cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
PmP111. Effects of dopant Nb+5 on lead zirconate-titanate

Abstract Impurity effects of Nb+5 dopants were investigated on optimum calcination temperatures and grain growth in sintering process. As the amount of Nb+5 dopant increased, optimum calcination temperatures increased. Grain sizes in sintered ceramics decreased in inverse proportion to the amount of Nb+5. Experimental results were expressed in terms of the volume ratio between grain boundary region and grain. Thickness of grain boundary region is estimated to be about 40 A, that corresponds to about 10 lattice layer.
Multiscale finite element analysis of elastic wave scattering from localized defects

This paper investigates the use of a multiscale finite element approach to study the interaction between elastic waves and localized defects. The analysis of wave-defect interaction is of fundamental importance for the development of ultrasonic non-destructive testing and SHM applications. The method considered herein, known as Geometric Multiscale FEM, formulates multi-node elements which can model small geometrical features without resorting to excessive mesh refinements and without compromising the quality of the discretization in the uniform portion of the domain. The possibility of formulating libraries of damaged multiscale elements makes the method particularly appealing for conducting extensive parametric studies.
The Evolution of Paleoindian Geochronology and Typology on the Great Plains

The Great Plains contain many of the best-known Paleoindian sites in North America, and a number of these localities were key to determining the chronology of Paleoindian occupations in the years before, during, and since the development of radiocarbon and other chronometric dating methods. Initial attempts at dating were based on correlation with extinct fauna, the “geologic-climatic” dating method, and stratigraphic relationships of artifacts within sites. By the time radiocarbon dating was developed (1950), the basic Paleoindian sequence (oldest to youngest) was: Clovis-Folsom-unfluted lanceolates (such as Plainview, Eden, and Scottsbluff). Initial applications of radiocarbon dating in the 1950s did little to further resolve age relationships. In the 1960s, however, largely through the efforts of C. V. Haynes, a numerical geochronology of Paleoindian occupations on the Great Plains began to emerge On the Southern Great Plains the radiocarbon-dated artifact chronology is: Clovis (11,600–11,000 yr B.P.); Folsom and Midland (10,900–10,100 yr B.P.); Plainview, Milnesand, and Lubbock (10,200–9800 yr B.P.); Firstview (9400–8200 yr B.P.); St. Mary's Hall, Golondrina, and Texas Angostura (9200–8000 yr B.P.). The chronology for the Northern Great Plains is: Clovis (11,200–10,900 yr B.P.); Goshen (ca. 11,000 yr B.P.); Folsom (10,900–10,200 yr B.P.); Agate Basin (10,500–10,000 yr B.P.); Hell Gap (10,500–9500 yr B.P.); Alberta, Alberta-Cody (10,200–9400 yr B.P.); Cody (Eden-Scottsbluff) (9400–8800 yr B.P.); Angostura, Jimmy Allen, Frederick, and other parallel-oblique types (9400–7800 yr B.P.). Fifty years after the development of radiocarbon dating, the basic typological sequence has not changed significantly except for the realization that there probably was significant temporal overlap of some point types, and that the old unilinear sequence does not account for all the known typological variation. The chronology has been continually refined with the determination of hundreds of radiocarbon ages in recent decades. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Reactive oxygen species and antioxidants: Relationships in green cells

The imposition of oxidative stress leads to increased production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in plant cells. Orchestrated defense processes ensue that have much in common between stresses, yet are also particular to the site of action of the stress and its concentration. Possible functional roles of these responses include, but are not restricted to, the protection of the photosynthetic machinery, the preservation of membrane integrity and the protection of DNA and proteins. Superimposed upon our understanding of cellular mechanisms for protection against abiotic stress is a newly discovered role of ROS in signalling and defense response to pathogens (J. L. Dangl, R. A. Dietrich and M. S. Richberg. 1996. Plant Cell 8: 1793–1807). Evidence to date suggests a coordinated response to ROS among different members of the superoxide dismutase (SOD) gene families. A further layer of complexity is afforded by reports of coordination of expression between ascorbate peroxidase and SOD genes. Our understanding of the signalling mechanisms that underlie these coordinated events is in its infancy. An exciting future lies ahead in which the orchestration of successful antioxidant stress responses will be gradually revealed. Current data suggest that complex regulatory mechanisms function at both the gene and protein level to coordinate antioxidant responses and that a critical role is played by organellar localization and inter-compartment coordination.
The Century of the Child

The Museum of Modern Art’s exhibition, The Century of the Child (New York, NY; July 29, 2012–November 5, 2012), was a glorious revelation of how important children and their viewpoint were to the construction of modernism. It was a show that highlighted the twentieth century’s focus on things for children and on how adults tried to be “childlike” in their interpretation of simplicity. The two themes were brilliantly displayed at the entry to the exhibition. A Stokke Trip Trapp highchair (Peter Opsvik, 1972), with an adjoining table and chair, was exploded to a scale that reproduced how these everyday items appear to a small child. This was both a whimsical and chilling introduction to the exhibit. Adults had great fun climbing onto these high places to sit, a not inappropriate simulation of the joy that children bring to their daily discoveries. These chairs and table were also potent reminders that young folks experience the world in a very differentsometimes even terrifyingway than we adults do. The exhibition was effectively a “summer show” that could have appealed to families and/or tourists. This is not to say that it was trivial or light on content because the objects were presented
Data set diagonalization in a global fit

