cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Sudden cardiac arrest in end-stage renal disease patients on dialysis: A nationwide study.

BACKGROUND Sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) is frequently encountered in end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients on dialysis. There is a dearth of national data on SCA-associated outcomes in this specific patient population. The aim of the present study is to study these parameters from a nationally representative US population. METHODS Data were extracted from National Inpatient Sample database from October 2005 to December 2014. All patients with clinical encounter of dialysis during the study period were enrolled. Patients who underwent SCA, ventricular fibrillation, ventricular tachycardia, and ventricular flutter were then identified by applying relevant International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification codes. Patients with acute kidney injury and prior renal transplant were excluded. Propensity matching was done to balance covariates among study groups. Logistic regression analysis was done to assess for predictors of SCA-associated mortality in ESRD patients on dialysis. RESULTS A total of 1 147 760 patients were included in the final analyses. Patients who suffered SCA were older when compared to the non-SCA cohort and had a higher burden of comorbidities. About half (52.10%) of ESRD patients who suffered SCA died. Advanced age, metabolic acidosis, and cardiogenic shock were independently associated with reduced survival after SCA. New implantable cardioverter defibrillator implantation continues to be low in this patient population at discharge. CONCLUSION SCA in settings of ESRD on dialysis carries high mortality and frequent morbidity. Further research in therapeutic interventions that could prevent SCA in this vulnerable population is utmost needed.
Development of Biofilm-Surface Adhesion Technique via Laser-Induced Stress Waves

Bacterial infection is of paramount concern regarding human health and is a substantial hurdle in dental implantation. Bacterial proliferation on the surface of a dental implant can lead to development of a biofilm, a scenario in which bacteria have congregated and secrete an extracellular polymeric substance (EPS). The EPS has different modes of function, those most existential to the bacteria are: strong attachment to surfaces, a protective realm for the bacteria to flourish, containment of DNA, and a medium for quorum sensing (communication method used to recruit more bacteria). If this bacterial aggregation continues it can lead to serious subgingival infections which are difficult to remedy and often result in extraction of the implant to treat the site. Development of surfaces which are impervious to bacterial adhesion is of interest to the dental industry as such an accomplishment could greatly reduce the number of failed dental implants and therefore promote oral health and hygiene. To approach this problem, an evaluation of oral bacteria’s adhesion strength to a given surface must be established. Laser spallation is an effective strategy well suited for this study, the technique involves loading a substrate with a stress wave delivered by an infrared laser. The substrate is designed with the same parameters as a dental implant and hosts a live biofilm comprised of an oral bacterium that is most common on failed implants. This work will describe the substrate preparation, biofilm selection, fluence to failure testing, and obstacles involved.
Emergency Department Utilization for Substance Use-Related Disorders and Assessment of Treatment Facilities in New York State, 2011-2013.

Background: Annually, 1.8 million New York (NY) residents experience substance use disorders (SUDs). Even though emergency departments (EDs) continue to experience high numbers of SUD-related visit...
Beyond zT: Is There a Limit to Thermoelectric Figure of Merit?

The concept of the dimensionless thermoelectric figure of merit zT was derived by A.F. Ioffe and has been widely used to assess the desirability of thermoelectric materials for devices. Solid state physics does not set limits on this criterion, but it can be shown that such restrictions are imposed by the laws of thermodynamics. The physical meaning of zT can be interpreted as the ratio of the virtual efficiency of a thermoelectric generator (TEG) ηo and the Carnot efficiency ηc: zT = ηo/ηc. Hence, the conclusion about the zT restriction: lim(zT) ≤ 1, which is correlated with the data on the properties of well-studied thermoelectric materials, but contradicts much new experimental data. This contradiction serves as a pretext for further study of possible constraints on zT. An additional bonus from this analysis is the possibility of the experimental determination of zT by direct measurement of temperatures, heat flux, and open circle voltage. An analysis of the expanded mathematical model of a TEG shows that the influence of the Biot criterion on the power capacity of the TEG significantly exceeds the influence of zT. That is, it is possible to compensate for the high thermal conductivity of materials due to more intense heat transfer. This approach to improving the characteristics is demonstrated by developing a TEG for the conversion of latent heat of liquid natural gas (LNG).
A Curious Critic's Guide on Writing a Five-star Student Evaluation: Five Lessons Learned from Food Blogging.

Timely feedback is critical in promoting learner self-reflection. When provided effectively, feedback can assist learners with the acquisition of new skills and knowledge in the ever-changing and complex landscape of healthcare. While the literature is replete on methods to provide feedback, faculty and supervisors receive little, if any, training on writing constructive feedback. Abbreviated comments (i.e., 'good job' or 'read more') provide little information on specific behaviors learners can change. As an avid food enthusiast and restaurant reviewer, I, too, am met with the challenge of writing a meaningful, constructive review (or evaluation) of a dining experience. To better assist clinical preceptors and supervisors with writing formative, constructive student evaluations, we have aggregated, reviewed, and adapted five lessons from writing food and restaurant reviews in writing a five-star student review.
Information Literacy Faculty Fellows program: Building a faculty-librarian framework community of practice

