cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Technetium-99 cycling in deciduous forests: review and ecosystem model development

Abstract This paper presents a model to summarize information on the fate of technetium-99 ( 99 Tc) in a woodland site amidst an old radioactive waste disposal area in the eastern United States. Rate constants for 99 Tc transfer between the biological and physical components of the forest have been derived based on field measurements and associated laboratory studies. The fate of 99 Tc in the woodland occupying the drainage are immediately adjacent to the disposal site was simulated with the derived rate constants and some assumptions about relative inputs to and outputs from the surface soil available pool in the model forest. A steady state in the distribution of 99 Tc among soil compartments and forest compartments was reached in simulations after ∼30 years of continuous input to the soil available pool. If the rate of 99 Tc export from the soil available pool exceeded inputs to the pool by ten times, then the model forest had little impact on the cumulative loss of 99 Tc from the system. Under steady state conditions (input to the soil available pool equalled export), 42% of the total 99 Tc input to the system during a 34-year period was retained by the forest, mostly in the unavailable mineral soil pool. This model, along with a review of recent work by other researchers, explains the probable fate of 99 Tc that might enter element cycles in humid deciduous forests typical of the eastern United States. Experience with the model points to a need for further work on reduction and reoxidation rates of 99 Tc in soil, particularly studies of reoxidation rate in soils where 99 Tc has been recycled from aboveground or belowground organic matter.
The Construction and Testing of YBCO Pancake Coils for a High Field Solenoid

Pancake coils are being fabricated using second generation (2G) High Temperature Superconductor (HTS) for a prototype 10 T solenoid. The length of conductor in each coil is 100 m and the inner diameter of the coil is 101 mm. The critical current of each coil was measured at 77 K in liquid nitrogen and down to ~20 K in helium gas. It has been observed that the effect of thermal shock during cool-down may cause coil performance to degrade irreversibly. The detailed results and the improvements to achieve 10 T will be discussed.
Spontaneous Trait Inference Is Culture-Specific: Behavioral and Neural Evidence

People with an independent model of the self may be expected to develop a spontaneous tendency to infer a personality trait from another person’s behavior, but those with an interdependent model of the self may not show such a tendency. We tested this prediction by assessing the cumulative effect of both trait activation and trait binding in a diagnostic task that required no trait inference. Participants first memorized pairings of facial photos with trait-implying behavior. In a subsequent lexical decision task, European Americans showed clear evidence of spontaneous trait inference: When they were primed with a previously studied face, lexical decision for the word for the implied trait associated with that face was facilitated, and the antonym of the implied trait elicited an electrophysiological sign associated with processing of semantically inconsistent information (i.e., the N400). As predicted, however, neither effect was observed for Asian Americans. The cultural difference was mediated by indep...
Changes in Vegetation Structure after Long-term Grazing in Pinyon- Juniper Ecosystems: Integrating Imaging Spectroscopy and Field Studies

We used field studies and imaging spectroscopy to investigate the effect of grazing on vegetation cover in historically grazed and ungrazed high-mesa rangelands of the Grand Staircase‐Escalante National Monument, Utah, USA. Airborne hyperspectral remote sensing data coupled with spectral mixture analysis uncovered subtle variations in the key biogeophysical properties of these rangelands: the fractional surface cover of photosynthetic vegetation (PV), nonphotosynthetic vegetation (NPV), and bare soil. The results show that a high-mesa area with long-term grazing management had significantly higher PV (26.3%), lower NPV (54.5%), and lower bare soil (17.2%) cover fractions in comparison to historically ungrazed high-mesa pinyonjuniper rangelands. Geostatistical analyses of remotely sensed PV, NPV, and bare soil were used to analyze differences in ecosystem structure between grazed and ungrazed regions. They showed that PV was spatially autocorrelated over longer distances on grazed areas, whereas NPV and bare soil were spatially autocorrelated over longer distances on ungrazed areas. Field data on the fractional cover of PV, NPV, and bare soil confirmed these remote sensing results locally. Field studies also showed a significantly higher percentage composition of shrubs (27.3%) and forbs (30.2%) and a significantly lower composition of grasses (34.4%) and cacti (1.1%) in grazed areas. No significant difference between grazed and ungrazed mesas was found in percentage composition of trees or in the number of canopies per hectare. Our combined remote sensing and field-based results suggest that grazing has contributed to woody thickening in these pinyon‐juniper ecosystems through an increase in shrubs in the understory and intercanopy spaces. These results improve our understanding of broad-scale changes in pinyon‐juniper ecosystem structural composition and variability due to longterm grazing.
EVOLUTION IN A CONSTANT ENVIRONMENT: THERMAL FLUCTUATIONS AND THERMAL SENSITIVITY OF LABORATORY AND FIELD POPULATIONS OF MANDUCA SEXTA

Adaptation to temporal variation in environmental conditions is widespread. Whether evolution in a constant environment alters adaptation to temporal variation is relatively unexplored. We examine how constant and diurnally fluctuating temperature conditions affect life-history traits in two populations of the tobacco hornworm, Manduca sexta: a field population that routinely experiences fluctuating temperatures; and a laboratory population (derived from this field population in the 1960s) maintained at a constant temperature for more than 250 generations. Our experiments demonstrate that diurnal fluctuations significantly alter body size and development time in both populations, and confirm that these populations differ in their responses to a mean temperature. However, we found no evidence for population divergence in responses to diurnal temperature fluctuations. We suggest that mean and extreme temperatures may act as more potent selective forces on thermal reaction norms than temperature variation per se.
Greening chemistry: Emerging epistemic political tensions in California and the United States

