: Part II: Comparison of model predictions with experimental results

Abstract A new tritium transport model called MISTRAL ( M odel for I nvestigative S tudies of T ritium R elease in L ithium Ceramics) has been developed to describe and predict the kinetics of tritium release in lithium ceramic materials for tritium breeding applications in fusion blankets. The model has transient capabilities and has been developed to analyze the full range of transient conditions produced in in-pile tritium recovery experiments and expected in fusion blankets. Calibration of the model against experiments has been done in parallel with its development in order to assess its predictive capabilities and to identify the ranges of potential applicability. The comparisons of the results available for lithium metasilicate and aluminate samples irradiated respectively in the two in-pile tritium recovery experiments LISA1 and MOZART are presented and discussed in this paper. They have been selected for the calibration of the codes as being good examples of various features relevant for tritium release analysis in ceramic breeders under different transient conditions such as change in temperature, purge gas composition and reactor power.
Telepathwords: preventing weak passwords by reading users' minds

To discourage the creation of predictable passwords, vulnerable to guessing attacks, we present Telepathwords. As a user creates a password, Telepathwords makes realtime predictions for the next character that user will type. While the concept is simple, making accurate predictions requires efficient algorithms to model users' behavior and to employ already-typed characters to predict subsequent ones. We first made the Telepathwords technology available to the public in late 2013 and have since served hundreds of thousands of user sessions. We ran a human-subjects experiment to compare password policies that use Telepathwords to those that rely on composition rules, comparing participants' passwords using two different password-evaluation algorithms. We found that participants create far fewer weak passwords using the Telepathwords-based policies than policies based only on character composition. Participants using Telepathwords were also more likely to report that the password feedback was helpful.
Psychotropic substances in indoor environments

The presence of drugs in outdoor air has been established, but few investigations have been conducted indoors. This study focused on psychotropic substances (PSs) at three schools, four homes and one office in Rome, Italy. The indoor drug concentrations and the relationships with the outdoor atmosphere were investigated. The optimised monitoring procedure allowed for the determination of cocaine, cannabinoids and particulate fractions of nicotine and caffeine. In-field experiments were performed during the winter, spring and summer seasons. Psychotropic substances were observed in all indoor locations. The indoor concentrations often exceeded those recorded both outdoors at the same sites and at the atmospheric pollution control network stations, indicating that the drugs were released into the air at the inside sites or were more persistent. During winter, the relative concentrations of cannabinol, cannabidiol and tetrahydrocannabinol depended on site and indoor/outdoor location at the site.
Glass formation, properties and structure of Y2O3Al2O3B2O3 glasses

Abstract The glass formation and stable liquid immiscibility region in the Y2O3Al2O3B2O3 (YAB) system has been determined. Infrared and Raman spectra of YAB glasses indicate that, like La2O3Al2O3B2O3 (LAB) glasses, they consist of (AlB2O6)∞ chains composed of AlO4 tetrahedral and BO3 triangular units. These chains are similar to those found in lanthanide metaborates (LnB3O6) except that the BO4 units have been replaced by AlO4 units. On devitrification, these glasses yield YBO3 and YAl3(BO3)4 whose structure bears no similarity to those of related glasses. Glass formation in the YAB system has been attributed to the presence of (AlB2O6∞ chains. The molar volume (mv) and transformation temperature (Tg) have been measured. The Tg of some of the glasses in this system is as high as 750°C. The dependence of the physical properties of YAB glasses on composition is discussed in terms of structural changes.
Long-term results of aortoinnominate and aortocarotid polytetrafluoroethylene bypass grafting for atherosclerotic lesions***