The Framework for Information Literacy for Higher Education (Framework) calls upon librarians to think of information literacy as a concept to be applied beyond the one-shot session, suggesting that the “Framework…is intended to be developmentally and systematically integrated into the student’s academic program at a variety of levels.”
Color and orientation are jointly coded and spatially organized in primate primary visual cortex

Previous studies support the textbook model that shape and color are extracted by distinct neurons in primate primary visual cortex (V1). However, rigorous testing of this model requires sampling a larger stimulus space than previously possible. We used stable GCaMP6f expression and two-photon calcium imaging to probe a very large spatial and chromatic visual stimulus space and map functional microarchitecture of thousands of neurons with single-cell resolution. Notable proportions of V1 neurons strongly preferred equiluminant color over achromatic stimuli and were also orientation selective, indicating that orientation and color in V1 are mutually processed by overlapping circuits. Single neurons could precisely and unambiguously code for both color and orientation. Further analyses revealed systematic spatial relationships between color tuning, orientation selectivity, and cytochrome oxidase histology.
Effects of conductive polymer composite layering on EMI shielding during additive manufacturing

Spin coating and drop casting are viable methods for rapid and low-cost additive manufacturing of components for flexible devices and sensors. We investigated the cumulative effects of layering a conductive polymer composite 2 wt% MWCNT filler in PEDOT:PSS on a Mylar substrate for application to electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding. The optical transmittace of spin coated composite layers is 90%, 45%, and 20% with a thickness of 0.05 µm, 0.15 µm, and 0.45 µm respectively. Drop cast composite layers have 0% transmittance due to their much greater starting thickness of 4.4 µm. The addition of isopropyl alcohol (IPA) to the solution mixture and substrate heating to 40 °C improves the conductivity, and drying time of the cured composite layers to 10 min. This study shows that the cumulative effects of composite layering are additive, but the electrical properties do not scale the same way. A significant increase in the EMI SE is mainly attributed to the enhanced electrical conductivity of the composite. The insertion of a 50 µm gap in between two 15 µm composite layers accentuates the EMI shielding effectiveness (SE) significantly to a peak of 21 dB within a narrow frequency range in the Ku-band tested.
Accuracy Assessment of Satellite-Based Freeze-Thaw Retrievals on Low-Volume Roads in the United States:

Accurate identification of soil freeze or thaw (FT) is important for road management, because it greatly affects a road’s load bearing capacity. Despite low-volume roads (LVR) being more susceptibl...
Mammalian iron-sulfur cluster biogenesis: Recent insights into the roles of frataxin, acyl carrier protein and ATPase-mediated transfer to recipient proteins.

Abstract The recently solved crystal structures of the human cysteine desulfurase NFS1, in complex with the LYR protein ISD11, the acyl carrier protein ACP, and the main scaffold ISCU, have shed light on the molecular interactions that govern initial cluster assembly on ISCU. Here, we aim to highlight recent insights into iron–sulfur (Fe–S) cluster (ISC) biogenesis in mammalian cells that have arisen from the crystal structures of the core ISC assembly complex. We will also discuss how ISCs are delivered to recipient proteins and the challenges that remain in dissecting the pathways that deliver clusters to numerous Fe–S recipient proteins in both the mitochondrial matrix and cytosolic compartments of mammalian cells.
Clusters of polymorphic transmembrane genes control resistance to schistosomes in snail vectors.

Schistosomiasis is a widespread parasitic disease, affecting over 200 million people in tropical countries. It is caused by schistosome worms, which are carried by freshwater snails. These snails release worm larvae into the water, where they can infect humans – for example, after bathing or swimming. Treatment options for schistosomiasis are limited. Eliminating the freshwater snails is one way to control the disease, but this is not always effective in the long term and the chemicals used can also harm other animals in the water. Another way to manage schistosomiasis could be to stop the worms from infecting their snail host by breaking the parasites’ life cycle without killing the snails. It is already known that some snails are naturally resistant to infection by some strains of schistosomes. Since this immunity is also inherited by the offspring of resistant snails, there is likely a genetic mechanism behind it. However, very little else is known about any genes that might be involved. Tennessen et al. therefore set out to identify what genes were responsible for schistosome resistance and how they worked. The experiments used a large laboratory colony of snails, whose susceptibility to schistosome infection varied among individual animals. To determine the genes behind this variation, Tennessen et al. first searched for areas of DNA that also differed between the immune and infected snails. Comparing genetic sequences across over 1,000 snails revealed a distinct region of DNA that had a large effect on how likely they were to be infected. This section of DNA turned out to be highly diverse, with different snails carrying varying numbers and different forms of the genes within this region. Many of these genes appear to encode proteins found on the surface of snail cells, which could affect whether snails and worms can recognize each other when they come into contact. This in turn could determine whether or not the worms can infect their hosts. These results shed new light on how the snails that carry schistosomes may be able to resist infections. In the future, this knowledge could be key to controlling schistosomiasis, either by releasing genetically engineered, immune snails into the wild (thus making it harder for the parasites to reproduce) or by using the snails’ mechanism of resistance to design better drug therapies.
Analysis of a "Split-and-Stuttering" Module of an Assembly Line Polyketide Synthase