Green chemistry promises to make the global chemical industry more sustainable through redesigning chemical production. Nonetheless, many green chemists in the US have focused on persuading other chemists and industrial corporations to change through education and voluntary industry action. Green chemistry in the US may have stagnated relatively because of missing societal input and public scrutiny of chemistry choices. Using recent green chemistry policy experiments in California and the US, I explore how new epistemic political tensions over the roles of expertise, societal participation, and regulation may be creating new societal input and, perhaps, greater industry take-up. I consider whether the concept of socially robust knowledge can help illuminate California’s experiments more broadly, and find that this concept needs to be expanded to include the politics of expertise and institutional innovations for increasing information flows between experts and societal actors.
Nonlinear wave-mixing processes in the extreme ultraviolet

We present data from two-color high-order harmonic generation in a hollow waveguide, that suggest the presence of a nonlinear-optical frequency conversion process driven by extreme ultraviolet light. By combining the fundamental and second harmonic of an $800\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{nm}$ laser in a hollow-core fiber, with varying relative polarizations, and by observing the pressure and power scaling of the various harmonic orders, we show that the data are consistent with a picture where we drive the process of high-harmonic generation, which in turn drives four-wave frequency mixing processes in the extreme EUV. This work promises a method for extending nonlinear optics into the extreme ultraviolet region of the spectrum using an approach that has not previously been considered, and has compelling implications for generating tunable light at short wavelengths.
Search, Liquidity, and Retention: Signaling Multidimensional Private Information ∗

I present a model in which sellers can signal the quality of an asset both by retaining a fraction of the asset and by choosing the liquidity of the market in which they search for buyers. Although these signals may seem interchangeable, I present two settings which show they are not. In the rst setting, sellers have private information regarding only asset quality, and I show that liquidity dominates retention as a signal in equilibrium. In the second setting, both asset quality and seller impatience are privately known, and I show that both retention and liquidity operate simultaneously to fully separate the two dimensions of private information. Contrary to received theory, the fully separating equilibrium of the second setting may contain regions where market liquidity is increasing in asset quality. Finally, I show that if sellers design an assetbacked security before receiving private information regarding its quality, then the optimality of standard debt is robust to the paper’s various settings.
Activity of oxaliplatin plus capecitabine (CapeOx) with lapatinib for metastatic colorectal cancer: results from two patients treated on a clinical study.

Colorectal cancer is the third most commonly diagnosed malignancy and the third leading cause of cancer death in the United States. Ninety-four percent of cases are adenocarcinomas, and more than half of patients have locoregionally advanced or metastatic disease at the time of diagnosis.2 Of those who undergo surgery for localized disease, 30–50% recur either locally or with metastatic disease in the liver (20–70%) and/or lung (10–20%).3-5 Recent advances in chemotherapy for metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) have included the introduction of oxaliplatin and irinotecan-based regimens as first-line treatment. Median overall survival (OS) rates have improved from approximately 10 months with fluorouracil (5-FU) alone to 20 months or more with newer regimens.6-13 Additional improvement in progressionfree survival (PFS) and objective response rate (ORR) has been seen with the addition of cetuximab to the 5-FU, leucovorin, and irinotecan (FOLFIRI) regimen in first-line treatment.14 The use of cetuximab-containing regimens for mCRC may be further refined by testing tumors for KRAS mutations, as cetuximab appears to work exclusively against tumors with wild-type KRAS.15 Other advances include the addition of the anti-VEGF agent bevacizumab (Avastin, Genentech) to existing chemotherapy regimens. Adding bevacizumab to the 5-FU, leucovorin, and irinotecan (IFL) regimen resulted in a significant improvement in median OS in one large study.16 In another study, the addition of bevacizumab to 5-FU, leucovorin, and oxaliplatin (FOLFOX) improved PFS in the treatment of mCRC, though no benefit was seen in OS.17 Despite improvements in the treatment of mCRC, prognosis remains poor once the disease progresses after
Feral Swine Leptospira Seroprevalence Survey in Hawaii, USA, 2007–2009

Leptospirosis is considered the most widespread of zoonotic diseases. It was a notifiable disease in the United States until 1995 and was reinstated to the list of nationally notifiable diseases in 2014. During the time of national surveillance, Hawaii consistently led the nation in reported annual incidence rates. Leptospirosis has remained a reportable disease in Hawaii. Significant changes have been documented since the early 1970s in the predominant serogroup infecting humans in Hawaii: infections due to Icterohaemorrhagiae have declined while infections due to Australis have increased. A recent study from Hawaii demonstrated that Australis was an uncommon infecting serogroup for small mammal hosts. Swine have not been previously studied in Hawaii but are well-recognized maintenance hosts for leptospires belonging to the Australis serogroup. This study was undertaken to assess the prevalence of Leptospira antibody in feral swine in Hawaii. From January 2007 through December 2009, blood samples were collected opportunistically from feral swine. Using the microscopic agglutination test, we found antibody titres ≥1 : 100 to leptospires in 272 (33.8%) of 804 feral swine. The most frequently reacting serovars to the swine sera were Icterohaemorrhagiae (Icterohaemorrhagiae serogroup) (41.5%) and Bratislava (Australis serogroup) (33.8%). The high seroprevalence and presumptively infecting serovars suggest a link between swine and human infection.
Knowledge divided against itself

Humanistic intellectuals have tended to regard science as an alien realm of merely technical knowledge. This situation not only deprives our educational system and society of a great mode of inquiry but also cuts off advances in knowledge from pervasive social problems.
A new species of Leptolegniella.