The analysis of data sometimes requires fitting many free parameters in a theory to a large number of data points. Questions naturally arise about the compatibility of specific subsets of the data, such as those from a particular experiment or those based on a particular technique, with the rest of the data. Questions also arise about which theory parameters are determined by specific subsets of the data. I present a method to answer both of these kinds of questions. The method is illustrated by applications to recent work on measuring parton distribution functions.
Real-time multi-view object tracking in mediated environments

In this paper, we present a robust approach to real-time tracking of multiple objects in mediated environments using a set of calibrated color and IR cameras. Challenges addressed in this paper include robust object tracking in the presence of color projections on the ground plane and partial/complete occlusions. To improve tracking in such complex environment, false candidates introduced by ground plane projection or mismatching of objects between views are removed by using the epipolar constraint and the planar homography. A mixture of Gaussian is learned using the expectation-maximization algorithm for each target to further refine the 3D location estimates. Experimental results demonstrate that the proposed approach is capable of robust and accurate 3D object tracking in a complex environment with a great amount of visual projections and partial/complete occlusions.
Interband Transitions in GaInNAs/GaAs Single Quantum Wells

Photoluminescence (PL) spectra of interband transitions in GaInNAs/GaAs single quantum wells grown by metalorganic chemical vapor deposition technique on semi-insulating GaAs substrates were measured at 77 K for several samples grown with different In composition and dimethylhydrazine (DMH)/III ratios. The results show that the PL intensity increases as the In mole fraction is increased from 0 to 25%, but the PL intensity is degraded for samples with an In mole fraction of 30% or higher. The peak position energies of the PL spectra were investigated as a function of the DMH/III ratio. Thermal annealing effect induced a blue-shift in the PL spectra peak position energy in samples grown with high DMH/III ratio.
Recombination Analysis of Herpes Simplex Virus 1 Reveals a Bias toward GC Content and the Inverted Repeat Regions

Herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1) causes recurrent mucocutaneous ulcers and is the leading cause of infectious blindness and sporadic encephalitis in the United States. HSV-1 has been shown to be highly recombinogenic; however, to date, there has been no genome-wide analysis of recombination. To address this, we generated 40 HSV-1 recombinants derived from two parental strains, OD4 and CJ994. The 40 OD4-CJ994 HSV-1 recombinants were sequenced using the Illumina sequencing system, and recombination breakpoints were determined for each of the recombinants using the Bootscan program. Breakpoints occurring in the terminal inverted repeats were excluded from analysis to prevent double counting, resulting in a total of 272 breakpoints in the data set. By placing windows around the 272 breakpoints followed by Monte Carlo analysis comparing actual data to simulated data, we identified a recombination bias toward both high GC content and intergenic regions. A Monte Carlo analysis also suggested that recombination did not appear to be responsible for the generation of the spontaneous nucleotide mutations detected following sequencing. Additionally, kernel density estimation analysis across the genome found that the large, inverted repeats comprise a recombination hot spot. IMPORTANCE Herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1) virus is the leading cause of sporadic encephalitis and blinding keratitis in developed countries. HSV-1 has been shown to be highly recombinogenic, and recombination itself appears to be a significant component of genome replication. To date, there has been no genome-wide analysis of recombination. Here we present the findings of the first genome-wide study of recombination performed by generating and sequencing 40 HSV-1 recombinants derived from the OD4 and CJ994 parental strains, followed by bioinformatics analysis. Recombination breakpoints were determined, yielding 272 breakpoints in the full data set. Kernel density analysis determined that the large inverted repeats constitute a recombination hot spot. Additionally, Monte Carlo analyses found biases toward high GC content and intergenic and repetitive regions.
MPYS, a Novel Membrane Tetraspanner, Is Associated with Major Histocompatibility Complex Class II and Mediates Transduction of Apoptotic Signals

Although the best-defined function of type II major histocompatibility complex (MHC-II) is presentation of antigenic peptides to T lymphocytes, these molecules can also transduce signals leading alternatively to cell activation or apoptotic death. MHC-II is a heterodimer of two transmembrane proteins, each containing a short cytoplasmic tail that is dispensable for transduction of death signals. This suggests the function of an undefined MHC-II-associated transducer in signaling the death response. Here we describe a novel plasma membrane tetraspanner (MPYS) that is associated with MHC-II and mediates its transduction of death signals. MPYS is unusual among tetraspanners in containing an extended C-terminal cytoplasmic tail (140 amino acids) with multiple embedded signaling motifs. MPYS is tyrosine phosphorylated upon MHC-II aggregation and associates with inositol lipid and tyrosine phosphatases. Finally, MHC class II-mediated cell death signaling requires MPYS-dependent activation of the extracellular signal-regulated kinase signaling pathway.
Passive Microwave Measurements of Sea Surface Roughness

Passive microwave measurements of the sea surface were made from Argus Island tower at 1.41, 8.36, and 19.34 GHz over a range in wind speeds from calm to 15 m/s. These measurements show a definite frequency-dependent correlation between the microwave brightness temperature and wind speed. This dependence results from roughness effects of the compact sea surface associated with wind-driven waves.
The first oral rotavirus vaccine, 1998-1999: estimates of uptake from the National Immunization Survey.

