cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Gas-permeation properties of asymmetric polycarbonate, polyestercarbonate, and fluorinated polyimide membranes prepared by the generalized dry-wet phase inversion process

Essentially defect-free, ultrathin asymmetric polycarbonate, polyestercarbonate, and 6FDA–IPDA polyimide membranes were prepared by a dry/wet phase inversion process using forced-convective evaporation. The pure gas permeation properties of these membranes were determined for N2, O2, He, CO2, and CH4. The average apparent skin-layer thicknesses of the membrane samples varied between 330 and 580 A, which is substantially thinner than for previous defect-free membranes formed by the conventional wet phase inversion process. This study indicates that the dry/wet phase inversion process appears to be universally applicable to form ultrathin, defect-free asymmetric membranes from hydrophobic, glassy polymers. © 1992 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
The effect of autonomic manipulation on heart rate variability in dogs

Beat-to-beat variation of heart rate is reflective of autonomic balance and has been used to assess pain and stress in human beings. The purpose of this investigation was to pharmacologically manipulate the autonomic nervous system and to determine the effect of these manipulations on heart rate variability (HRV) in dogs. Four adult male hound dogs (27 ± 1 kg) were used in the investigation. Each dog was given five treatments: Parasympathetic blockade (glycopyrrolate; 0.01 mg kg–1 IV and 0.01 mg kg–1 IM), parasympathetic stimulation (phenylephrine; 0.005 mg kg–1 IV + 0.05 mg kg–1hour–1), sympathetic blockade (propranolol; 0.11 mg kg–1 IV), sympathetic stimulation propranolol; 0.01 μg kg–1 minute–1), and saline control. At least 48 hours were allowed between treatments. ECG recordings were obtained using an ambulatory ECG monitor. A 5-minutes period of continuous recording obtained ~30 minutes after initiation of drug administration was used for data analysis. Changes in HRV were evaluated by time and frequency-domain analysis. The standard deviation of normal R-R intervals (SDNN), as well as the standard deviation of successive differences in RR intervals (SDSD) were assessed for each treatment. Low frequency (LFP; 0.05–0.15 Hz), high frequency (HFP; 0.15–0.35 Hz), and total (TP; 0.017–0.5 Hz) spectral power were also determined. The LFP:HFP ratio was also evaluated. A two-way anovawith a Tukey's test was used to detect differences (p < 0.05). Administration of glycopyrrolate or isoproterenol increased HR and decreased SDNN and SDSD below control levels. Phenylephrine or propranolol administration were without effect. LFP was diminished by glycopyrrolate and isoproterenol, but was unaffected by phenylephrine and propranolol. HFP, TP, and LFP:HFP were unaffected by treatment. Both branches of the autonomic nervous system influence SDNN and LFP. SDSD, in contrast, is altered primarily by parasympathetic activity. Thus, it appears that parasympathetic activity modulates HRV in the resting dog, as either withdrawal of parasympathetic influence or accentuated sympathetic activity led to significant changes in these measures of HRV. Conversely, augmentation of parasympathetic activity or withdrawal of sympathetic tone minimally affected HRV.
Three-wave parametric instabilities in long-scale-length, somewhat planar, laser-produced plasmas

Three-wave parametric instabilities, in which an incident, laser-light wave resonantly decays into two decay waves, have long been recognized to potentially play a large role in the physics of laser-produced plasmas. Many effects have been predicted, but only gradually and with difficulty have experiments developed the ability to observe some of them. One obstacle has been that the behavior of the instabilities often depends upon the scale length and planarity of the plasma. My collaborators and I have worked for several years to overcome this specific obstacle and when necessary now work routinely with plasmas that are thousands of laser wavelengths in the axial and transverse scale lengths of the plasma parameters. This has allowed us to report the first observations of some instabilities and study the scaling behavior of several instabilities as well.
Spirituality, quality of life and the dialysis patient

standardized questionnaires, which permit the rapid screening of large cohorts of patients. These questionnaires explore various domains, such as those delineated by the SF-36, Beck Depression Inventory, etc. These studies often document the impact of the medical illness on the patients’ perception of their quality of life. Moreover, the impact of quality of life domains on medical outcomes, as well as the relationships between these various domains have been noted. However, developing strategies to improve various quality of life domains has proved to be difficult. For example, although depression is documented as the most common psychological problem encountered in ESRD patients, few studies have looked at specific treatment strategies to improve the depressive symptoms of these patients [13]. And, studies that have developed strategies to treat depression have emphasized the difficulties encountered in employing successful algorithms [13]. No studies have documented that addressing or treating quality of life problems improves patient outcomes. Nevertheless, it is now recommended by K/DOQI that quality of life issues be monitored on an ongoing basis in ESRD patients [14]. The purpose of this monitoring is to define and document the quality of life status of the patient, hopefully identify therapies that can improve the patients’ quality of life, and ultimately improve patient outcomes. Spirituality has been considered by some investigators to be an important arena to focus on in assessing the quality of life of patients. Several questionnaires have been developed to more closely examine the spirituality of patients [2–7,15,16]. These questionnaires permit an assessment to be made of an individual’s spiritual perceptions and distinguish
Applying waveform inversion to wide-angle seismic surveys

