cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Handgun Acquisitions in California After Two Mass Shootings

This study examines changes in patterns of handgun sales and transfers (“acquisitions”) after 2 prominent mass shootings in the United States by using individual-level data on handgun acquisitions ...
An evaluation of possible next-generation high temperature molten-salt power towers.

Since completion of the Solar Two molten-salt power tower demonstration in 1999, the solar industry has been developing initial commercial-scale projects that are 3 to 14 times larger. Like Solar Two, these initial plants will power subcritical steam-Rankine cycles using molten salt with a temperature of 565 C. The main question explored in this study is whether there is significant economic benefit to develop future molten-salt plants that operate at a higher receiver outlet temperature. Higher temperatures would allow the use of supercritical steam cycles that achieve an improved efficiency relative to today's subcritical cycle ({approx}50% versus {approx}42%). The levelized cost of electricity (LCOE) of a 565 C subcritical baseline plant was compared with possible future-generation plants that operate at 600 or 650 C. The analysis suggests that {approx}8% reduction in LCOE can be expected by raising salt temperature to 650 C. However, most of that benefit can be achieved by raising the temperature to only 600 C. Several other important insights regarding possible next-generation power towers were also drawn: (1) the evaluation of receiver-tube materials that are capable of higher fluxes and temperatures, (2) suggested plant reliability improvements based on a detailed evaluation of the Solar Two experience, and (3) a thorough evaluation of analysis uncertainties.
Non-invasive microwave thermometry of multilayer human tissues

In this paper, radiometry measurements of human tissue layer phantom temperature are presented. A skin-fat-muscle phantom allows independent heating/cooling of the lowest muscle layer. A narrowband probe is designed specifically for that tissue stack-up and a sensitive radiometer is used to measure total radiometric power in the 1.4-GHz quiet band. The knowledge of the volume power loss density from the probe, obtained from full-wave simulations, is used to determine the tissue weighting functions, which in turn allows for estimating black-body power radiated from a specific buried layer. Measured data using a Dicke radiometer shows that the radiometer tracks the internal tissue temperature.
The Confucian Concept of Learning

This chapter focuses on the Confucian concept of learning, which has been influential for generations in China and other Asian countries. The concept is learner based with a clear emphasis on efforts, thinking, questioning, and practices. Learning is conceptualized as involving both individual participation and collective sharing, and is a continuously deepening process with an ultimate purpose of self-transformation. Teachers are learners as well in such conceptualization, practicing what they are teaching and becoming a part of the learning community. Such a conceptualization helps in re-considering our view of learning and assessments, as well as providing insight into the growing body of students culturally influenced by the Confucian heritage.
Behavioral Intervention in Adolescents Improves Bone Mass, Yet Lactose Maldigestion Is a Barrier

Calcium intake during adolescence is important for attainment of peak bone mass. Lactose maldigestion is an autosomal recessive trait, leading to lower calcium intake. The Adequate Calcium Today study aimed to determine if a school-based targeted behavioral intervention over one year could improve calcium intake and bone mass in early adolescent girls. The school-randomized intervention was conducted at middle schools in six states over one school year. A total of 473 girls aged 10–13 years were recruited for outcome assessments. Bone mineral content (BMC) was determined by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry. Dietary calcium intake was assessed with a semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire. Baseline calcium intake and BMC were not significantly different between groups. After the intervention period, there were no differences in changes in calcium intake and BMC at any site between groups. An unanticipated outcome was a greater increase in spinal BMC among lactose digesters than lactose maldigesters in the intervention schools only (12 months) (6.9 ± 0.3 g vs. 6.0 ± 0.4 g, p = 0.03) and considering the entire study period (18 months) (9.9 ± 0.4 vs. 8.7 ± 0.5 g, p < 0.01). Overall, no significant differences between the intervention and control schools were observed. However, lactose digesters who received the intervention program increased bone mass to a greater extent than lactose maldigesters.
Pink slimed: Media framing of novel food technologies and risk related to ground beef and processed foods in the U.S.

Abstract In March 2012 ABC World News Report aired a series of reports on lean finely textured beef (LFTB) that resulted in a 10-year low for beef prices and the bankruptcy of a major firm that produced LFTB. Using a random sample survey, we tested the effects of the media frame “pink slime” and industry frame “lean finely textured beef,” alongside media use, food-related knowledge, trust in food-related institutions and preference for local, fresh, organic and GMO-free foods on perceptions of risk related to ground beef containing pink slime/LFTB, processed foods and red meat. The “pink slime” frame was strongly and positively associated with risk related to ground beef, but not risk related to red meat or processed foods. Attention to news stories about pink slime/LFTB was strongly associated with risk related to ground beef and processed foods, but not red meat. We found varying effects of food values, knowledge and trust on all three dependent variables. Implications are discussed.
Biomarkers of exposure to SVOCs in children and their demographic associations: The TESIE Study.