Objective.On August 31, 1998, the rhesus-human reassortant rotavirus vaccine (RRV-TV) was licensed for use in the U.S. During the next nine months, 15 cases of intussusception were reported among infants who received the vaccine. Case-control and cohort studies showed a significantly increased risk of developing intussusception within one week of receiving the vaccine; subsequent ecologic studies did not. In this study, the authors used data on RRV-TV vaccination rates from the National Immunization Survey (NIS) to estimate state and national RRV-TV uptake rates and factors associated with receiving RRV-TV. These estimates are a key component in evaluating published ecologic studies designed to investigate the relationship between receipt of the vaccine and intussusception.Methods.The authors analyzed NIS data for children ages 19 to 35 months who were eligible to receive RRV-TV between September 1998 and July 1999. The authors estimated vaccine coverage and the number of doses administered by state, NIS ...
Experimental investigation of hydrogen adsorption in doped silicon-carbide nanotubes

Abstract Silicon-carbide nanotubes were synthesized by the reaction between SiO vapor as the Si source and carbon nanotubes as the carbon precursor. The resulting nanotubes were then purified with a hot, concentrated NaOH solution in order to remove the amorphous silica from their surface. The purified silicon-carbide nanotubes were doped with either potassium (K) or titanium (Ti). The hydrogen adsorption isotherms of the nanotubes were measured gravimetrically with the aid of a magnetic suspension microbalance. The results indicate that the K-doped silicon-carbide nanotubes exhibit promise as a hydrogen adsorption material, storing three times more hydrogen than the carbon nanotubes.
Inverting Color–Magnitude Diagrams to Access Precise Star Cluster Parameters: A New White Dwarf Age for the Hyades

We have extended our Bayesian modeling of stellar clusters—which uses main-sequence stellar evolution models, a mapping between initial masses and white dwarf (WD) masses, WD cooling models, and WD atmospheres—to include binary stars, field stars, and two additional main-sequence stellar evolution models. As a critical test of our Bayesian modeling technique, we apply it to Hyades UBV photometry, with membership priors based on proper motions and radial velocities, where available. Under the assumption of a particular set of WD cooling models and atmosphere models, we estimate the age of the Hyades based on cooling WDs to be 648 ± 45 Myr, consistent with the best prior analysis of the cluster main-sequence turnoff (MSTO) age by Perryman et al. Since the faintest WDs have most likely evaporated from the Hyades, prior work provided only a lower limit to the cluster’s WD age. Our result demonstrates the power of the bright WD technique for deriving ages and further demonstrates complete age consistency between WD cooling and MSTO ages for seven out of seven clusters analyzed to date, ranging from 150 Myr to 4 Gyr.
Auditory distance assessment of singing conspecifies in Carolina wrens: the role of reverberation and frequency-dependent attenuation

Studies of auditory distance perception in songbirds have shown that the overall degradation of songs during atmospheric propagation can be used to estimate the distance of the singer (called ranging). Natural sound degradation, however, incorporates several potential auditory distance cues that are not always equally available. This study investigated whether Carolina wrens, Thryothorus ludovicianus, can separately use reverberation and high-frequency attenuation to estimate the distance of a singer. In response to playbacks broadcast from within a subject's territory but at least 40 m away from its singing location, subjects approached more frequently and responded more intensely to playback of clear (unaltered) songs than to playback of reverberated, high-frequency attenuated, or naturally degraded songs. The results indicate that Carolina wrens can use reverberation and high-frequency attenuation separately to assess the distance of a singing conspecific. This ability could be an adaptation that enables them to defend territories efficiently in habitats with different acoustical properties. In addition, the ability to use several cues to assess auditory distance is likely to increase the accuracy of ranging by pooling information acquired in different ways.
The influence of ankle dorsiflexion and self-reported patient outcomes on dynamic postural control in participants with chronic ankle instability