Abstract Multi-scale frequency-domain acoustic waveform inversion was applied to refraction and wide-angle reflection seismic surveys of the upper crust across the plate-bounding San Andreas Fault, California, and the Chesapeake Bay impact structure, Virginia. This paper presents and compares the data, the preconditioning, and different inversion strategies. The inversions start at 3 Hz, and they are stopped at 15 Hz due to increasing non-linear artifacts. The resulting waveform models show a significant improvement in resolution compared to the traveltime starting models, but they do not achieve the resolution demonstrated in synthetic studies. Possible reasons for this limitation are discussed, especially the possibility of insufficient bandwidth, and the effect of normalizing amplitudes. The comparison of results from normalized-amplitude and true-amplitude waveform inversions indicates that amplitudes do not strongly constrain the velocity structure. Phase coherency weights are presented that mitigate the impact of noise. Maps of phase misfits provide a quantitative overview of the data residuals and some insight into the spatial distribution of errors. They are helpful for monitoring the progress of the inversion, and for determining if and when it must be stopped.
Synthesis of 2D and 3D images by generalized long-correlation models

The authors consider the modeling of two-dimensional (2D) and 3D natural scenes by using a single statistical model. A model developed can synthesize both 2D and 3D images that resemble real textures and natural terrains. The new model is a generalization of long-correlation models. The relationship between the new model and fractals is discussed. The performance of generalized long-correlation models is demonstrated by synthesizing various 2D and 3D images resembling real 3D terrains and 2D textures. The authors also present an algorithm for estimating the parameters of generalized long-correlation models. The images generated by estimated parameters look similar to the original images. >
Glycogen regulation and functional role in mouse white matter.

CNS glycogen, contained predominantly in astrocytes, can be converted to a monocarboxylate and transported to axons as an energy source during aglycaemia. We analysed glycogen regulation and the role of glycogen in supporting neural activity in adult mouse optic nerve, a favourable white matter preparation. Axon function was quantified by measuring the compound action potential (CAP) area. During aglycaemia, axon function persisted for 20 min, then declined in conjunction with glycogen content. Lactate fully supported CAPs in the absence of glucose, but was unable to sustain glycogen content; thus, axon failure occurred rapidly when lactate was withdrawn. Glycogen content in the steady state was directly proportional to bath glucose concentration. Increasing [K+]o to 10 mm caused a rapid decrease in glycogen content. Latency to onset of CAP failure during aglycaemia was directly proportional to glycogen content and varied from about 2 to 30 min. Intense neural activity reduced glycogen content in the presence of 10 mm bath glucose and CAP area gradually declined. CAP area declined more rapidly during high frequency stimulation if monocarboxylate transport was inhibited. This suggested that astrocytic glycogen was broken down to a monocarboxylate(s) that was used by rapidly discharging axons. Likewise, depleting glycogen by brief periods of high frequency axon stimulation accelerated onset of CAP decline during aglycaemia. In summary, these experiments indicated that glycogen content was under dynamic control and that glycogen was used to support the energy needs of CNS axons during both physiological as well as pathological processes.
Politics and the Competitiveness of the Nigerian Economy

Through qualitative analysis of secondary data, the paper examines the current status of political legitimacy, political instability and corruption which had been implicated in failures of past efforts at economic development in Nigeria. It reveals that even if the unprecedented continuous existence of civil rule for nine years since 1999 heralds an end to military rule with its inherent problems of legitimacy and instability occasioned by unpredictable and frequent regime change, the massive electoral fraud and policy reversals associated with the country's recent democratic practice create legitimacy crises and engender an unstable policy environment with similar negative implications for the economy. It further shows that not only is the level of corruption still high in spite of efforts to curtail it, but that even the anti-corruption campaign is slowing down and that corruption's negative impact on the economy is particularly demonstrated in its effect on the provision of basic development infrastructure such as electric power. Consequently, current efforts, including the expressed desire of the Musa Yar' Adua administration to make Nigeria one of the top most 20 economies in the world by 2020 would remain a pipe dream unless these socio- political threats are surmounted.
Status of the Black Sea flood hypothesis