Abstract Semi-volatile organic compounds (SVOCs) are used extensively in consumer and personal care products; electronics; furniture; and building materials and are detected in most indoor environments. As a result, human exposure to mixtures of SVOCs is wide-spread. However, very few studies have measured biomarkers of exposure to multiple SVOC classes, and exposure determinants have not been thoroughly explored, particularly for young children. In this study, we investigated biomarkers of exposure to SVOCs among children (age 3–6 years), who may experience higher exposures and be more susceptible to adverse health outcomes than other age groups. We enrolled 203 participants in the Toddlers Exposure to SVOCs in Indoor Environments (TESIE) study (181 provided urine samples and 90 provided serum samples).We quantified 44 biomarkers of exposure to phthalates, organophosphate esters (OPEs), parabens, phenols, antibacterial agents and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs); we detected 29 of the 44 biomarkers in >95% of samples, and many biomarkers were detected at higher median concentrations than those previously reported in the U.S. general population. Demographic characteristics were associated with differences in concentrations. In general, non-Hispanic white race and higher maternal education were associated with lower concentrations, even after adjusting for other potential confounding variables. Our results suggest that outdoor temperature at the time of biospecimen collection may be a particularly important and under-evaluated predictor of biomarker concentrations; statistically significant relationships were observed between 10 biomarkers and outdoor temperature at the time of collection. A complex correlation structure was also observed among the biomarkers assessed. By and large, statistically significant correlations between biomarkers of exposure to phthalates, parabens, phenols, and OPEs were positive. Conversely, although PFASs were positively correlated with one another, they tended to be negatively correlated with other biomarkers where significant associations were observed. Taken together, our results provide evidence that the assessments of SVOC-associated health impacts should focus on chemical mixtures.
Abstract WP387: Predictors of Loneliness in African American Women with Cardiovascular Disease

Background: Social connections are a basic need of all humans. Loneliness is a perceived lack of both quantity and quality of social relationships. Prior research demonstrates that loneliness incre...
Identifying candidate locations for safety improvements on low-volume rural roads: the Oregon experience

Low-volume roads constitute a significant proportion of the roadway network in rural areas, but they are usually associated with sparse crash data. This makes it impractical to rely on crash histor...
Transradial approach for the treatment of brain aneurysms using flow diversion: feasibility, safety, and outcomes.

Background The aim of this paper is to describe our experience with the transradial approach (TRA) for intracranial aneurysms treatment using the Pipeline Embolization device (PED). We also performed a logistic regression comparing outcomes between TR and transfemoral approach (TFA). Methods The clinical and imaging characteristics as well as periprocedural outcomes of patients treated for aneurysms using a TRA with PED were analyzed retrospectively. Results A total of 598 aneurysms were treated with pipeline during a period extending from 2010-2019 (N.=580 [97%] using TFA vs. N.=18 [3%] using TRA). About 84.28% (N.=504) were females, and the average age was 55.5 years. There was no significant difference between both approaches in procedural duration, complication rate, morbidity, and aneurysms obliteration. We did not encounter any access site complication in the TR group compared to 2% in the TF; however, this did not reach statistical significance. One case was converted to TFA due to the need for more support. Multivariate analysis did not show that the access site was an independent predictor of the complications, morbidity, and aneurysms obliteration. Conclusions The results of this study illustrate that the transradial approach is a safe and effective means of treating intracranial aneurysms with PED. The TRA in selected patients offers better safety with high rates of procedural success.
Air Transportation Direct Share Analysis and Forecast

Air transportation direct share is the ratio of direct passengers to total passengers on a directional origin and destination (O&D) pair. Direct share is an essential factor of passenger flow distribution and shows passengers’ general preference for direct flight services on a certain O&D. A better understanding and a more accurate forecast of direct share can benefit air transportation planners, airlines, and airports in multiple ways. In most of the previous research and applications, it is commonly assumed that direct share is a fixed ratio, which contradicts the air transportation practice. In the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Terminal Area Forecast (TAF), the O&D direct share is forecasted as a constant based on the latest observation of direct share on the O&D. To find factors which have significant impacts on O&D direct share and to build an accurate model for O&D direct share forecasting, both parametric and nonparametric machine learning models are investigated in this research. We propose a novel category-based learning method which can provide better forecasting performance compared to employing the single modeling method for O&D direct share forecasting. Based on the comparison, the developed category-based learning model is a promising replacement for the model used for O&D direct share forecasting by the FAA TAF.
Surveillance after potentially curative breast cancer treatment: The impact of HMOs.