Notwithstanding the "one-module-one-elongation-cycle" paradigm of assembly line polyketide synthases (PKSs), some PKSs harbor modules that iteratively elongate their substrates through a defined number of cycles. While some insights into module iteration, also referred to as "stuttering", have been derived through in vivo and in vitro analysis of a few PKS modules, a general understanding of the mechanistic principles underlying module iteration remains elusive. This report serves as the first interrogation of a stuttering module from a trans-AT subfamily PKS that is also naturally split across two polypeptides. Previous work has shown that Module 5 of the NOCAP (nocardiosis associated polyketide) synthase iterates precisely three times in the biosynthesis of its polyketide product, resulting in an all trans-configured triene moiety in the polyketide product. Here we describe the intrinsic catalytic properties of this NOCAP synthase module. Through complementary experiments in vitro and in E. coli, the "split-and-stuttering" module was shown to catalyze up to five elongation cycles, although its dehydratase domain ceased to function after three cycles. Unexpectedly, the central olefinic group of this truncated product had a cis configuration. Our findings set the stage for further in-depth analysis of a structurally and functionally unusual PKS module with contextual biosynthetic plasticity. TOC/Abstract Graphic O_FIG O_LINKSMALLFIG WIDTH=200 HEIGHT=124 SRC="FIGDIR/small/426894v1_ufig1.gif" ALT="Figure 1"> View larger version (28K): org.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@150bdbforg.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@1d958b6org.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@4f19c7org.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@1256656_HPS_FORMAT_FIGEXP M_FIG C_FIG
Million Dollar Ghost Buildings: Dirty Money Flowing Through Luxury Real Estate Markets

This Article analyzes this money laundering loophole in the real estate sector, named “the darkest corner of the real estate market: all-cash purchases made by shell companies that often shield purchasers’ identities.” Because all-cash purchases allow buyers to avoid bank financing, and in turn, the need to provide identification to the banks as part of the banks’ anti-money laundering procedures, the real estate transaction coupled with limited liability laws in the U.S. provide secrecy and opportunity for money launderers. Charles Intriago, the president of the Association of Certified Financial Crime Specialists, highlights the problem as “The regulation of real estate transactions for financial crime and money laundering is worse than Swiss cheese for all the holes it’s got.” The federal government has recently taken initial steps to combat the issue, devoting resources to decrease money laundering in the real estate industry, including the issuance of temporary regulations targeting certain U.S. cities, as well as a 10-agent unit to investigate money laundering, with real estate as a focal point. This Article examines these initiatives and argues for a proper balancing between the need to combat money laundering in the real estate sector and effectively close the loophole with the need to maintain efficiency in real estate sales transactions and a reasonable expectation of privacy by property owners.
Preventing Physician Suicide

Physicians who complete suicide are much less likely to have sought mental health care compared with nonphysicians, most commonly because of barriers to access and stigma in the medical community 5 Maintaining confidentiality and objectivity between the patient who is a physician and their treating physician can be challenging The treating physician may also be a friend, colleague, or a member of committees that determine privileges and advancement 5 Mental health treatment can impact a physician's ability to obtain professional liability insurance, disability insurance, and health insurance 5 Concerns about medical licensing repercussions also prevent many physicians from accessing mental health care because most state medical boards ask about mental health when issuing licenses 4,5 Taken together, these systematic barriers are responsible for the ongoing loss of our friends and colleagues The COVID-19 pandemic has further escalated stress and burnout among health care workers 6 Before COVID-19, 43% of physicians and 54% of primary care physicians in the United States reported symptoms of burnout 7 Approximately 70% of Chinese health care workers surveyed in the spring of 2020 met diagnostic criteria for posttraumatic stress disorder, 50% met criteria for major depressive disorder, and 45% met criteria for generalized anxiety disorder 6 Dr Lorna Breen, an emergency medicine physician in New York City, committed suicide in April 2020 not long after sharing with family the heartbreaking stories of working in the pandemic's epicenter 8 The devastating, relentless crisis of physician suicide demands immediate action
Full-scale testing of non-proprietary ultra-high performance concrete for deck bulb tee longitudinal field joints

Abstract Using deck bulb tee girders (DBTs) is one of the most popular and reliable solutions nowadays for accelerated bridge construction (ABC). DBTs usually require to be longitudinally connected on-site using robust materials such as ultra-high performance concrete (UHPC) for the field joints. The unparalleled mechanical properties of UHPC mixes have gained material popularity for ABC connections. However, the proprietary and relatively expensive nature of robust UHPC mixes pose some limitations, which motivated many researchers along with state departments of transportation to develop less expensive and non-proprietary UHPC mixes. The objective of this study is to leverage a readily developed non-proprietary UHPC mix, but using local materials available in the western United States, and to proof-test it in DBTs full-depth longitudinal field joints. An experimental investigation was conducted to test two full-scale specimens of a representative DBT top flange section with longitudinal field joints under static vertical loading. The specimens varied in the field joint material where one specimen used the developed non-proprietary UHPC and the other used a robust commercial UHPC mix. The structural behavior of both specimens was evaluated in terms of load and deflection capacities as well as the field joint performance. The results demonstrated that the developed non-proprietary UHPC mix can be efficiently used for longitudinal DBT field joints with comparable performance to proprietary UHPC joints.
Charter Schools and IDEA: A Systematic Case Review

Charter schools are one of the fastest-growing forms of school choice. However, concerns have been raised about the quality of special education provided to students with disabilities. Results of a...
Inter-illness prophylaxis in febrile convulsions.

