cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A new map for field work : impact of collections analysis on the Bentley historical library

During the past five years, archivists have shown considerable interest in the mechanisms for carrying out collections analysis projects. Little attention has been given, however, to what happens after the completion of the collections analysis project. In 1986 the Bentley Historical Library of the University of Michigan carried out a collections analysis project that in large part has shaped subsequent field work efforts. The author discusses the ways the library has prioritized subject interests and implemented new procedures for acquiring collections. She discusses efforts in four priority collecting areas: the automobile industry, alcohol and substance abuse, African-American churches, and abortion politics.
Modeling self-organization of microtubules from tubulins

Self-assembly is a ubiquitous, naturally occurring, robust process in many living organisms. Microtubules are a well-studied type of natural self-organization systems that assemble into functional units by attaching to cellular structures. Modeling microtubule self-organization is of broad interest as they form a network of protein filaments that is critical to many processes in eukaryotic cells. In this paper, we propose a modeling algorithm starting from alpha and beta tubulins as basic building blocks in the self-organization of microtubules. The preliminary results obtained from our algorithm demonstrate that such self-organization stems from the properties of the basic building blocks that can be used to form the complex microtubule structures.
Thermal Conductivity Measurements of Interlevel Dielectrics

The thermal conductivity of interlevel dielectrics (ILD) in interconnect structures is an important parameter in determining the temperature rise in the interconnects during use. Numerous researchers have previously shown that the thermal conductivity of thin film dielectrics can be significantly lower than that of bulk materials. As new materials, such as low-dielectric constant materials, are considered for use as ILD's, methods are needed for measuring the thermal conductivity of the these materials to determine whether they can adequately conduct heat away from interconnect lines. Many methods reported in the literature use patterned metal lines atop the dielectric on a Si substrate as combination Joule heaters and temperature sensors, and extract the thermal conductivity from a model of heat conduction through the dielectric to the substrate. One drawback of these methods is the lack of agreement of the conductivity determined from the different techniques. For example, a thermal conductivity ranging from 0.6 to 1.4 W/m-K was calculated for a 1.25 μm thick PTEOS oxide using five different methods on the same test structure. In this paper we present a unique combination of test structures, experimental methods, and heat conduction models that highlight the limitations of some of the models and methods. We also show good agreement in the thermal conductivity determined from both an experimental method and a finite element model, and suggest that these two techniques yield an accurate measure of the thermal conductivity of thin film dielectrics.
The incompetent cervix

Abstract 1. A plea is made for consideration of measures for both obstetric and surgical success in evaluating the efficacy of a procedure to remedy the incompetent internal cervical os. 2. Vaginal delivery is an important advantage which seems to have been overlooked in many instances. Hence, we strongly urge the consideration of the McDonald procedure with severance of the suture near term and subsequent vaginal delivery.
On the origin of hepatic fibrosis.

Interest in fibrogenesis in liver diseases is currently undergoing a rebirth. During the last several decades, the events of hepatic fibrogenesis following recurrent injury have become better understood. Among the diseases leading to fibrosis and progressing to cirrhosis are alcoholic liver disease, viral hepatitis B and C, nonalcoholic steatohepatitis, autoimmune hepatitis, drug-induced liver disease, biliary disease, and hereditary storage disease. As stated by several investigators, the response of the liver to injury is equivalent to wound healing in other tissues. The stellate cell (Ito cell, fat-storing cell, lipocyte, perisinusoidal cell) is central to fibrogenesis. The hepatic stellate cell (HSC) is a liver-specific pericyte that stores vitamin A‐associated lipid droplets. 1 It is currently identified by the presence of smooth muscle a actin, which is determined using immunohistochemical methods in activated HSCs. Smooth muscle a actin is not expressed by quiescent HSCs. This finding supports the hypothesis that HSCs transform to matrix-producing myofibroblasts during liver injury. 2‐4
Blocking MHC class II on human endothelium mitigates acute rejection