6079 Background: Over 230,000 new cases of breast cancer are diagnosed in the US annually. Most patients receive curative-intent treatment. Post-treatment surveillance is commonly done. We have pre...
Transitioning Multidisciplinary Craniofacial Care to Telehealth during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Single Center Experience

Craniofacial clinics are composed of multidisciplinary teams of providers to deliver coordinated and comprehensive patient care. The coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has disrupted this model, as social distancing guidelines have precluded in-person patient appointments and forced clinics to reconsider their method of care delivery. The University of California, San Francisco, Craniofacial Center has continued to serve patients during this acute period, adopting a hybrid model in which the vast majority of patients are seen through telehealth and a limited number of patients are evaluated in-person. Surveyed patients and families reported high rates of satisfaction, with time savings cited as a particular benefit. Furthermore, most felt comfortable using the video technology required for their appointment. This experience has demonstrated to us that multidisciplinary craniofacial evaluations can be effectively delivered in a telehealth format and has informed our conception of idealized clinic structure. Moving forward, we intend to utilize telehealth visits for selected components of craniofacial evaluations in an effort to maximize efficiency and minimize burden, including addressing barriers to accessing care. Benefits of a hybrid model will include decongestion of clinics and waiting areas, allowing social distancing, addressing clinic space limits, and increased efficiency by eliminating the need for patient and family movement. Demonstration of the safety and efficacy of telehealth visits, combined with regulatory reform that improves reimbursement and allows for appointments across state lines, will be critical for this model to persist beyond the pandemic.
Quantitative determination of grain boundary recombination velocity in CdTe by combination of cathodoluminescence measurements and numerical simulations

We developed a 2D numerical model simulating cathodoluminescence (CL) measurements in CdTe. Using this model we analyze how various material parameters impact the CL contrast and intensity observed in the measured signal, and determine if and when we can accurately determine the value of grain boundary recombination rate. In addition to grain boundary (GB) recombination, the grain size and its ratio to the carrier diffusion length impact the results of the measurement. Holding the grain interior and GB recombination rates constant, we find that as the grain size increases and becomes larger than the diffusion length, the observed CL contrast is larger. In a small grain size material the surface recombination lowers the overall intensity of the signal, but does not impact the observed contrast significantly. In a large grain size material, high surface recombination velocity can lower the observed contrast in a measurement. This model in combination with an experiment is used to quantify the grain boundary recombination velocity in polycrystalline CdTe before and after the CdCl2 treatment.
Comparison of time-of-flight MR angiography and intracranial vessel wall MRI for luminal measurements relative to CT angiography.

Objective:To assess whether intracranial vessel wall (IVW) MRI luminal measurements are more accurate than non-contrast 3D-TOF-MRA measurements for intracranial atherosclerotic stenosis, relative t...
Sheep farmers and vets working together. Why? What? How?

‘Vets are not interested and don't care about sheep.’ ‘Sheep farmers are grumpy and don't need vets.’ ‘The cost of a sheep is not worth the price of a vet…’ Comments, that you may have heard, but a...
An unexpected cyst of the ear lobule.

Abstract Branchial cleft anomalies (BCA) are among the most common congenital anomalies found in the pediatric head and neck. The embryology of these congenital anomalies is well understood, which allows clinicians to anticipate their diagnosis when a pediatric patient presents with a head or neck mass. The predictable anatomy of the various types of BCA allows for improved surgical planning to prevent recurrence and ensure complete resection. This report details an unusual location of a first BCA located in the ear lobule of a 10-month old male. There has been no documented first BCA at the ear lobule in the literature.
Trends and racial disparities for acute kidney injury in premature infants: the US national database.

To assess prevalence and outcomes of acute kidney injury (AKI) in very-low-birth-weight infants. This cross-sectional study utilized the National Inpatient Sample (NIS) dataset for years 2000–2017. All premature infants with birth weight (BW) <1500g and/or gestational age (GA) ≤32 weeks were included. Analyses were conducted for overall population and two BW categories: <1000g and 1000–1499g. Adjusted odds ratios were calculated after controlling for confounding variables in logistic regression analysis. Cochrane–Armitage test was used to assess for statistically significant trends in AKI frequency over the years. In total, 1,311,681 hospitalized premature infants were included; 19,603 (1.5%) were diagnosed with AKI. The majority (74.3%) were BW <1000g and 63.9% ≤28 weeks gestation. Prevalence of AKI differed by ethnicity; White had significantly less AKI than Black (OR=0.79, p<0.001) and Hispanic (OR=0.83, p<0.001). AKI was significantly associated with higher mortality compared to controls (35.1 vs. 3.0%, p<0.001). AKI was associated with comorbidities such as necrotizing enterocolitis, patent ductus arteriosus, bronchopulmonary dysplasia, intraventricular hemorrhage, and septicemia. In a regression model, AKI was associated with higher mortality after controlling confounding factors (aOR=7.79, p<0.001). AKI was associated with significant increase in length of stay (p<0.001) and cost of hospitalization in survivors (p<0.001). There is a significant trend for increased AKI frequency over the years (Z score=4.33, p<0.001). AKI is associated with increased mortality and comorbidities in preterm infants, especially in infants with BW <1000g. Further studies are needed to understand precipitating factors and assess preventative measures for this serious complication.
Brain Density Clustering Analysis: A New Approach to Brain Functional Dynamics.