Exploration of the Black Sea shelf reveals two major shelf-crossing unconformities. The older unconformity separates mostly-barren deposits of late glacial age from overlying Neoeuxinian sediment containing fresh to brackish fauna. This unconformity can be traced over the shelf edge to depths beyond –140 m. The substrate below is dry, firm, and contains unchallenged evidence of subaerial exposure at least to depths of –110 m. The Neoeuxinian cover is present on the outer shelf and is preserved, though incompletely, in depressions on the middle and inner shelf. It is even found as subsurface valley fill in the coastal limans and Sea of Azov. The Neoeuxinian on the shelf represents a transgression leading to a highstand at ~ –20 m below today’s sea surface, which was reached by 10,000 BP (uncorrected). Sediments with marine fauna lie above the Neoeuxinian and are separated from it by a sand to gravel layer that represents a younger unconformity. In the limans, the hiatus between the Neoeuxinian and overlying Bugazian is called “peririf” and on the shelf a “washout.” Dune fields between –65 and –80 m and wave-truncated terraces with beach-like berms at –90 to –100 m contain shell material dated between 9500 and 8500 BP, suggesting that the younger unconformity represents a post-Younger Dryas regression that took the surface of the Black Sea’s lake below the level of the global ocean. Strontium isotopes document the first arrival of saltwater at 8400 BP. Objections to the rapid flooding hypothesis in which Mediterranean water initially poured into a low-lying enclosed lake are centered on the interpretation of the younger unconformity as evidence of either (1) subaerial erosion (and thus a major early Holocene regression) or (2) underwater erosion that does not require a regression. When examined, specific criticisms appear to be based on different interpretations of observations but do not as yet present a concrete refutation of a lowstand of the lake prior to the Mediterranean connection. The flooding hypothesis is today just as vulnerable as when it was first formulated. It serves to best account for the ubiquitous nature of the younger unconformity that not only appears in sediment cores but is also widely mapped by high-resolution reflection profiling. Greater attention needs to be paid in the future to a more comprehensive investigation to find the cause of the younger unconformity.
The Individual Mandate and Tax Incentives

This article responds to an argument, made by economist Martin Sullivan, that, if the Supreme Court strikes down the individual mandate in the Obamacare legislation, all sorts of tax incentives — which, he argues, are economically equivalent to the mandate — would suddenly be at risk constitutionally. The article argues that (1) mandates and incentives are not necessarily legally equivalent; (2) more generally, economic equivalence does not mean legal equivalence; and (3) as has always been the case, the constitutional merits of tax incentives should be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.
Optical Properties of RF-Sputtered a-SiGe:H:O Alloys

Amorphous thin films of SixGe1-x:O (x = 0.70) were prepared by RF-sputtering at several substrate temperatures. The structural properties of these films were studied by IR spectroscopy and revealed features characteristic of hydrogen and/or oxygen bonded to silicon. The optical constants (n,k) were determined from reflection and transmission measurements at near-normal incidence for photon energies in the range of 1 eV and 2.6 eV. The optical gap was derived from the Taue plot and correlated with the composition of the samples. The increase of hydrogen and/or oxygen decreases the value of the refractive index and increases the optical gap.
The Relationships and Evolution of the Rollers: Families Coraciidae, Brachypteraciidae, and Leptosomatidae

THE order Coraciiformes has long been considered by many to be a heterogeneous assemblage of families. Indeed some workers have concluded that few of the families usually included in the order are related to one another, and they have recognized as many as five separate orders (Stresemann, 1959). Despite the extreme ordinal splitting of some authors, all have accepted the close relationship of three distinct taxa: the Coraciidae, or true-rollers; the Brachypteraciidae, or ground-rollers; and the Leptosomatidae, or cuckoo-rollers. The interrelationships and evolution of the rollers is the subject of this paper; their affinities to the remaining families of the order will be discussed in the future. The Coraciidae consist of two genera, Coracias with eight species, and Eurystomus with three (Peters, 1945). The family is distributed over Africa, southern and eastern Europe, southern Asia, the islands of southeastern Asia, and Australia. The Brachypteraciidae include three genera, Brackypteracias and Atelornis with two species each, and Uratelornis with one. All are confined to Madagascar. The third family of rollers, the Leptosomatidae, has been erected for the monotypic genus, Leptosomus, found on Madagascar and the nearby islands. The taxonomic arrangement of the rollers has varied with different authors. Some have put the Brachypteraciidae and Coraciidae in one family and Leptosomus in a separate family (Fiirbringer, 1888; Peters, 1945; Verheyen, 1960); some would place all three taxa in a single family (Sharpe, 1871; Dresser, 1893; Beddard, 1898; MayrandAmadon, 1951); and a third group would recognize three separate families (Stresemann, 1927-1934, 1959; Storer, 1960; Wetmore, 1960). Because of the arbitrary nature of delimiting family-rank taxa, I do not believe we shall ever reach universal agreement on the ranks to be used for the rollers. Therefore in this paper I want to emphasize the degree of relationship and the evolutionary patterns as shown by morphological criteria, in particular the osteology, rather than on the hierarchical arrangement. The anatomy of the true-rollers has never been studied exhaustively. Except for Giebel's (1857) comments on Nitzsch's work on Coracias garrulus, no other investigation has been directed specifically to the Coraciidae. Milne-Edwards (1876, plates 81-82) figured the skeleton
Evaluating adrenal incidentalomas.