A new keratinophilic water mold was found while soil samples were being screened for Actinoplanaceae (Couch, 1955a, 1955b). The meth? ods described by Couch of baiting the water cultures with Liquidambar pollen, Paspalum grass, and hair were used. The mold grew with intramatrical mycelium and produced external zoosporangia and oogonia on the hair. This fungus is described as a new species of Leptolegniella Huneycutt and is compared with L. keratinophilum Huneycutt (1952) and L. piligena Ookubo & Kobayasi (1955).
Antibiotics Are the Most Commonly Identified Cause of Perioperative Hypersensitivity Reactions.

Background Hypersensitivity reactions (HSRs) during the perioperative period are unpredictable and can be life threatening. Prospective studies for the evaluation of perioperative HSRs are lacking, and data on causative agents vary between different studies. Objective The objective of this study was to prospectively determine the success of a comprehensive allergy evaluation plan for patients with HSRs during anesthesia, including identification of a causative agent and outcomes during subsequent anesthesia exposure. Methods All patients referred for a perioperative HSR between November 2013 and March 2015, from a Boston teaching hospital, were evaluated using a standardized protocol with skin testing (ST) within 6 months of HSR. Comprehensive allergy evaluation included collection of patient information, including characteristics of HSR during anesthesia. We reviewed the results of ST and/or test doses for all potential causative medications Event-related tryptase levels were reviewed when available. Results Over 17 months, 25 patients completed the comprehensive allergy evaluation. Fifty-two percent (13 of 25) were female with a median age of 52 (interquartile range 43-66) years. The most frequently observed HSR systems were cutaneous (68%), cardiovascular (64%), and pulmonary (24%). A culprit drug, defined as a positive ST, was identified in 36% (9 of 25) of patients. The most common agent identified was cefazolin (6 of 9). After our comprehensive evaluation and management plan, 7 (7 of 8, 88%) patients tolerated subsequent anesthesia. Conclusions Cefazolin was the most commonly identified cause of a perioperative HSR in our study population. Skin testing patients within 6 months of a perioperative HSR may improve the odds of finding a positive result. Tolerance of subsequent anesthesia is generally achieved in patients undergoing our comprehensive evaluation.
Observation of Photoinduced Charge Transfer in Novel Luminescent CdSe Quantum Dot–CePO4:Tb Metal Oxide Nanowire Composite Heterostructures

We report on the synthesis, structural characterization, and intrinsic charge transfer processes associated with novel luminescent zero-dimensional (0D) CdSe nanocrystal–one-dimensional (1D) CePO4:Tb nanowire composite heterostructures. Specifically, ∼4 nm CdSe quantum dots (QDs) have been successfully anchored onto high-aspect ratio CePO4:Tb nanowires, measuring ∼65 nm in diameter and ∼2 μm in length. Composite formation was confirmed by high-resolution transmission microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy mapping, and confocal microscopy. Photoluminescence (PL) spectra, emission decay, and optical absorption of these nanoscale heterostructures were collected and compared with those of single, discrete CdSe QDs and CePO4:Tb nanowires. We show that our composite heterostructure evinces both PL quenching and a shorter average lifetime as compared with unbound CdSe QDs and CePO4:Tb nanowires. We propose that a photoinduced 0D–1D charge transfer process occurs between CdSe and CePO4:Tb and that it re...
Computational Modeling of Networked Infrastructures: Macroscopic Multivariate Approach

AbstractInfrastructure planners must perform many time-consuming simulations to prescreen numerous design alternatives. For example, transportation engineers must assess several alternatives to alleviate road transportation network congestion, such as constructing roads, changing organizations’ operating times, and changing shopping center locations. Evaluating alternatives requires considering changes in both structural and dynamic attributes of a network. A framework is proposed based on network science, computational science, and multivariate statistics to help planners train a model that can evaluate various alternatives efficiently. This model saves significant time and computational resources. The trained model takes structural and dynamic attributes as inputs and promptly returns macroscopic performance measures such as the averages and standard deviations of speed and volume over capacity. The model was trained using the Greater Philadelphia road network. Its average prediction error is 6%. Consid...
Nonsynonymous HTR2C polymorphism predicts cortisol response to psychosocial stress II: Evidence from two samples