Background A number of studies in recent years have explored whole-brain dynamic connectivity using pairwise approaches. There has been less focus on trying to analyze brain dynamics in higher dimensions over time. Methods We introduce a new approach that analyzes time series trajectories to identify high traffic nodes in a high dimensional space. First, functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) data are decomposed using spatial ICA to a set of maps and their associated time series. Next, density is calculated for each time point and high-density points are clustered to identify a small set of high traffic nodes. We validated our method using simulations and then implemented it on a real data set. Results We present a novel approach that captures dynamics within a high dimensional space and also does not use any windowing in contrast to many existing approaches. The approach enables one to characterize and study the time series in a potentially high dimensional space, rather than looking at each component pair separately. Our results show that schizophrenia patients have a lower dynamism compared to healthy controls. In addition, we find patients spend more time in nodes associated with the default mode network and less time in components strongly correlated with auditory and sensorimotor regions. Interestingly, we also found that subjects oscillate between state pairs that show opposite spatial maps, suggesting an oscillatory pattern. Conclusion Our proposed method provides a novel approach to analyze the data in its native high dimensional space and can possibly provide new information that is undetectable using other methods.
“Beyond Standard Legal Positivism and ‘Aggressive’ Natural Law: Some Thoughts on Judge’ O’Scannlain’s ‘Third Way’”

According to standard legal positivism, it is social facts or conventions alone (and not any moral principles) that constitute the fundamental criteria for determining what may count as valid law; for the standard legal positivist, then, there is no general requirement that positive law (or law as it is posited) must satisfy certain minimal moral norms in order to be valid as law. Judge Diarmuid O’Scannlain has begun the indispensable task of laying the groundwork for sound jurisprudential reasoning in the natural law tradition. It is on the basis of this groundwork that we can begin to appreciate what natural law reasoning might mean, and what it does not mean, for contemporary American legal thinking. More specifically, it is on the basis of this groundwork that one can begin to articulate what might be called a “third way” of jurisprudential reasoning. This “third way” would steer clear of two opposed and equally problematic jurisprudential views; that is, it would steer clear of what we might call “standard legal positivism” (on the one hand), and (on the other hand) what Judge O’Scannlain calls the “aggressive” natural law jurisprudence of some contemporary theorists.
Scalable OTDM transmitter with full multicast capability

This study presents a time domain based approach that provides scalable rapidly re-configurable multicast operation with full multicast capability. In this study, the node design is easily achieved by an increase in the number of timeslots of optical time domain division multiplexing (OTDM) channel selector, with a corresponding switching window size at the receiver. A highly scalable series-parallel channel selector has been demonstrated with rapid re-configurability and low loss. Switching window sizes less than 3 ps have been achieved, making more than 100 multicast users at OC-48 data rate feasible.
Work and Words

It is hard to keep clear how words work as you hold forth on strange art. Metaphor, analogy, and other abstract conceits tend to treat a piece under examination as already well enough understood that it can be tellingly likened to something else, another artwork perhaps or a theoretical concept, that is itself regarded as well enough understood to anchor the suggested correlation. Such a structure presupposes considerable knowledge of both entities to be compared and, for that reason, seems unpromising if you are just beginning to learn about either of them. Other approaches also have problems. A more direct report of the similarities and differences between two paintings, two sculptures, or two phenomena rests upon the premise of their essential commensurability, a sometimes tenuous assumption that this and that share enough for their comparison to yield some insight. And even straight description of a single piece, art journalism at its most precise and prosaic, emphasizes certain material and visual properties and not others, thereby conjuring resonances, evoking, alluding. The risk here is that in experiencing art through language, we may allow words and their logic to supplant the work and its.
Adaptive State Feedback Control

This chapter develops two types of state feedback adaptive control schemes: for state tracking and for output tracking (and its discrete-time version). For both continuous- and discrete-time systems, adaptive state feedback for output tracking control, based on a simple controller structure under standard model reference adaptive control assumptions, is used as an introduction to adaptive control of general linear systems. Adaptive disturbance rejection under different conditions is addressed in detail; in particular, adaptive output rejection of unmatched input disturbance is developed based on a derived property of linear systems. Another development is a derived parametrization of state feedback using a full- or reduced-order state observer, leading to the commonly used parametrized controller structures with output feedback.
Toward optimal matching for 3D reconstruction of brachytherapy seeds

X-ray C-arm fluoroscopy is a natural choice for intraoperative seed localization in prostate brachy therapy. Resolving the correspondence of seeds in the projection images can be modeled as an assignment problem that is NP-hard. Our approach rests on the practical observation that the optimal solution has almost zero cost if the pose of the C-arm is known accurately. This allowed us to to derive an equivalent problem of reduced dimensionality that, with linear programming, can be solved efficiently in polynomial time. Additionally, our method demonstrates significantly increased robustness to C-arm pose errors when compared to the prior art. Because under actual clinical circumstances it is exceedingly difficult to track the C-arm, easing on this constraint has additional practical utility.
Production of long chain alcohols and alkanes upon coexpression of an acyl-ACP reductase and aldehyde-deformylating oxygenase with a bacterial type-I fatty acid synthase in E. coli