In his review of Febrile Conculsions by Dr. J . Gordon Millichap, in the August 1968 issue of Pediatrics, Dr. Randolph K. Byers briefly deals with the question of continuous or "inter-illness" prophylaxis versus the intermittent administration of anti-convulsant medication at the onset of a febrile illness. This is certainly one of the most difficult decisions facing the pediatrician confronted with a child who has experienced one or more "febrile" seizures. Too often, it seems to me, this subject generates heated polemics, highlighted by the expression of extreme views of equal rigidity, leaving the busy practitioner draped over a therapeutic barrel.
Metabolic reprogramming of macrophages instigates CCL21-induced arthritis.

The current study was designed to delineate the functional significance of CCL21 on metabolic reprogramming in experimental arthritis and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) differentiated macrophages (MΦs). To characterize the influence of CCL21 on immunometabolism, its mechanism of action was elucidated by dysregulating glucose uptake in preclinical arthritis and RA MΦs. In CCL21 arthritic joints, the glycolytic intermediates, HIF1α, cMYC, and GLUT1 were overexpressed compared to oxidative regulators, ESSRγ and PGC1α. Interestingly, 2-DG therapy mitigated CCL21-induced arthritis by restraining the number of joint F480+ iNOS+ MΦs without impacting F480+ Arginase+ MΦs. Similar to the preclinical findings, blockade of glycolysis negated CCL21-polarized CD14+ CD86+ GLUT+ MΦ frequency; however, CD14+ CD206+ GLUT+ MΦs were not implicated in this process. In CCL21-induced arthritis and differentiated RA MΦs, the inflammatory imprint was uniquely intercepted by 2-DG via IL-6 downregulation. Despite, the more expansive inflammatory response of CCL21 in the arthritic joints relative to the differentiated RA MΦs, 2-DG was ineffective on joint TNFα, IL-1β, CCL2, and CCL5 enrichment. In contrast, disruption of glycolysis markedly impaired CCL21-induced HIF1α and cMYC signaling in arthritic mice. Notably, in RA MΦs, glycolysis interception was directed on dysregulating CCL21-enhanced HIF1α transcription. Nonetheless, in concurrence with the diminished IL-6 levels, CCL21-differentiation of CD14+ CD86+ GLUT1+ MΦs was reversed by glycolysis and HIIF1α inhibition. Moreover, in the CCL21 experimental arthritis or differentiated RA MΦs, the malfunctioning metabolic machinery was accompanied by impaired oxidative phosphorylation due to reduced PGC1α or PPARγ expression. CCL21 reconfigures naive myeloid cells into glycolytic RA CD14+ CD86+ GLUT+ IL-6high HIF1αhigh MΦs, thus inhibiting the CCL21/CCR7 pathway may provide a promising therapeutic strategy.
Large Cell Calcifying Sertoli Cell Tumour: A Contemporary Multi-Institutional Case Series Highlighting the Diagnostic Utility of PRKAR1A Immunohistochemistry.

AIMS Large cell calcifying Sertoli cell tumour (LCCSCT) is a rare testicular sex cord-stromal tumour that primarily affects young patients and is associated with Carney complex. We sought to characterize the clinicopathological features of a series of LCCSCT and evaluate the diagnostic utility of PRKAR1A immunohistochemistry (IHC). METHODS AND RESULTS The LCCSCT cohort (n=15) had a median age of 16 years (range: 2-30 years). Four patients were known to have Carney complex. PRKAR1A IHC was performed in each case. For comparison, PRKAR1A IHC was also assessed in other sex cord-stromal tumours, including Sertoli cell tumour, not otherwise specified (SCT, NOS; n=10), intratubular large cell hyalinizing Sertoli cell tumour (n=1), and Leydig cell tumour (n=23). Loss of cytoplasmic PRKAR1A expression was observed in all but one LCCSCT (14/15; 93%). PRKAR1A expression was retained in all SCTs, NOS (10/10; 100%), the majority of Leydig cell tumours (22/23; 96%), and an intratubular large cell hyalinizing Sertoli cell tumour (1/1; 100%). One Leydig cell tumour showed equivocal staining (multifocal weak expression). CONCLUSIONS Overall, PRKAR1A loss is both sensitive (93%) and highly specific (97%) for the diagnosis of LCCSCT. PRKAR1A loss may aid its diagnosis, particularly in sporadic cases and those that are the first presentation of Carney complex.
Site-directed mutagenesis: a tool for studying enzyme catalysis.