We investigated the influence of ankle dorsiflexion range of motion (DF-ROM) and self-reported patient outcomes on dynamic postural control assessed with the Star Excursion Balance Test (SEBT) in individuals with chronic ankle instability (CAI). Twenty-nine participants with self-reported CAI volunteered. The primary outcome measurements were categorized into clinician-and patient-generated. Clinician-generated outcome measurements included anterior (SEBT-A), posteriormedial (SEBT-PM) and posteriorlateral (SEBT-PL) reach distances (cm) normalized by leg length (cm) of the SEBT, maximum weight-bearing dorsiflexion (WB-DF) (cm), and open-chain DF-ROM (°). Self-reported patient-generated outcome measures included the foot and ankle ability measure and the level of perceived pain, stiffness, stability, and function of their involved ankle on a 10-cm visual analog scale (VAS). Pearson product moment correlations were used to examine the relationship of the SEBT performances with DF-ROM and self-reported patient outcome measures. A multiple linear regression was performed to determine the influence of patient- and clinician-generated measures on the SEBT. SEBT-A performance was significantly and fairly correlated with WB-DF (r=0.410, p=0.014), perceived ankle stiffness (r=0.477, p=0.014), and open-chain DF-ROM (r=0.404, p=0.015). The strongest predictor of the variance in SEBT-A was the combination of the variance in WB-DF and VAS-stiffness (R2=0.348, p=0.004). There were no significant correlations with the SEBT-PM and SEBT-PL. WB-DF and VAS-stiffness may represent targets for intervention that need to be addressed to produce the best outcome in participants with CAI when altered dynamic postural control is detected on the SEBT-A.
Male Circumcision and Human Papillomavirus Studies Reviewed by Infection Stage and Virus Type

The unkeratinized epithelium of the inner human foreskin is thought to be more susceptible to human papillomavirus (HPV) entry than the rest of the penis. However, studies exploring a potential association between male circumcision and HPV infection have produced conflicting results. The present review stratifies the evidence based on methods of sampling and detection of HPV infection, HPV type, and the stage of infection. This approach reveals that circumcision reduces the risk of HPV infection in a stage- and type-specific manner. There is no consistent association of HPV acquisition with circumcision status, indicating that circumcised men may be no more protected from initial HPV infection than their uncircumcised peers. Circumcision is not protective against nononcogenic types of HPV, but is associated with a reduced prevalence and persistence of oncogenic HPV infections. Circumcised men are also less susceptible to multiple infections. These findings indicate that circumcision modulates HPV persistence rather than acquisition. Through promoting HPV infection clearance, male circumcision could be an important adjunct to education, condom use, and vaccination in reducing the global burden of HPV morbidity and mortality.
Differentiation-on-a-chip: A microfluidic platform for long-term cell culture studies

Here we demonstrate a microfluidic perfusion system suitable for a long-term (>2 week) culture of muscle cells spanning the whole process of differentiation from myoblasts to myotubes. Cell-adhesive surface microdomains alternating with a robust cell-repellent coating mimic in vivo spatial cues for muscle cell assembly and allow for confining the fusion of myoblasts into aligned, isolated multinucleated myotubes. The microfluidic system provides accurate control of the perfusion rates and biochemical composition of the environment surrounding the cells. Comparing muscle cell-specific differentiation markers and the timing of fusion, we observed no differences in differentiation between microfluidic and traditional cultures. All differentiation assays were fully microfluidic, i.e. they were performed by sequentially changing the fluids in the microchannels. By delivering fluorescent markers using heterogeneous laminar flows, it was possible to confine a membrane receptor labeling assay to a region smaller than a myotube. Our method can serve as an improved in vitro model for studying muscle cell differentiation and for characterizing extracellular molecules and mechanisms involved in neuromuscular differentiation.
Performance analysis of a detector for nonstationary random signals

The detection of nonstationary random signals is an important sonar problem which also has potential applications in diverse areas such as biomedical signal processing and spread spectrum communications. The primary problem with applying a powerful test like the generalized likelihood ratio test (GLRT) is the computational effort required to search for the maximum likelihood model parameters for the observed signal. The computation required is multiplied many times over when a signal parameter is nonstationary. A computationally efficient detector of nonstationary Gaussian random signals based on the GLRT was presented at ICASSP94 [1]. A slightly enhanced version of the detector is described below, along with new simulation results demonstrating that the detector performs nearly optimally and is quite robust to signal model inaccuracy.
Bariatric surgery in the cognitively impaired

Abstract Background Obesity is prevalent in patients with cognitive impairment, but the risks and benefits in this complex group are unknown. Objectives The aim of this study was to assess outcomes in a small cohort of patients with lifelong cognitive impairment who underwent bariatric surgery and to introduce important concepts when considering surgery in this complex group. Setting Academic institution, United States. Methods We retrospectively analyzed all patients with an objective psychological and/or neuropsychological diagnosis of lifelong, nonacquired cognitive impairment who had bariatric surgery at our center. Results We identified 6 patients with a diagnosis of nonacquired cognitive impairment who underwent a bariatric procedure. The cohort (3 male, 3 female) had a mean age of 33.3 years and a mean body mass index (BMI) of 49.4 kg/m 2 . Two of the patients had a diagnosis of trisomy 21, and the other 4 patients had lifelong cognitive impairment from unknown causes. The distribution of surgical approaches was 2 laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypasses (LRYGBs), 3 laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomies (SGs), and 1 laparoscopic adjustable gastric band (LAGB). There were no complications and no mortality. At a mean follow-up of 33.7 months, the cohort had a mean percent excess weight loss (%EWL) of 31.1% (range –1.8%–72.2%). Two patients achieved a %EWL>50%. Conclusions This case series suggests that bariatric surgery can be performed with minimal morbidity in patients with nonacquired cognitive impairment after intensive multidisciplinary management. However, it appears this population may lose less weight than what is reported for patients without cognitive delay.
Using interprofessional education strategies to improve collaborative attitudes among infectious diseases and cardiology physician trainees.