Microbial long chain alcohols and alkanes are renewable biofuels that could one day replace petroleum-derived fuels. Here we report a novel pathway for high efficiency production of these products in Escherichia coli strain BL21(DE3). We first identified the acyl-ACP reductase/aldehyde deformylase combinations with the highest activity in this strain. Next, we used catalase coexpression to remove toxic byproducts and increase the overall titer. Finally, by introducing the type-I fatty acid synthase from Corynebacterium ammoniagenes, we were able to bypass host regulatory mechanisms of fatty acid synthesis that have thus far hampered efforts to optimize the yield of acyl-ACP-derived products in BL21(DE3). When all these engineering strategies were combined with subsequent optimization of fermentation conditions, we were able to achieve a final titer around 100 mg L−1 long chain alcohol/alkane products including a 57 mg L−1 titer of pentadecane, the highest titer reported in E. coli BL21(DE3) to date. The expression of prokaryotic type-I fatty acid synthases offer a unique strategy to produce fatty acid-derived products in E. coli that does not rely exclusively on the endogenous type-II fatty acid synthase system.
Rheumatoid synovial CD4+ T cells exhibit a reduced capacity to differentiate into IL-4-producing T-helper-2 effector cells.

CD4+ memory T cells (Tm) from rheumatoid arthritis peripheral blood (RAPB) or peripheral blood from normal donors produced IL-2, whereas fewer cells secreted IFN-γ or IL-4 after a brief stimulation. RAPB Tm contained significantly more IFN-γ producers than normal cells. Many rheumatoid arthritis (RA) synovial Tm produced IFN-γ alone (40%) and fewer cells produced IL-2 or IL-4. An in vitro model was employed to generate polarized T-helper (Th) effectors. Normal and RAPB Tm differentiated into both IFN-γ- and IL-4-producing effectors. RA synovial fluid (RASF) Tm demonstrated defective responsiveness, exhibiting diminished differentiation of IL-4 effectors, whereas RA synovial tissue (RAST) Tm exhibited defective generation of IFN-γ and IL-4 producers.
Adolescent pregnancy and infant mortality: isolating the effects of race.

Researchers continue to accept the untested assumption that the difference between black and white infant mortality rates is largely attributable to race-linked differences in teenage pregnancies (Wise 1984). The basic notion is that the inordinately high black teenage pregnancy rate (because of its association with low birthweight births) accounts for this difference. This paper tests this key assumption directly and finds only partial support for it. It then argues that the key to the black-white difference in infant mortality is poverty not teenage pregnancy. Using data from the state of North Carolina the results suggest that poverty not race plays the crucial role in infant mortality. (authors)
The Elizabeth River Story: A Case Study in Evolutionary Toxicology

The Elizabeth River system is an estuary in southeastern Virginia, surrounded by the towns of Chesapeake, Norfolk, Portsmouth, and Virginia Beach. The river has played important roles in U.S. history and has been the location of various military and industrial activities. These activities have been the source of chemical contamination in this aquatic system. Important industries, until the 1990s, included wood treatment plants that used creosote, an oil-derived product that is rich in polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH). These plants left a legacy of PAH pollution in the river, and in particular Atlantic Wood Industries is a designated Superfund site now undergoing remediation. Numerous studies examined the distribution of PAH in the river and impacts on resident fauna. This review focuses on how a small estuarine fish with a limited home range, Fundulus heteroclitus (Atlantic killifish or mummichog), has responded to this pollution. While in certain areas of the river this species has clearly been impacted, as evidenced by elevated rates of liver cancer, some subpopulations, notably the one associated with the Atlantic Wood Industries site, displayed a remarkable ability to resist the marked effects PAH have on the embryonic development of fish. This review provides evidence of how pollutants have acted as evolutionary agents, causing changes in ecosystems potentially lasting longer than the pollutants themselves. Mechanisms underlying this evolved resistance, as well as mechanisms underlying the effects of PAH on embryonic development, are also described. The review concludes with a description of ongoing and promising efforts to restore this historic American river.
AI and HCI: Two Fields Divided by a Common Focus

Although AI and HCI explore computing and intelligent behavior and the fields have seen some cross-over, until recently there was not very much. This article outlines a history of the fields that identifies some of the forces that kept the fields at arm’s length. AI was generally marked by a very ambitious, long-term vision requiring expensive systems, although the term was rarely envisioned as being as long as it proved to be, whereas HCI focused more on innovation and improvement of widely-used hardware within a short time-scale. These differences led to different priorities, methods, and assessment approaches. A consequence was competition for resources, with HCI flourishing in AI winters and moving more slowly when AI was in favor. The situation today is much more promising, in part because of platform convergence: AI can be exploited on widely-used systems.
Pressure Drop in a Pebble Bed Reactor Under High Reynolds Number

Pressure drops over a packed bed of a pebble bed reactor were investigated. Measurements of porosity and pressure drop over the bed were carried out in a cylindrical packed-bed facility. Air and wa...
In-situ encapsulation of quantum dots into polymer microspheres.