Adrenal incidentalomas are detected on approximately 1% to 2% of all abdominal CT scans. The question is, how clinically significant are they?
Optimal Power Dispatch Under Load Uncertainty Using a Stochastic Approximation Method

This paper applies a known stochastic approximation method to solve a two-phase optimal power dispatch problem under load uncertainty using a novel realistic model for random loads. The stochastic power dispatch problem is solved with the Robbins–Monro method applied with the Kiefer–Wolfowitz procedure with random directions. The constraints of this optimization problem have been investigated and considered by truncated algorithms. Two numerical examples are presented for illustration of the significant improvement obtained with the proposed method. In the first example, the optimizable cost of the system can be reduced by 1.6% under 2.68% load variation. In the second example, the results show that the possibility of voltage violations is reduced from 49.5% to 0.01%. All the improvements are compared with deterministic optimal solutions validated with scenario-based Monte Carlo simulations. The method is 60 times faster than scenario-based Monte Carlo for similar accuracy for the IEEE 30-bus test system.
The Good, the Bad and the Frivolous Case: An Essay on Probability and Rule 11

This essay begins by asking why lawyers bring frivolous cases, cases which, under the standard definitions of frivolousness, have no chance of success and should never have been brought. Rejecting the usual answers of lawyer stupidity and greed, it offers a different view of the frivolous case --that most of the cases that have been challenged and sanctioned in recent years under Rule 11 were brought by lawyers bringing cases they reasonably believed had a low (but not zero) probability of success. This provides a more plausible explanation for wy lawyers persist in bringing such cases, since they are essentially bets on long shots. The essay sets forth the concept of low probability litigation, shows that it provides a more plausible account of lawyers motives and one which is consistent with recent empirical studies of Rule 11. The piece goes on to examine the policy implications of sanctioning low probability litigation. It shows that any rule which sanctions low probability claims will inevitably deter some potential winners along with the losers. The problem is inherent in the uncertainty and probabilistic nature of litigations judgements and cannot be fixed by tinkering with the Rule. Finally, the piece examines the arguments for and against the sanctioning of low probability litigation, concluding with a stirring call for truth, justice and a return to the subjective standard of pre-1983 Rule 11.
Effect of noise on blood lipid level of workers in an automobile manufacturing enterprise of Yancheng City

[Objective]To explore the effect of workplace noise on the blood lipid levels of workers in an automobile manufacturing enterprise.[Methods]The occupational health examination was conducted in workers of an automobile manufacturing enterprise in Yancheng City. The workers with long-term exposure to high noise [83. 6-9. 1 LAeq dB( A) ]were randomly collected to the observation group,and workers with exposure to low noise [54. 2-70. 0 LAeq dB( A) ]were collected to the control group.[Results]The level of serum total cholesterol( TC) and triglyceride( TG) in the observation group was( 4. 63 ± 0. 82) mmol / L and( 1. 66 ±1. 31) mmol/L respectively,while that in the control group was( 4. 19 ± 1. 02) mmol/L and( 1. 32 ± 1. 03) mmol/L respectively. The serum TC and TG levels of the observation group were significantly higher than those of the control group( both P 0. 05). There were 37 people whose serum TC level was higher than the normal level in the observation group while 33 people in the control group. There were 64 people whose serum TG level was higher than the normal level in both of the observation group and the control group. The abnormal rates of serum TC and TG level in the observation group were higher than those in the control group,and the differences were significant( both P 0. 05). There were 28 people with fatty liver in the observation group while 24 people in the control group. The positive rate of fatty liver in the observation group was higher than that in the control group,and the difference was significant( χ2= 3. 95,P 0. 05).[Conclusion]Long-term exposure to high noise might be a risk factor for the elevated blood lipid levels of workers
NCCS briefing paper on quality cancer care.

The National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship (NCCS) recently surveyed health providers, government officials, professional and advocacy organizations, scientists, and others regarding a critical issue facing this nation's 8 million cancer survivors: quality cancer care. The responses were illuminating as they portrayed a system in flux. The United States is moving away from a health care system where fee for service insurance plans predominate to one where market-based alternatives are quickly gaining favor among employers, consumers, and other purchasers of health care coverage. What this fundamental transition will mean for survivors and individuals with other serious or life-threatening diseases and the people who care for them is an open question with important public policy implications
Democratic Moral Education and the Gifts of the Holy Spirit

How far is Thomas Aquinas available for current discussions in political philosophy? While there are certainly things to be learned from him about our political preoccupations, the pedagogy of his moral teaching typically resists our familiar questions. This holds even when the question is put in terms that Thomas should recognize—say, as a question about the virtues appropriate for a democracy. Thomas not only gives different meanings to these terms, he moves political topics away from the center of theological attention and so organizes them very differently. A reader can notice these differences at many points but perhaps especially in the attention that Thomas gives in the Summa to the gifts of the Holy Spirit. His account of these gifts qualifies significantly what he says of virtue and suggests large limits on human agency, whether in ethics or in politics.
Hours Open and Full-Time/Part-Time Employee Decision Areas: Do these Operating Factors Along with Competitive Situation Affect Small Retailer Success?