Abstract The 5-HT 2C receptor is the primary serotonin receptor located in the corticotrophin releasing hormone (CRH) neurons of the hypothalamus. These neurons initiate the signaling cascade that culminates in cortisol release. Therefore, genetic variation in the 5-HT 2C receptor gene ( HTR2C ) is a prime candidate for affecting cortisol reactivity to stress. Accordingly, we examined the association of a nonsynonymous polymorphism (Cys23Ser; rs6318) in HTR2C with stress reactivity in two Trier Social Stress Tests conducted at separate sites. In both Study 1 ( N = 128) and Study 2 ( N = 185), Cys23 homozygous females and hemizygous males had greater cortisol reactivity. There was no relation between this polymorphism and self-reported affective response (Studies 1 and 2) or cardiovascular reactivity (Study 2). Additionally, the short/short genotype of a polymorphism (5-HTTLPR) in the serotonin transporter gene was associated with greater cortisol reactivity in Study 1 as well as in Study 2 (previously reported). The Cys23Ser polymorphism and the 5-HTTLPR were independently associated with cortisol reactivity in both studies. These findings emphasize the important role of genetic variation in the serotonin system on regulating cortisol reactivity to social evaluative stress. Comparison of the present associations with those of prior studies underscores the likely importance of situational and psychological factors in determining the direction and magnitude of the association between genotype and phenotype.
Study on polysomnography in differential diagnosis of snoring children

Objective To study the differential diagnostic value of polysomnography in children with snoring. Methods Forty-eight children with sleep snoring were performed polysomnography monitoring for the whole night 7 ～ 8 hours. Results There were 21 children with apnea/hypopnea index(AHI) 1,in 16 children 1 ≤AHI 5,11 children AHI ≥ 5,the average SaO2,lowest SaO2,longest desaturation and time of SaO2 95 % was different significantly(P 0.01) between the last two group and first group,but snore index and total number of snore events was no significant difference(P 0.05) among these groups. Conclusion Polysomnography is a good method to distinguish sleep apnea syndrome and benign snoring in children with snoring,AHI ≥ 1 is appropriate to diagnosis the sleep apnea syndrome in children.
70 LOSS OF PTEN EXPRESSION IN MICROSATELLITE UNSTABLE COLORECTAL CANCER

Purpose Microsatellite unstable-high (MSI-H) colorectal cancers account for 15% of sporadic colorectal cancers and indicate genomic instability at microsatellite sequences. Many MSI mutations occur in targeted genes important for regulation of growth suppression. The tumor suppressor gene PTEN, located at chromosome sub-band 10q23.3, encodes a dual-specificity phosphatase that negatively regulates the phosphatidylinositol 3′-kinase (PI3 K)/Akt-dependent cellular survival pathway. PTEN contains two coding hexadenine microsatellites that often change in length within cancers of the breast, endometrium, prostate, and reportedly colon cancers, and is thought to play a role in its pathogenesis. Here, we analyzed MSI-H sporadic colorectal cancers to determine if PTEN microsatellite frameshifts occur and whether somatic inactivation of PTEN occurs in the tumors with PTEN frameshift mutations. Methods 91 MSI-H sporadic colon cancers from a total cohort of 710 sporadic colon cancers were analyzed for mutations in two hexadenine tracts (exons 7 and 8) of PTEN. PTEN expression was determined by immunohistochemistry using an antibody targeting an epitope beyond the predicted truncated protein. Results 9/91 MSI-H cancers (10%) demonstrated frameshifts in exon 8 while 2/62 demonstrated frameshifts in exon 7 (3%). Of tumors with mutant PTEN, all demonstrated down regulation or complete loss of PTEN in the epithelium. Conclusions PTEN frameshifts occur at a greater rate in exon 8 than exon 7 in MSI-H sporadic colorectal cancers. PTEN frameshift mutations are associated with down-regulation or inactivation of PTEN in MSI-H sporadic colorectal cancers. Loss of this function may contribute to the pathogenesis of colon cancers.
On Cultivating the Reading Comprehension Ability in the Foreign Languages Test for Promotion of Professional Titles

In face of yearly foreign languages test for promotion of professional titles, many examinees feel at a loss on how to prepare for it. According to the Program for Professional Personnel Grading Test, the foreign languages test aims mainly at assessing the reading comprehension ability of articles in foreign languages and the actual proficiency in the language. Therefore, in preparing for the test, emphasis must be laid on the intensive training of reading ability. This paper discusses the importance and effect of intensive reading comprehension training, means and ways of cultivating and raising the level of reading comprehension and some of the problems that should be noted in preparation for the test. It is hoped that the following discussion might offer some help to the readers in acquiring their proficiency in the foreign language test.
A Point-of-Care Raman Spectroscopy-Based Device for the Diagnosis of Gout and Pseudogout: Comparison With the Clinical Standard Microscopy.