We have incorporated fluorescent quantum dots (QDs) into polystyrene microspheres using functionalized oligomeric phosphine (OP) ligands. We find that a uniform distribution of quantum dots is loaded inside each polymer bead. Some local close-packing of quantum dots in the beads is attributed to the self-polymerization of the functionalized ligands. The presence of quantum dots disturbs the nucleation and growth processes during the formation of polymer microspheres and results in a wider size distribution of the quantum dot-embedded polystyrene beads than for the control without dots. The change in quantum efficiency of the quantum dots before (∼20%) and after (12%) loading into the beads substantiates the protection of oligomeric phosphine ligands yet indicates that the properties of these quantum dots are still affected during processing.
Endograft Repair of an Aortic Pseudoaneurysm following Gunshot Wound Injury: Impact of Imaging on Diagnosis and Planning of Intervention

Purpose:To describe the endovascular treatment of a gunshot injury to the visceral aorta and the role of various imaging modalities in the staging and planning of the endograft procedure.Methods and Results:The bullet entered the aorta posteriorly beneath the origin of the superior mesenteric artery and traversed the wall in a tangential manner entering the lumen proximal to the renal arteries. Intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) imaging and spiral computed tomography (CT) identified the injury that the initial angiograms failed to demonstrate. Combined use of IVUS and CT imaging enabled observation of the evolution of a pseudoaneurysm until an interval when endograft exclusion was possible. A stent-graft was customized based on precise IVUS and CT dimensional data and implanted successfully through an arteriotomy in the common femoral artery 3 weeks after the initial injury. Three-month follow-up imaging demonstrated continued exclusion of the pseudoaneurysm, and the patient remains well at 16 months.Conclus...
The two faces of the Escherichia coli 23 S rRNA sarcin/ricin domain: the structure at 1.11 A resolution.

Abstract The sarcin/ricin domain of 23 S – 28 S ribosomal RNA is essential for protein synthesis because it forms a critical part of the binding site for elongation factors. A crystal structure of an RNA of 27 nucleotides that mimics the domain in Escherichia coli 23 S rRNA was determined at 1.11 A resolution. The domain folds into a hairpin distorted by four non-canonical base-pairs and one base triple. The fold is stabilized by cross-strand and intra-stand stacking; no intramolecular stabilizing metal ions are observed. This is the first structure to reveal in great detail the geometry and the hydration of two common motifs that are conserved in this rRNA domain, a GAGA tetraloop and a G-bulged cross-strand A stack. Differences in the region connecting these motifs to the stem in the E. coli and in the rat sarcin/ricin domains may contribute to the species-specific binding of elongation factors. Correlation of nucleotide protection data with the structure indicates that the domain has two surfaces. One surface is accessible, lies primarily in the major groove, and is likely to bind the elongation factors. The second lies primarily in the minor groove, and is likely to be buried in the ribosome. This minor groove surface includes the Watson-Crick faces of the cytosine bases in the unusual A2654·C2666 and U2653·C2667 water-mediated base-pairs.
Solid phase method for measurement of the binding capacity of testosterone-estradiol binding globulin in human serum

Abstract A solid phase method for measuring the binding capacity of serum testosterone-estradiol binding globulin (TeBG) is described and compared with other methods. TeBG, a glycoprotein, is adsorbed from serum or plasma onto a solid phase matrix of concanavalin-A, a carbohydrate-specific adsorbent. The TeBG binding capacity is determined by Scatchard analysis of the binding of radioactive testosterone at physiologic pH, in standard test tubes, and without the addition of albumin. Transcortin binding of testosterone is inhibited by the addition of cortisol. The levels of TeBG binding capacity determined with this solid phase method showed an excellent correlation with levels determined by procedures using equilibrium dialysis (with added cortisol) or ammonium sulphate precipitation. The serum TeBG binding capacity was 0.798±0.064 (mean±SE) μg/100 mL in men (n=32), 1.06±0.13 in women (n=10), 2.18±0.19 in women taking oral contraceptives (n=4), 6.2±2.9 in hyperthyroid women (n=2), and 11.6±3.1 in pregnant women (n=5). The serum TeBG binding capacity determined in heparinized plasma did not differ from that determined in serum. The within-assay variation is 9.6% and the between-assay variation is 11.2%. This solid phase method for measurement of serum TeBG binding capacity is simple, precise, and reproducible, and gives values which correlate well with those determined by other methods.
Ultra- Low Loss Optical Fibers: An Overview