Dear SirIn its recent report to Congress, the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission cited the “lack of formal instruction and experience in multidisciplinary teamwork” as a deficit in US physician e...
Gossamer spacecraft technology for space solar power systems

Gossamer spacecraft technology is critical for enabling large, space-based systems to collect and transmit solar power. This paper gives an overview of structures, materials, and control technology development for space solar power systems. Key technologies include inflatable structures, in-space fabrication of structural elements, robotic assembly, multifunctional structures, active control of flexible structure dynamics, and lightweight radiators.
Activation of genes involved in xenobiotic metabolism is a shared signature of mouse models with extended lifespan.

Xenobiotic metabolism has been proposed to play a role in modulating the rate of aging. Xenobiotic metabolizing enzymes (XME) are expressed at higher levels in calorically restricted mice (CR) and ...
Connecting science education to a world in crisis

Even though humanity faces grand challenges, including climate change, sustainability of the planet and its resources, and well-being of humans and other species, for the past 60 years science educators have been preoccupied with much the same priorities. Adherence to the tenets of crypto-positivism creates problems for research in the social sciences (e.g., over reliance on statistical analyses leads to oversimplified models that strip away context and are reductive). Hypotheses and associated statistical tests support causal models that rarely predict social conduct or blaze pathways for meaningful transformation. In contrast to the mainstream of research in science education, I advocate a multilogical methodology that embraces incommensurability, polysemia, subjectivity, and polyphonia as a means of preserving the integrity and potential of knowledge systems to generate and maintain disparate perspectives, outcomes, and implications for practice. In such a multilogical model, power discourses such as Western medicine carry no greater weight than complementary knowledge systems that may have been marginalized in a social world in which monosemia is dominant. I describe research methodologies that have the potential to transform science education and our ongoing research in urban science education. I show how our research evolved to include studies of science for literate citizenry – expanding foci to address birth through death and all settings in which learning occurs – not just schools. Our research aims to be transformative since it includes interventions developed to use what we learned from research to ameliorate intense emotions, improve learning, and enhance the well-being of participants. I explain how we incorporated Jin Shin Jyutsu, a complementary medical knowledge system, to ameliorate intense emotions, become mindful, and improve well-being of participants. I also address research on meditation and mindfulness and their potential to improve learning, emotional styles, and wellness. In a final section I address three of the most important questions raised by colleagues, including scholars from Asia, as I exhort science educators to address grand challenges that threaten the Earth and its social institutions – the alternatives are catastrophic.
Resume as a balanced scorecard: Teaching the balanced scorecard using analogy

In managerial accounting courses, students lacking business experience find the balanced scorecard (BSC) an inherently difficult topic to understand. Students may lack an understanding of business strategy, the BSC's perspectives, and the measures that a BSC uses to report performance. This chapter aims to assist instructors who teach the BSC by developing an analogy to a resume, which is a familiar concept to students. The analogy draws upon similarities between the BSC and a well-constructed resume: a cohesive strategy, multiple perspectives or areas, and multiple types of measures for each area. In using this approach, the instructor guides students through the process of viewing a resume as a vehicle for conveying a job-search strategy, similar to the way a BSC communicates an organization's strategy. Thus, students can apply their knowledge of the familiar (their own resumes) to the unfamiliar (the BSC). The chapter provides implementation guidance and results of student surveys. Our students responded positively to the exercise, saying that they learned the basics of the BSC, and even found the exercise enjoyable.
A Stochastic Newton-Raphson Method with Noisy Function Measurements

This letter shows that traditional Newton-Raphson (NR) method cannot achieve zero-convergence in presence of additive noise without adding a multiplicative gain. Furthermore, this gain needs to converge to zero. This article proposes a novel recursive algorithm providing optimal iterative-varying gains associated with the NR method. The development of the proposed optimal algorithm is based on minimizing a stochastic performance index. The estimation error covariance matrix is shown to converge to zero for linearized functions while considering additive zero-mean white noise. In addition, the proposed approach is capable of overcoming common drawbacks associated with the traditional NR method. Simulation results are included to illustrate the performance capabilities of the proposed algorithm. We show that the proposed recursive algorithm provides significant improvement over the traditional NR method.
Hurricane Katrina: a physician's whirlwind course in disaster psychiatry.