Objective To demonstrate the usefulness of a novel medical device based on Raman spectroscopy for the rapid point-of-care diagnosis of gout and pseudogout. Methods A shoebox-sized point-of-care Raman spectroscopy (POCRS) device was developed for use in the diagnosis of gout and pseudogout. The device included a disposable syringe microfiltration kit to collect arthropathic crystals from synovial fluid and a customized automated Raman spectroscopy system to chemically identify crystal species. Diagnosis according to the findings of POCRS was compared with the clinical standard diagnosis based on compensated polarized light microscopy (CPLM) of synovial fluid aspirates collected from symptomatic patients (n = 174). Kappa coefficients were used to measure the agreement between POCRS and CPLM findings. Results Overall, POCRS and CPLM results were consistent in 89.7% of samples (156 of 174). For the diagnosis of gout, the kappa coefficient for POCRS and CPLM was 0.84 (95% confidence interval [95% CI] 0.75–0.94). For the diagnosis of pseudogout, the kappa coefficient for POCRS and CPLM was 0.61 (95% CI 0.42–0.81). Conclusion Kappa coefficients indicated that there was excellent agreement between POCRS and CPLM for the diagnosis of gout, with good agreement for the diagnosis of pseudogout. The POCRS device holds the potential to standardize and expedite the time to clinical diagnosis of gout and pseudogout, especially in settings where certified operators trained for CPLM analysis are not available.
Condensation of plasmid DNA by benzyl hydraphiles and lariat ethers: dependence on pH and chain length

AbstractLariat ethers and hydraphiles have been studied by the use of gel electrophoresis to evaluate the complexation of a 10 kilobase plasmid DNA. Both receptor systems show behaviour that reflects differences in side or spacer chain lengths. In addition, the formation of complexes or aggregates (identified by transmission electron microscopy, TEM) is pH dependent. Some detergents and polyamines can affect the formation and/or deaggregation of the complexes which TEM shows form particles of a relatively uniform size (~100–150 nm) and density for a specific receptor.
On a forest as a commodity and on commodification in the discipline of forestry

Abstract This essay revolves around two dates separated by a decade: a retrospective look based on Samuelson (1976), and a prospective one that relies on Mitra-Wan (1985–1986). It concerns a tension between two communities: to understand the basis of this dissonance, and to open lines of communication that seek to dispel it. More specifically, it relies on two frameworks (Walrasian general equilibrium theory, as in Arrow-Debreu-McKenzie-Uzawa-Gale-Nikaido-Kuhn and others, and the Ramseyian theory of optimal growth, as in Samuelson-Solow-Cass-Koopmans-Uzawa-Srinivasan and others), formalized and continually refined in the last half of the 20th century to deal with interaction and with time, both essential considerations in any kind of economics of forestry. It also gives prominence to the Muir- Pinchot controversy at the very beginning of the 20th century, and thereby underscores its relevance to current ongoing tensions and anxieties regarding issues of sustainability and global-warming. From a purely analytical point of view, it alludes in passing to the potential relevance to forestry economics of mean field theories in physics, and of subgame-perfect equilibria in the theory of non-cooperative games.
Basic “Small-Signal” Modulation Response

Most predictions of direct modulation response behavior of laser diodes are derived from a small-signal analysis of the spatially averaged rate equations 1.19 and 1.20. This approach involves the assumption that the laser diode is driven by a “small” sinusoidal current at frequency ω, superimposed on a DC bias current: \(J(t) = {J}_{0} + j(\omega )\exp (\mathrm{i}\omega t)\). The photon and electron density variables, n and p, are assumed to similarly consist of a “steady-state” part, and a “small” time-varying part: \(n(t) = {n}_{0} + n(t)\); \(p(t) = {p}_{0} + p(t)\).
Emerging role of positron emission tomography in prostate cancer

775 Learning Objectives: 1. Review the translational and clinical imaging literature on the role of PET in prostate cancer. 2. List the major radiotracers used in the PET imaging evaluation of prostate cancer and the clinical circumstances (tumor grade, stage, PSA, androgen responsiveness, etc.) that one radiotracer may be preferred over others. 3. Describe the underlying biological basis for the uptake of various PET radiotracers in prostate cancer. Abstract Body: Imaging evaluation of prostate cancer remains challenging due to the disease heterogeneity. As oncology departures from nonspecific diagnosis and treatment toward patient-specific approach to therapy, accurate knowledge of the presence and extent of disease becomes crucial in order to tailor the treatment plan appropriately. PET, and more recently hybrid PET-CT, has become an important diagnostic imaging tool in oncologic imaging. There has been a growing interest in the utility of PET with various radiotracers (e.g. F-18 fluoride, FDG, C-11 or F-18 labeled acetate, C-11 or F-18 labeled choline, FDHT, FMISO, etc.) for the imaging evaluation of prostate cancer. We provide an evidence-based review of our as well as others9 experience with PET in this clinical setting and propose a diagnostic imaging algorithm, including PET, suited to the clinical circumstance. Research Support: Supported by NIH/NCI R01-CA111613-01.
Wavelength agile photoacoustic microscopy with a pulsed supercontinuum source