A brief summary is provided which outlines recent progress towards the development of infrared transparent fiber optic waveguides with intrinsic optical losses potentially in the 0.01 to 0.001 dB/km range. Among the topics discussed are the selection of candidate materials, problems arising from extrinsic absorp-tion and crystallization in these materials, the approaches to preform and fiber fabrication, and the relevant optical, mechanical and chemical properties of these glasses. An extensive bibliography on the subject is provided for those desire more details on this topic.
Trajectory tracking in the sagittal plane: Decoupled lift/thrust control via tunable impedance approach in flapping-wing MAVs

Flapping-wing micro-aerial vehicles (MAVs) are a relatively new field of research in the robotics community. Inspired by insects, their small size and unique means of force production present many challenges, from morphological construction and power supply to control methodology. Over the past couple of decades, investigating the aeromechanics of insect flight and development of prototypes have been a major focus of most researchers in this field. Those works concentrating on force manipulation and motion control often rely on modifying the properties of wing-beat profile. However, such changes affect both lift and thrust simultaneously, making it very difficult to control these forces independently. The tunable impedance (TI) approach is an alternate method of force manipulation that modifies mechanical impedance properties of the wings rather than their stroke characteristics. In this work, we show how TI can be used to achieve decoupled lift/thrust control. A motion controller developed based on this feature enables a fly-sized model to track given trajectories in the sagittal plane. Results of simulated experiments with various types of trajectories demonstrate a high degree of precision and maneuverability.
Asymptotic normality and uncertainty bounds for reliability estimates from subsystem and full system tests

A previous paper (Spall, 2010) described a method for estimating the reliability of a complex system based on a combination of full system and subsystem tests. A maximum likelihood estimate (MLE) is formed to estimate the subsystem reliabilities and the full system reliability. While the previous paper gave conditions under which the MLE converges to the true reliability as the sample size gets large, the reference left open the question of how to formally compute uncertainty bounds (e.g., confidence bounds). A key part of computing such bounds is the determination of the large-sample (asymptotic) distribution for the estimate. In addition, the asymptotic distribution is important for determining whether the data have enough information to provide meaningful estimates of full system and subsystem reliabilities. This paper presents formal conditions for the asymptotic normality of the MLE to the true full system and subsystem reliability values. The paper also discusses a Monte Carlo-based bootstrap method for computing uncertainty bounds.
Pulmonary Hemorrhage in Very Low Birth Weight Infants: A Case-Control Analysis

In this case-control analysis, pulmonary hemorrhage cases (n = 22) were more likely than gestational age-matched controls (n = 44) to be small for gestational age, have moderate-to-large patent ductus arteriosus, extubate rapidly, and develop grade III-IV intraventricular hemorrhage ( P P = .000), especially if not exposed to indomethacin ( P = .007).
Residual Stress Distribution in Machining Annealed 18 Percent Nickel Maraging Steel

A novel electrolytic etching technique is used to determine the residual stress distribution in the machining of annealed 18 percent nickel maraging steel. Ring shaped specimens were machined under unlubricated orthogonal conditions with carbide cutting tools having wear lands of 0.125, 0.25, and 0.5 mm length at cutting speeds ranging between 0.05 and 1.60 ms−1 . The results of the investigation show that the residual stresses are tensile at the machined surface and decrease with an increase in depth beneath the machined surface. The maximum (near surface) residual stress and depth of the severely stressed region increase with an increase in cutting speed and tool wear land length. The results are interpreted in terms of the variations in the amount of surface region deformation produced by changes in cutting conditions.
Changes in sensory inattention, directional motor neglect and “release” of the fixation reflex following a unilateral frontal lesion: A case report

We recorded eye movements to and away from visual stimuli from a patient with left-sided neglect following a right frontal infarct in order to determine (a) whether and to what extent his neglect was due to sensory inattention and directional motor neglect and (b) whether he had difficulty suppressing inappropriate eye movements to visual stimuli ("release" of visual grasp) as his sensory inattention declined. In the first testing session, conducted 5 days following his stroke, he often failed to move his eyes when a stimulus on the left required a rightward eye movement, but he consistently moved his eyes to a stimulus on the right. Thus, he showed contralateral but not ipsilateral sensory inattention. Initially, he also was impaired in making leftward eye movements when right stimuli were presented. Thus, he also showed a directional motor neglect. In subsequent tests, his left-sided sensory inattention as defined above decreased, and was no longer present three weeks following his stroke, nor in a follow-up test conducted almost 6 months following this stroke. In contrast, his directional motor neglect, as defined above, was still present in the follow-up test. As his left-sided sensory inattention declined, his tendency to move his eyes incorrectly to stimuli on the left side (the side contralateral to his lesion) when these stimuli required eye movements to the right became stronger ("release" of visual grasp); he continued to show this strong tendency in the test conducted almost 6 months following his stroke.
The Diagnosis and Cognitive-Behavioral Management of Kleine-Levin Syndrome A Case Study