1350 J Clin Psychiatry 66:11, November 2005 t was my first visit to the Big Easy. Since childhood, I’d been eager to explore New Orleans—such a rich melange of culture and history. The mingling of French sophistication, great food, jazz, mysterious voodoo roots, and a southern American laissez-faire attitude has held such an allure. Little did I know that this dream weekend getaway would develop into such a tragic, life-altering experience. I decided to tag along with a group of Chicago-based infectious disease physicians as a chance to visit the Crescent City. I had planned a weekend of exploring the city while my partner was attending conference meetings. Being on a busy consultation rotation during my senior year of psychiatry residency, I hadn’t had a chance to keep up with the news. Only after arriving late on a Friday night in this great city and glancing at the airport television did I discover that a giant hurricane named Katrina was growing over the Gulf of Mexico and about to pounce on New Orleans. It seemed unreal. Because I had grown up in rural Appalachia and was now training in Chicago, the idea of a hurricane seemed impossible. Surely the storm would change directions? These things never follow the predicted course? Much less directly hit a major urban area? On Saturday, business went on as usual. My partner attended conference meetings, and I decided to take a morning walk to explore the vibrant French Quarter, which was just blocks from our hotel. The distant sounds of jazz and smells of jambalaya and bayou were intoxicating, but I couldn’t get lost in this maze as I’d hoped. Certain details kept me preoccupied and grounded in an uneasy reality: bars and storefronts being boarded up, a near-empty Bourbon Street, and, upon my return to the Hurricane Katrina wreaked tremendous havoc on the Gulf Coast and its inhabitants. It also revealed defects in governmental infrastructures for dealing with disasters—defects that cost lives and shocked America and the world. The Journal thanks Dr. Shane Spicer for sharing the following personal saga of the storm and its aftermath. —AJG
Regulation on the Final Frontier

Market innovations would greatly benefit America's space policy. As American commercial exploitation of space - with communications, weather, and earth-observing satellites - has expanded, so has government regulation of commercial space. Just like markets for other goods and services, some of that regulation is appropriate and some may not be. Policy analysts both inside and outside NASA who are now reconsidering the role of the space shuttle program in the wake of the Columbia disaster would do well to also consider broader questions in U.S. space policy.
Reconstruction of the Fables The Myth of Education for Democracy, Social Reconstruction and Education for Democratic Citizenship

A central goal of social studies education is to prepare students for citizenship in a democracy. Further, trends in the social, political, and economic circumstances, currently and historically in American education and society broadly suggest that: 1) a need for change exists, 2) that change is possible and can be brought about through a reconsideration of social reconstructionist ideas and values, especially those espoused by George Counts, and 3) that social studies teachers and teacher educators can work toward this change through educational practices. In this paper, we argue for these three points through a critical discussion of a perpetuated myth of democratic education.
Developmental effects of antiepileptic drugs and the need for improved regulations

Antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) are among the most common teratogenic drugs prescribed to women of childbearing age. AEDs can induce both anatomical (malformations) and behavioral (cognitive/behavioral deficits) teratogenicity. Only in the last decade have we begun to truly discriminate differential AED developmental effects. Fetal valproate exposure carries a special risk for both anatomical and behavioral teratogenic abnormalities, but the mechanisms and reasons for individual variability are unknown. Intermediate anatomical risks exist for phenobarbital and topiramate. Several AEDs (e.g., lamotrigine and levetiracetam) appear to possess low risks for both anatomical and behavioral teratogenesis. Despite advances in the past decade, our knowledge of the teratogenic risks for most AEDs and the underlying mechanisms remain inadequate. Further, the long-term effects of AEDs in neonates and older children remain uncertain. The pace of progress is slow given the lifelong consequences of diminished developmental outcomes, exposing children unnecessarily to potential adverse effects. It is imperative that new approaches be employed to determine risks more expediently. Our recommendations include a national reporting system for congenital malformations, federal funding of the North American AED Pregnancy Registry, routine meta-analyses of cohort studies to detect teratogenic signals, monitoring of AED prescription practices for women, routine preclinical testing of all new AEDs for neurodevelopmental effects, more specific Food and Drug Administration requirements to establish differential AED cognitive effects in children, and improved funding of basic and clinical research to fully delineate risks and underlying mechanisms for AED-induced anatomical and behavioral teratogenesis.
Single Ag Nanoparticle Spectroelectrochemistry via Dark-Field Scattering and Fluorescence Microscopies

The spectroelectrochemical properties of individual luminescent, plasmonic silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) are investigated using the combined methods of dark-field scattering (DFS) and photoluminescence (PL) spectroelectrochemistry. Individual NP light scattering and PL intensities are measured while the substrate’s electrochemical potential is controlled to produce and oxidize the NPs. The spectroelectrochemical responses of individual NPs are used to study heterogeneities in their redox properties not visible in bulk voltammetric measurements. Our studies show that the Ag NPs exhibit a range of redox potentials, and their statistical distribution is dependent on the electrolyte system used. No variations in the spectral profile of bulk NP samples are observed, implying no correlation between the redox potentials of individual NPs and the energy of emitted photons from fluorescent sites on Ag NPs. This is due to a negligible difference in the redox potentials for individual emissive sites on a given Ag NP...
Some Remarks on the Peripheral Nervous System of Insects