We are developing a multiwavelength photoacoustic microscopy system based on a pulsed optical source with high repetition rate (i.e. several kHz) and rapid wavelength tunability. The key feature is the generation of an ultrabroadband spectrum by propagating laser pulses from a microchip laser through several meters of photonic crystal fiber (PCF). The air-silica honeycomb-like microstructure of these fibers provides extremely tight optical confinement and favorable dispersion properties to dramatically enhance nonlinear optical propagation. The Q-switched Nd:YAG microchip laser produces 0.6 ns duration pulses at 1064 nm with 8 uJ of energy at a 6.6 kHz repetition rate. These pulses are sent through 7 meters of PCF with a 5 um diameter core and a zero dispersion wavelength of 1040 nm. The supercontinuum is sent through a prism-based monochromator that can rapidly select the desired wavelength. The selected wavelength is sent to a photoacoustic microscopy system employing optical focusing. Detection is performed with a 25 MHz spherically focused f/2 transducer. Ten different wavelengths (570 to 930 nm) are acquired in less than 500 ms for each image pixel. For each wavelength, approximately 200 signals are averaged together before storage. The multiwavelength images were processed with a simple approach based on linear discriminant analysis. Multiwavelength imaging is tested on phantoms with different color inks. A major advantage of our tunable source is the rapid access to widely separated wavelengths. The small pulse energy (i.e. 30 nJ) limits this source to photoacoustic microscopy systems employing optical focusing. Nevertheless, we believe this rapidly tunable laser can significantly benefit spectroscopic photoacoustic microscopy.
ASSOCIATION OF ANKLE BRACHIAL INDEX AND HEMOGLOBIN A1C WITH ALL-CAUSE AND CARDIOVASCULAR MORTALITY: RESULTS FROM THE NATIONAL HEALTH AND NUTRITION EXAMINATION SURVEY 1999 TO 2000

Background: Both ankle brachial index (ABI) and hemoglobin A1c (A1c) are independently associated with mortality. The combination of ABI and A1c with all-cause and cardiovascular (CV) mortality has not been examined. Methods: We followed 1,813 participants from NHANES for 11.5 years (median). We
Interfaces of Molecular Recognition Sites and Biosensors; Novel Bio-Sensing Materials

We introduce a sensing element, “Molecularly Imprinted Polymer (MIP),” which created by “Molecular Imprinted Technique.” However, the sensitivity of MIP’s based bio-sensors limits for practical applications due to the low sensitivity. To achieve a high sensitivity of MIP’s based sensors, the synthesis of “high affinity receptor or binding sites,” such as “monoclonal particles” is a key objective. In previous studies, affinity distribution plots indicated that “high affinity binding sites” were obtained when the number of binding sites per particle decreased. It means that smaller particles are expected to have higher affinity binding sites compared to larger particles. The result motivated us to produce small-sized MIP’s particles for the achievement of higher sensitivity. Microfluidic Synthesis has taken a great attention to synthesize small particles. However, the microfluidic synthesis gave us a difficulty, especially collections of MIP’s particles from the surface of PDMS-based microchannels due to a sticking problem. Thus, we employed a new approach, which can collect MIP’s particles without any sticking problem from the surface of the reactor. It is a photopatterned MIP’s system generated on the glass surface. We prepared a photomask with micro-sized patterns and then fabricate MIP’s particles on a glass surface by photopolymerization. Uniform MIP’s patterns were printed on the glass surface. The interface between the glass surface and the MIP’s pattern was observed by SEM. Micro-sized MIP’s particles were collected from the glass surface by scratching off the photocured MIP’s patterns.
Why You So Angry

In late Summer 2015, the world tuned in to watch Serena Williams make herstory at the U.S. Open. With the possibilities of tying Steffi Graf’s record of winning 22 Grand Slam Singles titles and being only the fourth woman in history to achieve a calendar year Grand Slam, the fervor around Williams reached a fever pitch as she walked onto the court of the semifinals in Flushing, New York. Having already solidified a legacy as one of the best athletes of all time, a victory at the 2015 U.S.
Management and Morality/Ethics—The Elusive Corporate Morals

Morals are shared understandings in which humans' highest aspirations and dreams come to fulfilment, and the underpinnings of many, if not all, collective human pursuits. Whether in everyday settings or at critical life junctures, morals allow us to distinguish right from wrong and good from bad. They guide and justify thought and action in all arenas of social life. But are there any such things as corporate morals? Put otherwise, do members of corporations (particularly those leading them) have a shared understanding of their world.
Architectural Overview and Hedgehog in Use

Robotics is a versatile tool for teaching STEM topics, as it supports various disciplines, skill sets and target audiences. However, controllers used in Educational Robotics are often limited in their use cases. In this regard, Hedgehog tries to be flexible by design. This paper introduces Hedgehog’s architecture, currently implemented and future use cases, and experiences from our first Hedgehog workshops.
Chinatown opera theater in North America

Cantonese opera—the theatrical form implicitly referenced in this book's title—has since the second half of the nineteenth century been one of the most widespread and significant performing arts em...
Effects of the use of neuromuscular blocking agents on acute respiratory distress syndrome outcomes: A systematic review.