Kleine-Levin syndrome is a rare disorder characterized by alternating periods of exceedingly prolonged sleep and disordered waking and normal sleep and alert waking. Wakeful periods during an episode are usually marked by social withdrawal and accompanied by a variety of maladaptive behaviors, including hallucinations, delusions, sexual disinhibition, severe anxiety, depression, memory impairment, and increased appetite. Due to the rarity and complexity of the disorder, Kleine-Levin can be easily misdiagnosed. This article reports the case of an 11-year-old male who was referred to an outpatient psychology clinic. The study may assist practitioners in more accurately diagnosing the disorder and describes a cognitive-behavioral intervention that may be useful in the management of Kleine-Levin syndrome.
Effects of Surface Chemistry on the Nanomechanical Properties of Commercial Float Glass

Nanoindentation was used to evaluate the mechanical properties of commercial float glass surfaces that were subjected to various surface cleaning treatments and other short-term corrosion conditions. The changes in the plane strain elastic modulus, where νs and Es are the Poisson ratio and Young modulus of the specimen, respectively) and hardness after exposure to dilute hydrochloric acid (pH 0.9), reverse osmosis water (pH 7.1), and commercial cleaning solutions (pH 9.5) were found to be 0.5%–9% and 2%–35%, respectively. Similarly, weathering in a humid atmosphere and leaching in hot deionized water also had a distinct effect on the measured properties of the float glass surfaces. Moreover, both the surface cleaning treatments and the short-term corrosion exposures affected the tin side of the float glass differently than the air side. This work suggests that many of the discrepancies in the literature on the effect of tin concentration on the nanomechanical properties of float glass surfaces are likely due to variability in the surface cleaning and exposure history of the samples and calibration glasses that have been used.
Discovery of neuroprotective soluble guanylate cyclase modulators (GCMs) aciting via NO/GC/cGMP/CREB pathway

NO/cGMP signaling is essential for normal brain function, including learning and memory, and mediation of long-term potentiation (LTP). NO/cGMP signaling is coupled to cholinergic, glutamatergic, and dopaminergic systems and plays key roles in motor function associated with Parkinson’s disease pathogenesis and L-DOPA therapy. In Alzheimer’s Disease (AD), early synaptic failure, has been linked to dysfunction of gene expression programs mediated via the transcription factor cAMP-response element binding protein (CREB), activation of which is tightly regulated by NO/cGMP. Since several neurodegenerative disorders continue to be dogmatically linked to the chemical toxicity of NO, activation of soluble guanylyl cyclase (sGC) represents a potential therapeutic approach in both AD and PD; whereas negative modulation of sGC may be of use in some stages of PD. Such small molecule sGC modulators (GCMs) can be assayed in cell cultures by measuring levels of phosphorylated CREB (pCREB). GCMs that allosterically potentiate NO activation of sGC have proven successful in clinical trials for peripheral indications, however, there are no reports directed at therapeutic activity in the CNS. The aim of this study is to develop GCMs for use in CNS disorders, including AD and PD. A library of GCMs was synthesized, including positive allosteric modulators (PAMs) and negative modulators, as assessed by increasing levels of pCREB in SH-SY5Y human neuroblastoma cell cultures. Molecules were designed by classical bioisosteric replacement, aiming for desirable physiochemical properties and chemical diversity. GCM PAMs were assayed for cGMP elevation and reversal of neurotoxicity induced by 6-hydroxydopamine in dopaminergic neuronal cells. One GCM PAM, active in cell culture, was further tested for the reversal of memory deficits in mice treated with scopolamine, and drug levels in brain and plasma measured. The ligand binding site for sGC stimulators and GCM PAMs on the sGC protein remains to be definitively defined. Photoaffinity probes were designed that retained the activity of the parent GCM PAM in cell cultures in order to elucidate the binding mode to sGC and to indicate other protein partners for such compounds.
Recovering endangered species and restoring ecosystems: conservation planning for the twenty-first century in the United States

The Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended, is one of the most significant pieces of conservation legislation ever passed in the United States. The passage of this act spawned the creation of the Endangered Species Program of the US. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). Under the Act, the USFWS has responsibility for implementing many provisions of the Act: listings, consultations, enforcement of prohibitions and recovery planning. Recovering threatened and endangered species, as well as other declining species yet to be listed, is accomplished through many of the activities that occur under the auspices of the Act, not only through the formal recovery planning process. The Act is fundamentally an instrument for ecosystem conservation, although this aspect of the Act is often over-looked. Planning and implementing an ecosystem approach to conservation activities is a priority for the USFWS, not only for threatened and endangered species but for all wildlife. The recent emphasis on regional habitat conservation planning and the development of regional and multi-species recovery plans are indicative of the priority placed on sound ecosystem conservation planning. All of these processes are implemented with the participation of the potentially affected communities and state wildlife management agencies through a public review process. State conservation agencies are part of the process through a special grant programme.
Joan Didion's Play it as it Lays and the Vacuity of the “Here and Now”

(1980). Joan Didion's Play it as it Lays and the Vacuity of the “Here and Now”. Critique: Studies in Contemporary Fiction: Vol. 21, No. 3, pp. 53-60.