Publisher Summary Enzymes catalyze reactions, by binding and orienting substrates in an active site, formed with many amino acid residues, that participate in the chemical transformation. Three-dimensional structures, determined by X-ray crystallography, show that enzymes bind substrates with a combination of ionic and hydrogen bonds and Van Der Waals interactions. The specificity of enzymes is due to multiple interactions that define the size and shape of the active site. The enzyme catalyzes the reaction, by affecting solvation and the electrostatic environment and by facilitating proton transfers and covalent chemistry, at the reaction center. Understanding the principles of enzyme action should allow designing specific catalysts. This chapter discusses the purposes for using site-directed mutagenesis, some of the precautions for such studies, and an overall approach that is designed to provide maximal information. Some studies are selected to discuss what can be learned about the marvels of enzymes and to show why some conclusions are uncertain.
Distances and Motions of 2000 Galaxies in the Pisces-Perseus Supercluster

Twenty-one centimeter HI line observations have been made of over 2000 spiral galaxies in the region of the Pisces-Perseus supercluster, bringing to 3000 the number of known redshifts in that direction. Preliminary analysis of the redshift distribution shows a wealth of three-dimensional structure, including the prominent high density supercluster ridge, numerous lesser connective enhancements and also voids.
Repeating History Beyond ARIES

In this paper, I describe first the background behind the development of the original ARIES recovery method, and its significant impact on the commercial world and the research community. Next, I provide a brief introduction to the various concurrency control and recovery methods in the ARIES family of algorithms. Subsequently, I discuss some of the recent developments affecting the transaction management area and what these mean for the future. In ARIES, the concept of repeating history turned out to be an important paradigm. As I examine where transaction management is headed in the world of the internet, I observe history repeating itself in the sense of requirements that used to be considered significant in the mainframe world (e.g., performance, availability and reliability) now becoming important requirements of the broader information technology community as well.
Achieving value: The role of pharmacoeconomics

Health expenditures worldwide have increased to an average of 9.5 percent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) within Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) nations, representing an average growth rate of 4.1 percent per year [1]. Pharmaceuticals and other durable medical goods comprise almost 17 percent of total health expenditures, with the large majority of healthcare costs attributed to professional services and hospital care [1]. With aging global populations, several countries have forecasted higher percentages of GDP to be consumed by healthcare over the next several years and decades. While advances in health technology over the last several decades have greatly improved life spans and welfare to society, it is often perceived that the costs of these innovations have not been exceedingly offset by their benefits [2,3]. Assessing healthcare expenditures involves the integration of several complex issues that surround coverage, supply and demand, pricing dynamics, and characteristics of the innovations utilized [4,5]. Healthcare policy is also challenged to achieve an ethical balance between patient outcomes and that of fiscal ability [4]. As illustrated in Fig. 1, policymakers often seek to optimize elements within ‘The Iron Triangle of Health Care Policy,’ which is a triumvirate of cost, access, and quality based upon the numerous stakeholders that are present [6]. Achieving a balance across cost, access, and quality is challenging, particularly given that the value attributed to each of these elements differs based upon the perspective of stakeholders within healthcare. To illustrate, both providers and patients may typically seek to maximize access and quality, often at the result of increased costs. As a discipline, pharmacoeconomicsoffers a comprehensive analytic framework to evaluate the comparative value of innovations offered to society. Appearing in Fig. 2, pharmacoeconomics seeks to assess the costs and resources consumed for healthcare technologies relative to the patient outcomes achieved (e.g., economic, clinical,
Photodiode-driven quantum-well modulators for C-band wavelength conversion and broadcasting

We report quantum-well modulators directly driven by monolithically-integrated photodiodes for polarization-insensitive, unconstrained wavelength conversion across 45 nm in 1525 nm-1570 nm and dual-wavelength broadcasting over 20 nm in 1530 nm-1565 nm, using 10 dB RF-extinction ratio at 1.25 Gb/s.
Microstructural Evolution During Epitaxial Growth of Chemically Derived Ba2YCu307-x. Thin Films

Microstructure development in thin films of Ba2YCu3O7-x (BYC) synthesized on (001) LaA1O3 using an ex situ process was characterized by TEM and STEM examination of specimens quenched from different points in the growth heat treatment. The microchemistry of the growing oxide films was characterized by EDS in STEM. Phase development was also studied by X-ray diffraction. Several investigators have suggested that growth of BYC during ex situ processing occurs by nucleation and growth of BYC into an amorphous precursor film. Our observations indicate that this process involves growth into a substantially crystalline matrix. X-ray diffraction was used to identify three phases, BaF2, BaCuO2, and CuO, which are present prior to BYC nucleation. Nucleation of both c-axis normal and a-axis normal BYC occurred at approximately 760°C during rapid heating to 830°C in the growth heat treatment. Rapid growth of the c-axis normal material parallel to the substrate surface caused this orientation to become dominant in the fully converted films. Chemical microanalysis of the quenched films suggests that the BYC grows into an overlying layer that, after quenching, is composed of relatively large (25-100 nm diameter) yttrium- and copper-rich particles in a nanocrystalline barium-rich matrix.
Morphology evolution and associated curing kinetics in reactive blends