Background and purpose Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is a high-mortality disease with limited treatment options. Optimization of gas exchange while limiting damage to the lungs is key. The use of neuromuscular blocking agents may limit hypoxemia while preventing ventilator-induced lung injury. Methods A literature search was conducted using Ovid Medline and the exploded MeSH terms ARDS, acute respiratory distress syndrome, neuromuscular blockade, neuromuscular blocking agents, and paralytics. With limitations applied, three original randomized controlled trials investigating the use of neuromuscular blocking agents (NMBAs) in severe ARDS were identified and reviewed. Conclusions Two of the three trials demonstrated improved primary outcomes with the use of NMBA. The third trial was underpowered (due to unanticipated low mortality in the control group) and did not show a statistically significant improvement in the primary outcome. As all the original research was conducted by the same group, further investigation is necessary to assess generalizability and confirm results. Currently, additional research is underway, focusing on early enrollment and narrow inclusion criteria. Implications for practice Secondary analysis from two separate groups concluded the improved outcomes, with no evidence of increased risk of critical illness polyneuropathy or myopathy, suggest that the use of NMBAs in severe ARDS is appropriate.
A Review of the State-of-the-Art Superconductor Technology for High Power Applications

The all-electric or hybrid electric aircraft concepts promise to open up a new revolution in aviation design. However, with this paradigm shift comes problems in the use of existing materials. For example, normal conductors such as Cu or Al exhibit waste heat with a geometric dependence on current (Q=I2 R) which, for higher power (current) applications necessitates that costly and heavy cooling apparatus be installed. The sheer volume of conductor needed for high power applications also serves to increase weight. In this paper we advocate for the use of superconducting materials to serve the aerospace industry's need for high power electric aircraft as they can carry exponentially more current in the superconducting state than normal conductors, thus reducing weight and volume. The weight and size of any cooling apparatus associated with superconductivity will thus be much reduced in size as well. In rotating machines (i.e. motors and generators) superconductors have the added benefit of being able to sustain much higher magnetic fields than conventional materials, thus enabling higher efficiencies. In this paper we will first detail the advantages of superconductors for use in aircraft platforms and then proceed with brief summaries of the current state-of-the-art for the most advanced (in terms of R&D effort) superconducting systems. We will conclude with a brief summary in machine technology where we will address the problem of AC Losses.
A novel method for imminent crash prediction and prevention

Abstract A crash prediction and prevention method was proposed to detect imminent crash risk and help recommend traffic control strategies to prevent crashes. The method consists of two modules, the crash prediction module and the crash prevention module. The crash prediction module detects crash-prone conditions when the predicted crash probability exceeds a specified threshold. Then the crash prevention module would simulate the safety effect of traffic control alternatives and recommend the optimal one. The proposed method was demonstrated in a case study with variable speed limit (VSL). Results showed that the proposed crash prediction and prevention method could effectively detect crash-prone conditions and evaluate the safety and mobility impacts of various safety countermeasures.
Video recommendation using crowdsourced time-sync comments

Most existing work on video recommendation focuses on recommending a video as a whole, largely due to the unavailability of semantic information on video shot-level. Recently a new type of video comments has emerged, called time-sync comments, that are posted by users in real playtime of a video, thus each has a timestamp relative to the video playtime. In the present paper, we propose to utilize time-sync comments for three research tasks that are infeasible or difficult to tackle in the past, namely (1) video clustering based on temporal user emotional/topic trajectory inside a video; (2) video highlight shots recommendation unsupervisedly; (3) personalized video shot recommendation tailored to user moods. We analyze characteristics of time-sync comments, and propose feasible solutions for each research task. For task (1), we propose a deep recurrent auto-encoder framework coupled with dictionary learning to model user emotional/topical trajectories in a video. For task (2), we propose a scoring method based on emotional/topic concentration in time-sync comments for candidate highlight shot ranking. For task (3), we propose a joint deep collaborative filtering network that optimizes ranking loss and classification loss simultaneously. Evaluation methods and preliminary experimental results are also reported. We plan to further refine our models for task (1) and (3) as our next step.
Self-Care is Soul Care:

At the heart of soul care is self-care. Being able to love God and love others is rooted in how we love ourselves. Each person’s understanding of self-care is informed by their personal belief syst...
Meniscal repair in patients age 40 years and older: A systematic review of 11 studies and 148 patients.

Abstract Purpose The purpose of this review is to evaluate published outcomes for reported failure rates following meniscus repair in patients age 40 years or older. Methods A systematic search was performed, and 225 meniscus repair outcome studies on adults were identified in the English literature. Included studies reported either individual patient data with at least one patient age ≥ 40 years or summary data with all patients' age ≥ 40 years. Failure rates were determined based on previously reported risk factors (regardless of age) including concomitant anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction (ACLR), tear location, and tear pattern. Results Meniscus repair outcomes for 148 patients from 11 studies were included (125 inside-out repairs and 23 all-inside repairs). The overall failure rate was 10% (15/148) and ranged from 0 to 23% in individual studies with more than one patient age ≥ 40 years. One comparative study of patients over versus under age 40 years was identified, with no difference in failure rates between groups. Most tears were peripheral tears with avascular extension (nine-percent overall failure rate) or without avascular extension (nine-percent failure rate). Among studies that reported tear pattern, overall failure rates for vertical-longitudinal or bucket handle tears were nine percent and complex and/or horizontal tears were 23%. Repairs with concomitant ACL reconstruction had a five-percent overall failure rate versus 15% in ACL intact patients. Conclusion Meniscus repair failure rates in patients age 40 years and older are comparable to rates quoted for younger patients. Level of evidence Level IV. Systematic review of Level III and IV studies.
Prediction intervals for hypergeometric distributions