The primary objective of this study was to explore the relationship between retail store operating hours/full-time employees/part-time employee usage and the financial success of the member stores of a retail grocery cooperative. For the purposes of t he study, the perceived competitive situation of the researched stor es was also utilized within the study.
SCC: Neglected Arms Control Tool

The standing Consultative Commission (SCC) is little known, poorly understood, and centrally important to the future of strategic arms control. Created by the SALT I accords in 1972, the Commission is empowered to consider, among other topics, SALT compliance questions and related situations, questions involving interference with national technical means of verification, possible changes in the strategic situation which have a bearing on treaty provisions, additional measures to increase the viability of existing agreements including amendments to treaty provisions, and proposals for further limiting strategic arms. In addition, the SCC commissioners are authorized to exchange relevant information and to draw up procedures for dismantling or destroying offensive and defensive weapons systems. To date, however, neither side has chosen to use the SCC to negotiate or to amend agreements. The SCC has concerned itself primarily with implementation and compliance questions for the SALT accords. Like other negotiating bodies, the SCC has no enforcement powers and cannot impose sanctions; it can succeed only when the political leadership in the Soviet Union and the United States seek mutually satisfactory solutions. 14 references.
A Concise History of International Finance: The first global financial market and the classical gold standard, 1880–1914

All the industrial core of the Atlantic economy and much of the European periphery were joined financially in the classical gold standard, 1880–1914. The US formally adopted the gold standard in 1879, but already in fact had kept the Civil War greenback dollar at par since 1873. Germany and the Scandinavian Monetary Union had switched from silver to gold in 1871. France and the other members of the Latin Monetary Union soon joined as well. Even the Ottoman empire declared its commitment in 1881. The standard justification for general adoption of the gold standard at the time was that it facilitated the expansion of international trade. Commitment to a gold standard implied as well a commitment to fixed exchange rate with the other countries on the gold standard, which in turn promoted a multilateral settlement of trade imbalances: a country's bilateral trade deficit with one trading partner could be offset by its surplus with a third trading partner. But international trade had already expanded rapidly in the thirty years before the widespread adoption of the gold standard. In response to the free trade initiatives of Great Britain in 1849 and the continued drop in freight rates, due to the application of steam power both on land and sea, trade had grown globally in all basic commodities. Further, commodity prices had converged across the trading world as had never before been possible (O'Rourke and Williamson 2005). The Anglo-French Commercial Treaty of 1860 with its most-favored nation clause had promulgated a general round of tariff reductions throughout Europe. Each succeeding negotiation between any pair of countries that included a reduction in tariffs had to include the same reduction with the countries whose previous treaties had included the proviso that their future tariff barriers would never be higher than that of the “most favored nation.” The free trade movement, however, started to lose momentum just when the gold standard spread within Europe and eventually beyond to Russia and Japan in 1895. There was a general rise in tariff barriers, led initially by the US and Germany and eventually even France, the major countries responsible for moving from bimetallism or silver to a gold standard in the first place.
Biotinidase Deficiency and Seizures

Preliminary experiences with screening of 24,300 newborns detected 1 infant with biotinidase deficiency at the Depts of Paediatrics, Univ of Verona, Policlinic Borgo Roma, Verona, Italy, and the Hosp for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada.
Undermining Value-Based Purchasing — Lessons from the Pharmaceutical Industry

Although it's not yet clear how health care providers will respond to value-based payment models, an examination of pharmaceutical industry practices can provide insights into problems that may arise — and practices to avoid.
Comorbidity Prevalence, Healthcare Utilization, and Expenditures of Medicaid Enrolled Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorders.

A retrospective data analysis using 2000–2008 three state Medicaid Analytic eXtract was conducted to examine the prevalence and association of comorbidities (psychiatric and non-psychiatric) with healthcare utilization and expenditures of fee-for-service enrolled adults (22–64 years) with and without autism spectrum disorders (International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision–clinical modification code: 299.xx). Autism spectrum disorder cases were 1:3 matched to no autism spectrum disorder controls by age, gender, and race using propensity scores. Study outcomes were all-cause healthcare utilization (outpatient office visits, inpatient hospitalizations, emergency room, and prescription drug use) and associated healthcare expenditures. Bivariate analyses (chi-square tests and t-tests), multinomial logistic regressions (healthcare utilization), and generalized linear models with gamma distribution (expenditures) were used. Adults with autism spectrum disorders (n = 1772) had significantly higher rate...
The challenges of studying blocks-based programming environments