Morphology evolution and associated curing kinetics of reactive ternary blends have been investigated using spectroscopic, microscopic, and thermal methods. These blends, used to model one-part adhesive, usually incorporate functionalized amorphous polyethers, functionalized crystallizable polyesters and relatively immobile polyacrylates. As expected, the formation of morphological features can be manipulated by altering both blend composition and thermal history. In our case, the functional groups are isocyanates. Therefore, the curing mechanism of these functionalized polymers is the reaction of isocyanate with ambient water. As expected, the reaction kinetics in these blends is strongly dependent on the morphological features such as size of phase-separated domains, the degree of polyester crystallinity and the crystallite size. Our study has also revealed that the overall curing rates of these reactive ternary blends are dominated by the amorphous mobile polyether component.
Is there a duty to die

Many people were outraged when Richard Lamm claimed that old people had a duty to die. Modern medicine and an individualistic culture have seduced many to feel that they have a right to health care and a right to live, despite the burdens and costs to our families and society. But in fact there are circumstances when we have a duty to die. As modern medicine continues to save more of us from acute illness, it also delivers more of us over to chronic illnesses, allowing us to survive far longer than we can take care of ourselves. It may be that our technological sophistication coupled with a commitment to our loved ones generates a fairly widespread duty to die.
Sexual Dimorphism of Mate Location in the Long-Toed Salamander Ambystoma macrodactylum columbianum

In breeding systems characterized by scramble competition among males, theory predicts that the efficient location of mating partners is more important to males than to females as a component of mating success. We experimentally tested in the laboratory the hypothesis that breeding male long-toed salamanders (Ambystoma macrodactylum columbianum), which scramble for mating opportunities, are better able to recognize and locate potential mates than are breeding females. Males were more likely to enter traps containing females than empty traps or traps containing males. Traps containing sponges soiled by females were more likely to attract males than traps containing clean (control) sponges, suggesting that chemical cues may be sufficient for mate location by males. Females were no more likely to enter traps containing males than empty traps. Our results are consistent with the theoretical prediction that selection has been stronger on male long-toed salamanders than on females in the context of capacity for recognizing and locating potential mating partners.
Inhibition of amino acyl tRNA synthetase activity by copper complexes of two metal binding ligands. N-Methyl isatin beta-thiosemicarbazone and 8-hydroxyquinoline.

Copper complexes of N-methyl isatin beta-thiosemicarbazone, 1-formyl isoquinoline thiosemicarbazone and thiosemicarbazide inhibit amino acyl tRNA synthetase activity. Copper complexes of 8-hydroxyquinoline and 8-mercaptoquinoline also inhibit. The 1 : 1 ligand-metal complex is significantly more active than the 2 : 1 complex. The free ligand alone and copper sulfate alone have little, if any, effect. These complexes have no effect on the ATP-PPi exchange reaction and do not cause deacylation of amino acyl tRNAs. This indicates that the process inhibited by these complexes is the amino acylation reaction. This is the first report that these copper binding ligands can inhibit enzymatic processes which involve nucleic acids but which are not viral, bacterial or mammalian cell polymerases.
An implementation of the method of brackets for symbolic integration

In spite of being a classical problem, the current techniques available for Symbolic Integration are not sufficient to evaluate a variety of integrals coming from Mathematical Physics, such as Bessel functions. The Method of Brackets [2, 3], a heuristic process appearing in the evaluation of Feynman diagrams, can be used to evaluate symbolically a large class of single or multiple integrals. It represents an extension of the so-called Ramanujan Master Theorem [1]. The first implementation of the Method of Brackets has been written by the author in the open-source computer algebra system Sage. This implementation allows experimentation with representations of the integrand, which can affect output and efficiency. An algorithm that chooses the best representation of the integrand is being developed.
Blood conservation strategies to minimize allogeneic blood use in urologic surgery

Analysis of the net costs, efficacy, and cost-effectiveness of preoperative autologous blood donation (PAD), versus acute normovolemic hemodilution (ANH), in patients undergoing radical prostatectomy is presented. Currently, PAD is a standard of care for patients undergoing radical prostatectomy. Comparison of PAD with ANH showed no differences in risks or outcome, but ANH was less expensive. Hemodilution is a simple, safe, convenient, and effective alternative to PAD. The use of recombinant human erthropoietin in conjunction with PAD and ANH has optimized perioperative hematocrits and further minimized exposure to allogeneic blood. Intraoperative blood salvage, lower transfusion triggers, and other blood conservation strategies are discussed. The most cost-effective techniques currently available for decreasing allogeneic blood transfusions appear to be avoidance of blood loss, increased tolerance for decreased HCT levels, and autologous blood procurement via ANH.
Promoting abstinence from cocaine and heroin with a methadone dose increase and a novel contingency.