AbstractThe problem of constructing prediction intervals (PIs) for a future sample from a hypergeometric distribution is addressed. Simple closed-form approximate PIs based on the Wald approach, th...
Asymmetric Deprotonations: Lithiation of N-(tert-Butoxycarbonyl)indoline with sec-Butyllithium/(−)-Sparteine

The asymmetric lithiation of N-Boc indoline (1) with s-BuLi/(−)-sparteine and subsequent substitution provides the 2-substituted N-Boc indolines 3 and 5−11 with excellent enantiomeric ratios and in variable yields. The asymmetric lithiation−substitution sequence with N-Boc-7-chloroindoline (12) provides products 13−19 with good enantiomeric ratios. Mechanistic investigation establishes that the enantioselectivities arise from an initial asymmetric deprotonation to provide the enantioenriched and configurationally stable organolithium intermediates (S)-28 and (S)-29, which react stereoselectively with electrophiles.
High Prevalence of Poor Iron Status Among 8- to 16-Year-Old Youth Athletes: Interactions Among Biomarkers of Iron, Dietary Intakes, and Biological Maturity

Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of poor iron status in young athletes throughout the stages of iron deficiency and assess sex differences with iron deficiency i...
A New Species of Calopsaltria Stål, 1861 (Hemiptera: Cicadoidea: Cicadidae: Cicadettinae: Parnisini) from South Africa

A new South African cicada, Calopsaltria luteotorquata Sanborn, new species, is described and illustrated. This is the fifth known and smallest of the CalopsaltriaStal, 1861 species. A key to the species of Calopsaltria is provided.
Using the threshold technique to elicit patient preferences: An introduction to the method and an overview of existing empirical applications

Patient preference information (PPI) is a topic of interest to regulators and industry. One of many known methods for eliciting PPI is the threshold technique (TT). However, empirical studies of the TT differ from each other in many ways and no effort to date has been made to summarize them or the evidence regarding the performance of the method. We sought to describe the TT and summarize the empirical applications of the method. Forty-three studies were reviewed. Most studies estimated the minimum level of benefit required to make a treatment worthwhile, and over half estimated the maximum level of risk patients would accept to achieve a treatment benefit. The evidence demonstrates that the TT can be used to elicit multiple types of thresholds and can be used to explore preference heterogeneity and preference non-linearity. Some evidence suggests that the method may be sensitive to anchoring and shift-framing effects; however, no evidence suggests that the method is more or less sensitive to these potential biases than other stated-preference methods. The TT may be a viable method for eliciting PPI to support regulatory decision-making; however, additional understanding of the performance of this method may be needed. Future research should focus on TT performance compared with other stated-preference methods, the extent to which results predict patient choice, and the ability of the TT to inform individual treatment decisions at the point of healthcare delivery.
Growth Assessment of Pulmonary Adenocarcinomas Manifesting as Subsolid Nodules on CT: Comparison of Diameter-Based and Volume Measurements

Rationale and Objectives To analyze the performances of diameter-based measurements, either using diameters, or by calculating diameter-based volumes, as compared to volume measurements in assessing growth of pulmonary adenocarcinomas manifesting as subsolid nodules on CT. Materials and Methods In this IRB-approved, retrospective study, 74 pulmonary adenocarcinomas presenting as subsolid nodules and resected in 69 patients (21 men, 48 women, mean age 70 ± 9 years) were included. Three CTs were available for each patient. Nodule size on each CT was assessed with diameter measurements, calculated volume based on diameter measurements, and measured volume. Nodule growth was defined as an increase of measured volume ≥25% between two sequential CTs. Sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, positive and negative predictive values of diameter-based measurements for growth assessment were calculated. Nodule characteristics were compared with nonparametric tests and analysis of variance. Results There were fewer growing nodules during CT1-CT2 interval (n = 22, 30%) than during CT2-CT3 interval (n = 33, 45%, p =.060). Specificity and negative predictive value of diameter-based measurements for growth assessment ranged respectively from 52 to 77% and 81 to 83% between CT1 and CT2, and from 66 to 76% and 79 to 90% between CT2 and CT3. Nongrowing nodules tended to be larger, regardless how size was measured, and some of these differences in size were statistically significant (p =.002 to .046). Conclusion For pulmonary adenocarcinomas presenting as subsolid nodules on CT, diameter-based assessment of nodule volume is reasonably accurate at confirming a lack of nodule growth but may overestimate actual growth, as compared to growth assessment based on measured volume.
Guest Editorial Special Issue on Selected Papers from the 28th IEEE Symposium on Fusion Engineering

With this Special Issue, we are publishing 81 peer-reviewed manuscripts, a selection from the best work presented in June 2019 at the 28th IEEE Symposium on Fusion Engineering (SOFE), Jacksonville, FL, USA. This is the sixth SOFE Special Issue that IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON PLASMA SCIENCE (TPS) has published, a tradition that started with the 2009 SOFE in order to afford attendees the opportunity to publish an expanded version of their oral or poster presentations in a refereed journal. It has become a popular option. With each successive SOFE, more authors take advantage of the possibility offered by TPS to have their conference papers gain wider exposure and be cited by others working in fusion engineering and its related disciplines. Readers benefit as well. For example, this issue features a total of 22 papers on ITER and Wendelstein 7-X, a unique collection of papers on two projects that sit at the forefront of fusion engineering.