In 1902 and 1924 I determined the endings of nerve cells in the body-wall of various insects. At this time I wish to further extend this record.
Epstein–Barr virus dynamics in asymptomatic immunocompetent adults: an intensive 6-month study

Characterizing Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) dynamics in asymptomatic immunocompetent persons provides a baseline for defining quantitative thresholds associated with EBV disease. Studying latent membrane protein (LMP)-1 sequence variation over time could establish the rates of reactivation and superinfection, and also trace transmission. Twelve asymptomatic adult subjects were evaluated prospectively nine times over 6 months. EBV serum antibodies were measured by enzyme immunoassay. EBV DNA in oral and whole-blood samples was quantitated by real-time (TaqMan) PCR and analyzed for LMP-1 sequence variability. All 11 antibody positive subjects had EBV DNA detected in their oral compartment at least once during the 6-month study. The quantities ranged from 1.70 to 4.91 log10 copies EBV per ml of oral cell pellet. One subject was continuously viremic for 79 days. Overall, EBV DNA was detected in 63 (24%) of 260 samples from 11 antibody-positive subjects and in 0/27 samples from an antibody-negative subject. The quantities in positive samples ranged from 1.7 to 4.9 log10 copies EBV per ml. EBV LMP-1 gene sequence variations in subjects were constant over time regardless of the compartment sampled. Subjects 18–30 years old had EBV DNA detected more frequently than subjects >30 years old (38/108 positive samples versus 25/152; P<0.001). In conclusion, EBV DNA shedding is common in asymptomatic adults. The younger adults shed more frequently, which may reflect a shorter time from their primary EBV infection to sampling. The LMP-1 sequence analysis method employed here could be used to trace person-to-person transmission because patterns remained almost identical over time.
The Spanish Steps flower scam: agent-based modeling of a complex social interaction

We model in detail a short human interaction scenario, the Spanish Steps flower scam. The scenario involves elements of negotiated commercial transaction, deceit, clash of cultural values and manipulation of public perception. The behavior of the actors is difficult to fit into a model of utility maximizing agents (even if we allow for bounded rationality). To model the scenario, we introduce a model where agents consider vectors of metrics which are not directly and linearly convertible into each other. The vectors consist of a mix of concrete and culture sanctioned metrics, with some of the latter being evaluated from the perspective of the self, the peers as well as the general public.
Abstract P312: Lack of Association Between Habitual Sleep Duration and Obesity Measures in Adolescents with Adequate Sleep

Introduction: In general, 7-8 hours/night of sleep is considered as adequate amount of sleep. Although subjectively reported sleep duration has been associated with obesity, the relationship between objectively-measured sleep duration and obesity has been reported inconsistently. Hypothesis: We assessed the hypothesis that there is lack of association between objectively-measured sleep duration and obesity measures in adolescents who generally sleep adequately. Methods: We used data from 421 adolescents in the Penn State Child Cohort follow-up examination. Polysomnography (PSG) was used to objectively measure the sleep duration for one night. Actigraphy was used for 7 consecutive nights to objectively measure and calculate each participant’s habitual mean sleep duration. Anthropometric measurements, including waist circumference, weight, and height, were collected from each participant. Age and sex-specific BMI percentile was calculated. The participants also underwent a dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry scan to assess abdominal obesity, as measured by Android/Gynoid (A/G) fat ratio, Android/whole body (A/W) fat proportion, visceral fat area, and subcutaneous fat area. Multivariable adjusted linear regression was used to analyze the association between sleep duration and obesity measures. Results: The means (SD) of the PSG and actigraphy-measured sleep duration were 7.4 (0.9) and 7.0 (0.8) hours, respectively. As shown in the table, objectively-measured sleep duration was not significantly associated with BMI percentile, after controlling for age, race, sex, and AHI. After further adjustment for BMI percentile, none of the regression coefficients between sleep duration and abdominal obesity measures reached statistical significance. Conclusions: In adolescents with generally adequate amount of sleep, there is lack of association between habitual sleep duration and obesity measures. The findings should not be generalized to adolescents whose sleep duration is outside the range of our data.
Measuring spatiotemporal variation in snow optical grain size under a subalpine forest canopy using contact spectroscopy.

The distribution of forest cover exerts strong controls on the spatiotemporal distribution of snow accumulation and snowmelt. The physical processes that govern these controls are poorly understood given a lack of detailed measurements of snow states. In this study, we address one of many measurement gaps by using contact spectroscopy to measure snow optical grain size at high spatial resolution in trenches dug between tree boles in a subalpine forest. Trenches were collocated with continuous measurements of snow depth and vertical profiles of snow temperature and supplemented with manual measurements of snow temperature, geometric grain size, grain type, and density from trench walls. There was a distinct difference in snow optical grain size between winter and spring periods. In winter and early spring, when facetted snow crystal types were dominant, snow optical grain size was 6% larger in canopy gaps versus under canopy positions; a difference that was smaller than the measurement uncertainty. By midspring, the magnitude of snow optical grain size differences increased dramatically and patterns of snow optical grain size became highly directional with 34% larger snow grains in areas south versus north of trees. In winter, snow temperature gradients were up to 5–15°C m−1 greater under the canopy due to shallower snow accumulation. However, in canopy gaps, snow depths were greater in fall and early winter and therefore more significant kinetic growth metamorphism occurred relative to under canopy positions, resulting in larger snow grains in canopy gaps. Our findings illustrate the novelty of our method of measuring snow optical grain size, allowing for future studies to advance the understanding of how forest and meteorological conditions interact to impact snowpack evolution.
A Simple Predictive Transform Coder for Images