Abstract To test whether a combination of contingency management and methadone dose increase would promote abstinence from heroin and cocaine, we conducted a randomized controlled trial using a 2 × 3 (dose × contingency) factorial design in which dose assignment was double-blind. Participants were 252 heroin- and cocaine-abusing outpatients on methadone maintenance. They were randomly assigned to methadone dose (70 or 100 mg/day, double-blind) and voucher condition (noncontingent, contingent on cocaine-negative urines, or “split”). The “split” contingency was a novel contingency that reinforced abstinence from either drug while doubly reinforcing simultaneous abstinence from both: the total value of incentives was “split” between drugs to contain costs. The main outcome measures were percentages of urine specimens negative for heroin, cocaine, and both simultaneously; these were monitored during a 5-week baseline of standard treatment (to determine study eligibility), a 12-week intervention, and a 10-week maintenance phase (to examine intervention effects in return-to-baseline conditions). DSM-IV criteria for ongoing drug dependence were assessed at study exit. Urine-screen results showed that the methadone dose increase reduced heroin use but not cocaine use. The split 100 mg group was the only group to achieve a longer duration of simultaneous negatives than its same-dose noncontingent control group. The frequency of DSM-IV opiate and cocaine dependence diagnoses decreased in the active intervention groups. For a split contingency to promote simultaneous abstinence from cocaine and heroin, a relatively high dose of methadone appears necessary but not sufficient; an increase in overall incentive amount may also be required.
The phase stability of Zn2Ti3O8

Abstract The ZnO-TiO 2 phase diagram is well established for temperatures above 1000 °C. At lower temperatures, there is an uncertainty about the ranges of stability of three zinc titanate compounds, Zn 2 TiO 4 , ZnTiO 3 , and Zn 2 Ti 3 O 8 . In particular, there is controversy over whether Zn 2 Ti 3 O 8 is a stable or a metastable compound. In the research described here, the results of prior investigators was confirmed, in that isothermal treatments gave different phase compositions with different starting materials of that same composition. However, by carrying out cyclical chemical transformation experiments, it was concluded that Zn 2 Ti 3 O 8 is a stable compound at temperatures up to approximately 800 °C.
Changes in Plasma Cortisol, Glucose, and Selected Blood Properties in the Summer Flounder Paralichthys dentatus Associated with Sequential Movement to Three Experimental Conditions

To determine the changes in blood chemistry associated with sequential transfer of summer flounder Paralichthys dentatus (320–480 g), 300 hatchery-reared fish were moved to three different environmental conditions during a 20-d period. Fish were transferred in progression from a recirculating seawater system (22 ppt, 22.5 C) to a flow-thru seawater system (31 ppt, 20.0 C), to three small coastal net pens (33 ppt, 15.5 C), and finally to a large open ocean net pen (33 ppt, 16.0 C). For this study, eight random fish were captured at each progressive step (environmental condition), anesthetized (MS222), and bled from the caudal vein (2 mL). Transferred flounder were bled every 12 h for 48 h to collect plasma cortisol and glucose samples. Fish were bled 24 h after transport and every 3 d thereafter for osmolarity, hematocrit, hemoglobin concentration, mean corpuscular hemoglobin content, glucose, cortisol, and the electrolytes Cl- Na+, K+ and Ca+. The most significant perturbations to blood chemistry (P < 0.05) occurred within 24 h of initial transfer from the recirculating to flow-thru seawater systems, suggesting an osmoregulatory rather than handling or transfer related stress. Osmolarity, electrolyte, and hematological parameters fluctuated and then recovered to stable levels by day 8 in the flow-thru seawater system. However, unlike the initial transfer, successive movement to the coastal and then the open ocean net pens produced transient increases in both plasma cortisol and glucose levels, suggesting a high level of stress associated with extended flounder handling and transfer.
Relations of the factors of the tripartite model of anxiety and depression to types of social anxiety

Our primary goal was to examine the relations of the specific components of the tripartite model of anxiety and depression [Clark, L. A., Watson, D. (1991). Tripartite model of anxiety and depression: Psychometric evidence and taxonomic implications. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 100, 316-336] to two types of social anxiety (social interaction anxiety and performance anxiety) in 148 individuals with social phobia. In line with previous research, overall social anxiety was more closely related to the anhedonic depression (AD) or low positive affect factor of the tripartite model than to the physiological hyerarousal factor, controlling for general distress. However, as hypothesized, performance anxiety was more closely associated with the physiological hyerarousal factor, whereas social interaction anxiety was more closely associated with the AD or low positive affect factor. We also examined the convergent and discriminant validity of the Mood and Anxiety Symptom Questionnaire (MASQ; [Watson, D., Clark, L. A. (1991). The mood and anxiety symptom questionnaire. Unpublished manuscript, University of Iowa City]). Intercorrelations of the MASQ subscales were as expected, but correlations with measures of social anxiety, nonsocial anxiety, and depression provided only modest support for convergent and discriminant validity. Findings from this study provide a more detailed account of the specific components of the tripartite model that characterize the diversity of symptoms subsumed by social phobia.
Estradiol Exacerbates Hippocampal Damage in a Model of Preterm Infant Brain Injury