In this paper we discuss some of the central challenges to rigorously studying blocks-based programming. We categorize these challenges into four groups: design, context, evaluation, and trajectory. For each category, we breakdown specific issues we confront as researchers in trying to isolate the blocks-based modality and outline our own strategies for addressing them. Throughout, we draw on our own experience as designers, educators, and researchers, along with past and current work, to provide guidance on ways to address these challenges and share insights our approach has yielded.
The JBJS Peer-Review Scoring Scale: A valid, reliable instrument for measuring the quality of peer review reports

Many journals seek to evaluate the quality of reviews performed by their panel of reviewers. The purpose of this study is to determine if members of a journal editorial board can consistently and reliably use a single numeric scoring system to evaluate the quality of peer reviews. A retrospective analysis of 11 randomly selected manuscripts that had undergone external peer review by three reviewers was performed. Six had been rejected and five accepted. Each deputy editor was asked to score each of the reviews. The intraclass correlation was determined for each of the manuscripts to determine the consistency in grading. The intraclass correlation for 10 of the 11 manuscripts was above 0.87. This study demonstrates that an editorial board of deputy editors, without external training, can consistently and reliably grade reviews with excellent agreement.
1-(3,4-Di­meth­oxy­phen­yl)ethanone

The title compound, C10H12O3, has a single near planar mol­ecule in the asymmetric unit, with the non-H atoms possessing a mean deviation from planarity of 0.132 A. The mol­ecules dimerize in the solid state through C—H⋯O inter­actions. These dimers are further linked through parallel slipped π–π inter­actions of the aryl rings [inter­centroid distance = 3.5444 (11) A, inter­planar distance = 3.3998 (12) A, slippage = 1.002 (2) A].
Brain Stimulation Techniques

To this point, we have covered two basic neurobiological techniques that have proven useful for the study of brain-behavior relationships; neuronal recording and brain lesions. In this chapter, we discuss methods associated with brain stimulation, another research technique that has proven useful for advancing our understanding of brain function. Brain stimulation is easy to conceptualize: Electrical current is used to activate excitable brain tissue, either cell bodies or axons, in essence providing a means to induce brain activity that is under the control of the experimenter. One way to consider this is that the brain stimulation is used as a substitute for activity that is either generated in, or projected to, neurons that are located at the point of stimulation. An example will illustrate the use of this technique.
HOSPITAL ADMISSIONS FOR CHEST PAIN ASSOCIATED WITH COCAINE USE IN THE UNITED STATES

Background: The outcomes related to chest pain associated with cocaine use and its burden on healthcare system are not well studied. Methods: Data were collected from the Nationwide Inpatient Sample (2001 — 2012). Subjects were identified by using the ICD-9-CM codes. Primary outcome was a
Wittgenstein’s Trials, Teaching and Cavell’s Romantic “Figure of the Child”

In “Time And Place For Philosophy”, Cavell (2008) discusses the “political reading” of Wittgenstein (attributed to Kripke) illustrated by the so-called scene of instruction in the Investigations, at §217 and “moments in Wittgenstein’s biography that can seem to substantiate such a reading”. Cavell refers to “a well-known story of his striking a pupil ” where power resides purely on the side of the teacher. Wittgenstein attended teacher training in Vienna in 1919 and taught in Austrian rural village schools until 1926 when he abruptly resigned after an incident involving hitting a pupil that led to a court trial held in Gloggnitz beginning on 17 May 1926 and lasted several over several months. The court judge called for a psychiatric examination of Wittgenstein , a report that has gone missing. The so-called Haibauer incident constitutes a central and smouldering episode in Wittgenstein’s own psychological make-up and ethical self-development—one that he returns to many years later as the basis for his “confession”. In contra distinction to Cavell’s romantic reading of the figure of the child and Matthews’ (2006) philosophy of the child, I embrace an historicist reading of Wittgenstein on the figure of the child arguing for a position that attempts to avoid both essentializing the child and forms of “adultism” by historicizing child subjectivity (Peters and Johansson 2012). This argument is advanced by focusing on and exploring the biographical incident to which Cavell refers in more detail for the light it casts on Wittgenstein’s teaching sensibilities and his state of mind (especially his suicide ideation) in the period he was a teacher, including his relationships with the Austrian children he taught. The effect of this historicist approach is to relativise Wittgenstein’s teaching and his “discipline” to the cultural context of his time—1920s Austria dominated by the Glockel educational reforms that introduced pedagogy based on social democratic principles. This paper also imagines what the psychiatric report contained entertaining the diagnosis of Wittgenstein’s childhood autism and adult Aspergers as a means to understand Wittgenstein’s early language difficulties during his “solipsistic” phase, his lifelong struggle in sustaining reciprocal social interactions and his philosophical interests in language learning.
Real-Time Autofluorescence Imaging to Diagnose LVAD Driveline Infections

A 64-year-old man experienced a driveline infection that was treated with serial debridements and antibiotics. When the wound clinically appeared ready for closure, a handheld fluorescence imaging device still revealed a margin of red fluorescence around the wound edges consistent with a subclinical infection. Therefore, a wider margin was made and additional specimens for wound culture were taken, which demonstrated a vancomycin-resistant enterococcal infection. The autofluorescence signals of common bacteria can be detected with a fluorescence camera in subclinical wound infections without clinical signs. Here we describe the first use of this technology to diagnose ventricular assist device driveline infections after left ventricular assist device implantation.
Evaluation of the endocervical Cytobrush and Cervex-Brush in pregnant women.