Abstract Between January 1978 and December 1986, 69 polytetrafluoroethylene bypass grafts on the ascending aorta were placed in 53 patients with atherosclerotic occlusive disease of the innominate and left common carotid arteries. Thirty-six patients had symptoms predominantly of amaurosis fugax, vertebrobasilar ischemia, and upper limb ischemia. The remaining 17 patients had no symptoms but had severe hemodynamically significant occlusive disease. All operations were accomplished via median sternotomy. One patient died after surgery (operative mortality rate 1.9%), and one patient had minor postoperative neurologic deficit that partially improved on long-term follow-up. Patency of the reconstruction was routinely assessed by a Doppler device combining (1) a continuous wave Doppler and (2) real-time mechanical sector B-mode imaging with frequencies of 3.5 MHz and 7.5 MHz. There were two early asymptomatic occlusions; one was related to a technical error that was successfully revised and the other to low systemic perfusion. The mean follow-up time was 50.5 months. Two patients were lost to follow-up and a further six patients died, for a cumulative 5-year survival rate of 84.9%. One patient had only partial improvement in symptoms and one patient sustained a late postoperative neurologic deficit after internal carotid occlusion distal to a patent aortocarotid bypass. The remaining patients were free of symptoms. There were no infective complications. All the patients underwent late assessment by Doppler ultrasonography and B-mode scanning. One asymptomatic occlusion was thereby identified to be a result of diminished runoff. The overall secondary patency rate at 5 years was 96.1%. No instances of late anastomotic stenosis and no hemodynamic or morphologic changes occurred in any of the grafts. In view of the excellent late patency rate and the low operative mortality, direct reconstruction by means of polytetrafluoroethylene bypass grafting from the ascending aorta would appear to be the treatment of choice for innominate and/or left common carotid occlusive disease, particularly in young patients without serious risk factors. (J Vasc Surg 1989;10:135–42.)
Magnetotransport and antiferromagnetic coupling in nanocomposites EuS–Co

Abstract Nanocomposites (EuS) x Co 100− x ( x =30, 50 and 70) were prepared by mechanical alloying the powders of EuS and cobalt. X-ray diffraction analysis indicated that the average particle size of EuS was reduced to about 10 nm after 50 h of milling. These EuS nanoparticles were finely mixed with the metallic cobalt. Below the Curie temperature of EuS, its moments tended to couple antiferromagnetically with that of cobalt. This macroscopic ferrimagnetic behavior was best demonstrated in the magnetization versus temperature curve of (EuS) 30 Co 70 , where a rapid decrease in the magnetization below about 16 K (T C =16 K for EuS) was observed in the ball milled samples. Interesting magnetotransport behaviors were observed for (EuS) 70 Co 30 . Its magnetoresistance was positive at room temperature and changed to negative (−6.3%) at 100 K. Much larger negative magnetoresistance (∼−50%) was found at 20 K. These results are discussed in the context of spin fluctuation and possible spin tunneling in the system.
Occupational Therapy: The Basic Concept behind the Conventional Term:

It is well known that the history of occupational therapy goes back to ancient times, although it was not until the Second World War that it began to receive greater attention and wider use. Today, despite important advances in studies and applications, a certain amount of empiricism persists, especially in Italy where there are not as yet distinct schools for occupational therapy and where consequently there is some criticism of the profession.
Optical Radiation Hazards of Welding Arcs

Welding, a widely used industrial process, is one of the most intense artificial sources of optical radiation. Each type of welding process emits a different spectrum and intensity of optical radiation. For most processes, ultraviolet and visible radiation are the main components of the emission. Such factors as arc current, shielding gas, and base metal influence the emission spectrum. Adverse effects are confined to the skin and eyes, with welders suffering from a higher proportion of optical radiation associated eye conditions than do non-welders. Erythema is a common skin condition among welders, but conditions like skin cancer are rare. An evaluation of optical radiation from welding consists of determining an effective irradiance and a maximum permissible exposure duration, which can be very short (from seconds to minutes). Control measures include the use of screens to localize the hazards, and the use of personal protective equipment, such as protective clothing, safety spectacles, and welding helmets. Recent studies indicate that optical radiation can infiltrate into helmets and workers may be exposed to excessive levels. Overall, further investigation into adverse health effects and safety equipment design is warranted.