In this paper a simple predictive transform coder is proposed for the processing of images. The coder is intrafield and predicts the coefficients of a two-dimensional Hadamard transform based on the past pels immediately surrounding the transformed block. The cost and performance of the new coder compares well with that of other techniques. For example, a predictive transform coder acting on 2×2 picture blocks and operating at an average bit rate of 2 bits/pel is found to yield significantly better picture quality than that derived from a 2×2 or even a 4×4 Hadamard coder. Also, just as important, the physical implementation of this coder requires from two to three times the number of on-line operations required by a 2×2 Hadamard coder and 1/4 to 1/3 that of a 4×4 Hadamard coder.
The changing anatomic position of squamous cell carcinoma of the lung - a new conundrum.

Background : Traditionally, squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the lung is a central rather than a peripheral form of lung cancer. Rates of SCC in the lung periphery are typically sited in the 15–30% range. Recently, we observed that a significant portion of newly diagnosed SCC was located on a periphery. A comprehensive review of the tumor data at our facility, a busy teaching hospital with a large cohort of cancer patients, was undertaken to assess whether there had been a substantive change in the traditional epidemiologic distributions of the lung cancer, specifically with respect to SCC. Given the differences in cell biology and carcinogenesis of central versus peripheral SCC, a potential epidemiologic shift might suggest a change in tumor biology. Methods : From May 12, 2012 through May 13, 2013, all histopathologically confirmed diagnoses of SCC of the lung were retrospectively reviewed. Each patient’s lesion was then classified as peripheral or central based on CT evidence. Results : A total of 56 patients were diagnosed with SCC. Of these, 55% ( n= 31) had peripheral and 45% ( n= 25) had central SCC. Twenty-nine patients did not have any prior history of malignancy. Of this subset of patients, 62% ( n= 18) had peripheral SCC, and 38% ( n= 11) had central SCC. Conclusion : Our findings appear to correlate with our initial observation that, within our institution, there has been a substantive shift in the traditional distribution of SCC with the majority of these cancers now being diagnosed in the lung periphery as opposed to the more central locations. Keywords: squamous cell carcinoma; lung cancer epidemiology; squamous cell carcinoma epidemiology; lung cancer; peripheral location cell carcinoma (Published: 15 December 2016) Citation: Journal of Community Hospital Internal Medicine Perspectives 2016, 6 : 33299 - http://dx.doi.org/10.3402/jchimp.v6.33299
Cochlear Implants in Children

The House 3M cochlear implant system is currently undergoing clinical trials in profoundly deaf children aged 2 through 18 years. Although the use of the implant in children continues to be controv...
Surgical and Endovascular Management of Patients With Unruptured Aneurysm

With the advances in imaging techniques, a large number of intracranial aneurysms are being detected before they rupture. The overall prevalence of unruptured intracranial aneurysms (UIAs) is reported to be 3.2%. Most UIAs are located in the anterior circulation. The prevalence of UIAs increases with age, is higher in women than in men, increases with certain disorders, and is higher in patients with a family history of subarachnoid hemorrhage. Small aneurysms are usually asymptomatic and are frequently detected incidentally. UIAs can be identified during evaluation of hemorrhage from another aneurysm or when they present with mass effect, cranial nerve deficits, seizures, or motor and sensory deficits. Imaging techniques include magnetic resonance angiography (MRA), computed tomography angiography (CTA), and digital subtraction angiography (DSA). The overall annual rupture risk rate of UIAs is around 1%. The risk of rupture increases with female gender, old age, family history of aneurysms, personal history of subarachnoid hemorrhage, and a history of hypertension, autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD), and smoking. Larger aneurysms, aneurysms that enlarge during follow-up, aneurysms that are located in the posterior circulation and posteroanterior communicating artery, multilobulated aneurysms, multiple aneurysms, and symptomatic aneurysms are at increased risk of rupture. Treatment strategies include conservative management, endovascular intervention, or surgical treatment. Endovascular management is associated with a reduction in procedural morbidity, length of hospital stay, and mortality as compared to surgical clipping, but microsurgical treatment has lower recurrence and retreatment rates. New endovascular techniques, including flow diversion, have lower recanalization and retreatment rates than conventional endovascular methods. Follow-up imaging should be performed at regular intervals, especially for conservatively treated aneurysms and incompletely obliterated aneurysms.