OBJECTIVE To compare, in pregnant women, the endocervical cell yield of the Cytobrush Cell Collector and the Cervex-Brush Cell Sampler with the standard cotton swab, and to determine the incidence of serious adverse events associated with the collection techniques. METHODS In a randomized, controlled clinical trial, 352 pregnant women undergoing initial obstetric evaluation were randomly assigned to either the cotton swab and modified Ayers spatula, Cytobrush and modified Ayers spatula, or Cervex-Brush. The cytopathology laboratory, blinded to the Papanicolaou smear method, screened the smears using the Bethesda System guidelines. Statistical analyses were performed using the Pearson chi 2 and analysis of variance tests. RESULTS There was an increased detection of endocervical cells in pregnant patients with both the Cytobrush and modified Ayers spatula (90.7%) and the Cervex-Brush (83.3%) methods, compared with the cotton swab and modified Ayers spatula (70.8%) (P = .0001 and P = .0233, respectively). There was no statistically significant difference between the Cytobrush-spatula and Cervex-Brush groups (P = .0956). Although there were more bloody Papanicolaou smears in the study groups, this was neither clinically nor statistically significant because all the samples were interpretable and repeat samples due to bloody specimens were not required. There were no serious adverse events associated with the study group methods. CONCLUSION Performance of Papanicolaou smears using the Cytobrush and modified Ayers spatula and with the Cervex-Brush improved Papanicolaou smear adequacy as compared with the cotton swab and modified Ayers spatula. Despite an increased incidence of spotting following collection, these techniques were not associated with an increase in serious adverse events. Based on the cost per item and a clinically significant increase in endocervical cell yield, we recommend the Cytobrush and modified Ayers spatula for cytologic screening in pregnant women.
Influence of MWCNTs on β-Phase PVDF and Triboelectric Properties

The surface of multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) was chemically modified using 1-pyrenebutyric acid (PBA) to improve its compatibility with polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF). The carboxylic acid groups of the MWCNTs-PBA (PCNTs) provide a β-phase nucleation site to the fluorine of PVDF along their surface. The content of the β-phase crystalline structure of PVDF was found to be the highest at a concentration of 1.0 wt.% of PCNTs, and these PVDF-PCNTs composites were utilized as active layers in triboelectric devices. The maximum output voltage achieved was 16 volts at a concentration of 1.0 wt.% of PCNTs in the PVDF composites.
Robotics in percutaneous cardiovascular interventions.

Introduction: The fundamental technique of performing percutaneous cardiovascular (CV) interventions has remained unchanged and requires operators to wear heavy lead aprons to minimize exposure to ...
Variability of spectral absorption efficiency within living cells of Pyrocystis lunula (Dinophyta)

This study examines variability in the spectral absorption efficiency in various parts of living Pyrocystis lunula cells. changes in spectral absorption efficiency measured within cells are attributed to light-induced chloroplast migration as well as reorganization of cellular material during the process of asexual reproduction. During the dark cycle, major pigment peaks were well resolved in those spectra measured in the distal cytoplasmic strands where chloroplasts were concentrated. In contrast, the absorption efficiencies measured in the granular central area that did not contain chloroplasts decreased gradually from the blue to the red portions of the spectrum and are similar to those published for detrital particles. When chloroplasts migrated toward the center of the cell in response to light, absorption efficiency curves for the granular central area were flatter than the curves measured in cytoplasmic strands containing chloroplasts. This was due to the combined absorption properties of the central area and the chloroplasts. Absorption efficiency spectra were also flattened in aplanospores within the parent vegetative cells because of the concentration of cellular material into smaller areas. These findings suggest that shapes of spectral absorption curves measured for the major phytoplankton groups cannot be assumed to remain constant over time. Furthermore, changes in cell structure may account for some of the reported diel changes in beam attenuation and stimulated fluorescence in natural waters.
Universal Screening for Perinatal Depression

Perinatal depression, defined as maternal depression that occurs during the antenatal period or the first 12 months after delivery, is a leading cause of maternal morbidity. Although some women may have risk factors for the development of perinatal depression, screening based on risk factors alone is insufficient. In this article, we summarize the validated screening tools that have been used clinically to assess for perinatal depression. We then review the implementation process of universal screening during the obstetric and pediatric office visits and in the setting of the NICU. We conclude that obstetricians, neonatologists, and pediatricians can influence the quality of life for mothers and their children through successful implementation of validated screening tools for perinatal depression.
Comparison of Fusion Rates Based on Graft Material Following Occipitocervical and Atlantoaxial Arthrodesis in Adults and Children.