We have developed a model for prenatal hypoxia-ischemia in which muscimol, a selective γ-aminobutyric acid A (GABAA) receptor agonist, administered to newborn rats, induces hippocampal damage. In the neonatal rat brain, activation of GABAA receptors leads to membrane depolarization and neuronal excitation. Because of our previous detection of sex differences in this model and the considerable interest in the neuroprotective effects of estradiol in the adult brain, we now investigate the effect of pretreatment with high physiological levels of estradiol in our model of prenatal hypoxia-ischemia. We used unbiased stereology to assess neuron number in the hippocampal formation of control, muscimol-treated, and estradiol- plus muscimol-treated animals. Muscimol decreased neuron number in the hippocampus, with damage exacerbated by pretreatment with estradiol. A hippocampal culture paradigm was developed to mirror the in vivo investigation. We observed elevated cytotoxicity (using the lactate dehydrogenase ass...
MRI Predicts ALVAL and Tissue Damage in Metal-on-Metal Hip Arthroplasty

Background Adverse local tissue reactions (ALTR) around metal-on-metal (MOM) hip arthroplasties are increasingly being recognized as a cause of failure. These reactions may be associated with intraoperative tissue damage and complication rates as high as 50% after revision. Although MRI can identify ALTR in MOM hips, it is unclear whether the MRI findings predict those at revision surgery.
Is there a near-term market for vehicle-to-grid electric vehicles?

Abstract We assess the near-term market for vehicle-to-grid electric vehicles (V2G–EVs) using an internet-based contingent-valuation survey. V2G–EVs are a special breed of electric vehicles used to return power to the grid for ancillary service support or during periods of peak electricity demand. Whether or not these vehicles are economically viable is of interest to policy makers and utility companies. We estimate a demand function for V2G–EVs, consider the importance of different vehicle attributes on demand, and then assess their likelihood of near-term success on the market. To assess the potential market, we compared consumer’s willingness to pay for V2G–EVs with the estimated cost of V2G–EVs under different scenarios of battery cost projection. We found, in all scenarios, WTP estimates are lower than projected costs. Range anxiety, stringent V2G contract, and high battery costs are the primary reasons for the outcome.
A Hybrid Boundary Element-Finite Volume Method for Unsteady Transonic Airfoil Flows

Abstract A hybrid boundary element — finite volume method for unsteady transonic flow computation has been developed. In this method, the unsteady Euler equations in a moving frame of reference are solved in a small embedded domain (inner domain) around the airfoil using an implicit finite volume scheme. The unsteady full-potential equation, written in the same frame of reference and in the form of the Poisson equation, is solved in the outer domain using the integral equation — boundary element method to provide the boundary conditions for the inner Euler domain. The solution procedure is a time-accurate stepping procedure, where the outer boundary conditions for the inner domain are updated using the integral equation — boundary element solution over the outer domain. The method is applied to unsteady transonic flows around the NACA0012 airfoil undergoing pitching oscillation and ramp motion. The results are compared with those of an implicit Euler equation solver, which is used throughout a large computational domain, and experimental data.
Photoperiodic regulation of the male house sparrow song control system: gonadal dependent and independent mechanisms.

The primary and secondary sexual characteristics of many species of passerine birds undergo dramatic seasonal variation in response to the change in the length of photoperiod. Among the many physiological processes that undergo seasonal changes, bird song and the song control system underlying it undergo similar seasonal variation in size and function. The mechanisms of this seasonal variation are largely unknown but are at least partially due to steroidal action from the gonads. The present study determined the relative roles played by the gonads and the photoperiodic timing system that controls gonadal development on song control nuclei in the brain of the male house sparrow, Passer domesticus. Sparrows maintained in short photoperiods (SD) possessed small regressed testes. Transfer to long photoperiods (LD) for 6 weeks evoked a dramatic increase in testes size, but, after 20 weeks under the same conditions (LDLD), testes completely collapsed. Song control nuclei HVC and RA were smaller in SD than in LD but regressed only moderately in LDLD. Castration of sparrows in SD reduced the amplitude of the seasonal variation but did not completely abolish it. The data support the view that the song control system of the house sparrow is regulated by the photoperiodic timing system independently of gonadal influence, but that the gonads augment seasonal regulation of song, presumably via steroidal hormone secretion.
Plasticity in fretting of coated substrates

A detailed analysis is performed of the plastic deformation in a metal substrate fretted by a flatbottomed circular peg under steady normal load and cyclic tangential load. The substrate is coated with a thin layer of soft metal. Two limiting asymptotic problems are identified which characterize small scale yielding behavior in the substrate in the vicinity of the corners of the peg. Deformation within the plastic zone is characterized, including regions of elastic shakedown, steady reversed cyclic plastic straining, and strain ratchetting. Implications for nucleation of fretting cracks are discussed. # 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.
Tracing moisture movement in slick‐spot soils with radiosulfur: Part I

Preliminary greenhouse tests using slick-spot soil and associated soil in columns indicated that cobalt60 and sulfur35 moved through the soil columns and appeared in the first drainage water. The first field experiments were run south of Boise on the Sebree-Chilcott associated series. Radiosulfur was used in the form of dilute sulfuric acid soaked into absorbent cotton. Each wad was specifically placed in or adjacent to a slick spot. After several months, soil samples from these tagged slick spots indicated that some characteristic water movement had occurred. Improved techniques have been developed and the study will expand to include slick-spot soils in irrigated and dryland areas.