Background Fusion rates following rigid internal instrumentation for occipitocervical and atlantoaxial instability approach 100% in many reports. Based on this success and the morbidity that can be associated with obtaining autograft for fusion, surgeons increasingly select alternative graft materials. Objective To examine fusion failure using various graft materials in a retrospective observational study. Methods Insurance claims databases (Truven Health MarketScan® [Truven Health Analytics, Ann Arbor, Michigan] and IMS Health Lifelink/PHARMetrics [IMS Health, Danbury, Connecticut]) were used to identify patients with CPT codes 22590 and 22595. Patients were divided by age (≥18 yr = adult) and arthrodesis code, establishing 4 populations. Each population was further separated by graft code: group 1 = 20938 (structural autograft); group 2 = 20931 (structural allograft); group 3 = other graft code (nonstructural); group 4 = no graft code. Fusion failure was assigned when ≥1 predetermined codes presented in the record ≥90 d following the last surgical procedure. Results Of 522 patients identified, 419 were adult and 103 were pediatric. Fusion failure occurred in 10.9% (57/522) of the population. There was no statistically significant difference in fusion failure based on graft material. Fusion failure occurred in 18.9% of pediatric occipitocervical fusions, but in 9.2% to 11.1% in the other groups. Conclusion Administrative data regarding patients who underwent instrumented occipitocervical or atlantoaxial arthrodesis do not demonstrate differences in fusion rates based on the graft material selected. When compared to many contemporary primary datasets, fusion failure was more frequent; however, several recent studies have shown higher failure rates than previously reported. This may be influenced by broad patient selection and fusion failure criteria that were selected in order to maximize the generalizability of the findings.
Parallel Python for Agent-Based Modeling at a Global Scale

We introduce a global scale parallel python modeling platform alongside an example global migration model. Our goals focus on improving social scientist access to computationally robust infrastructure, which enhances a scientist's capability to model more complex macro-scale global effects or larger numbers of micro-scale agents and behaviors. We built the model based on a subset of known social and economic factors to test initial computational scalability which we have kept linear with respect to agent population. The Jupyter simulation platform and Python programming language allow for a familiar developer and user interface via a standard internet browser with the computation performed remotely on high performance server hardware. We have successfully scaled to seven billion agents on a multi-core large memory server. The platform has an open license and we are working to enhance modularity for support of new global scale social models.
The utility of PET-based imaging for prostate cancer biochemical recurrence: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Conventional imaging modalities have been poor in characterizing the true extent of disease in men with biochemical recurrence following primary treatment for prostate cancer. Functional imaging with positron emission tomography (PET) has shown promise of being a superior imaging modality. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to define the diagnostic accuracy of PET/CT using 11C-choline, 18F-FACBC, or 68Ga-PSMA in detecting recurrent prostate cancer. We searched multiple databases in line with the preferred reporting items for systematic review and meta-analysis (PRISMA) statement to define the diagnostic accuracy of 11C-choline, 18F-FACBC, or 68Ga-PSMA PET/CT. Only studies secondarily staging participants with biochemical recurrence and those with an appropriate reference standard (pathology, further imaging, and/or clinical response) were eligible for analysis. Twenty-one studies with 3202 participants met the inclusion criteria. Of these, 11C-choline, 18F-FACBC, and 68Ga-PSMA were the tracer investigated in 16, 5, and 1 studies, respectively. The summary sensitivity for each tracer was 80.9% (95% CI 70.4–88.3%), 79.7% (95% CI 51.9–93.4%), and 76.4% (95% CI 68.3–82.9%), respectively. The corresponding summary specificity was 84.1% (95% CI 70.2–92.2%), 61.9% (95% CI 41.1–79.0%), and 99.8% (95% CI 97.5–100%), respectively. Detection rates ranged between 58.6 and 82.8%. All included studies were judged to be at high risk of bias primarily due to study limitations pertaining to the reference standard. There is a lack of high-quality data to verify the accuracy of PET-based imaging using 11C-choline, 18F-FACBC, or 68Ga-PSMA. The early results are encouraging that these techniques are superior to conventional imaging modalities, which would allow salvage therapies to be optimized.
Strategic vs Definitory Rules: Their Role in Abductive Argumentation and their Relationship with Deductive Proof

This paper analyzes the role of abduction in proving process when students solve a geometrical problem. Solving a problem is like playing a game in which rules have to be defined. Two kinds of rules are considered: definitory rules that define the basic moves in the game and strategic rules that explain how to play the game. These two rules can be associated to two types of abductions that can be used to solve geometrical problems. The purpose of this paper is to compare these two abductions and to analyze their relationship with the deductive proof. In particular, the study reveals that abduction based on definitory rule can be an obstacle to the construction of the deductive proof, while abduction based on strategic rule seems to not be a challenge for students. In fact, this abduction is usually transformed into a deduction along the argumentation.