Acute allograft rejection is mediated by host CD8+ cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) targeting graft class I major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecules. In experimental rodent models, rejection requires differentiation of naive CD8+ T cells into alloreactive CTL within secondary lymphoid organs, whereas in humans, CTL may alternatively develop within the graft from circulating CD8+ effector memory T cells (TEM) that recognize class I MHC molecules on graft endothelial cells (EC). This latter pathway is poorly understood. Here, we show that host CD4+ TEM, activated by EC class II MHC molecules, provide critical help for this process. First, blocking HLA-DR on EC lining human artery grafts in immunodeficient mice reduces CD8+ CTL development within and acute rejection of the artery by adoptively transferred allogeneic human lymphocytes. Second, siRNA knockdown or CRISPR/Cas9 ablation of class II MHC molecules on EC prevents CD4+ TEM from helping CD8+ TEM to develop into CTL in vitro. Finally, implanted synthetic microvessels, formed from CRISPR/Cas9-modified EC lacking class II MHC molecules, are significantly protected from CD8+ T cell-mediated destruction in vivo. We conclude that human CD8+ TEM-mediated rejection targeting graft EC class I MHC molecules requires help from CD4+ TEM cells activated by recognition of class II MHC molecules.
Consumer Sovereignty and Subjective Value: A Demand-Side Perspective

Value is a critical concept in management research. Yet its conceptualization has been lacking in clarity, substance, and meaning due in large part to the abstract and conflated definitions which i...
Effect of urethane, X-rays, potassium arsenite, benzol, on survival time in transplanted mouse leukemia.

SummarySurvival time was lengthened significantly in 3 transfer lines of mouse myeloid leukemia by treatment with either potassium arsenite, urethane, x-rays, or benzol in decreasing order of effectiveness. Two transfer lines of lymphoid leukemia grown in genetically identical hosts did not respond favorably to the same treatment with the chemical agents. Potassium arsenite was more effective than urethane on a weight basis, and in the effective dose range was tolerated better than urethane.
A 15N-n.m.r. study of cerebral, hepatic and renal nitrogen metabolism in hyperammonaemic rats.

1. Rats were infused with 15NH4+ or L-[15N]alanine to induce hyperammonaemia, a potential cause of hepatic encephalopathy. HClO4 extracts of freeze-clamped brain, liver and kidney were analysed by 15N-n.m.r. spectroscopy in combination with biochemical assays to investigate the effects of hyperammonaemia on tissue concentrations of ammonia, glutamine, glutamate and urea. 2. 15NH4+ infusion resulted in a 36-fold increase in the concentration of blood ammonia. Cerebral glutamine concentration increased, with 15NH4+ incorporated predominantly into the gamma-nitrogen atom of glutamine. Incorporation into glutamate was very low. Cerebral ammonia concentration increased 5-10-fold. The results suggest that the capacity of glutamine synthetase for ammonia detoxification was saturated. 3. Pretreatment with the glutamine synthetase inhibitor L-methionine DL-sulphoximine resulted in 84% inhibition of [gamma-15N]glutamine synthesis, but incorporation of 15N into other metabolites was not observed. The result suggests that no major alternative pathway for ammonia detoxification, other than glutamine synthetase, exists in rat brain. 4. In the liver 15NH4+ was incorporated into urea, glutamine, glutamate and alanine. The specific activity of 15N was higher in the gamma-nitrogen atom of glutamine than in urea. A similar pattern was observed when [15N]alanine was infused. The results are discussed in terms of the near-equilibrium states of the reactions involved in glutamate and alanine formation, heterogeneous distribution in the liver lobules of the enzymes involved in ammonia removal and their different affinities for ammonia. 5. Synthesis of glutamine, glutamate and hippurate de novo was observed in kidney. Hippurate, as well as 15NH4+, was contributed by co-extracted urine. 6. The potential utility and limitations of 15N n.m.r. for studies of mammalian metabolism in vivo are discussed.
Quantum dynamics of simultaneously measured non-commuting observables

In quantum mechanics, measurements cause wavefunction collapse that yields precise outcomes, whereas for non-commuting observables such as position and momentum Heisenberg's uncertainty principle limits the intrinsic precision of a state. Although theoretical work has demonstrated that it should be possible to perform simultaneous non-commuting measurements and has revealed the limits on measurement outcomes, only recently has the dynamics of the quantum state been discussed. To realize this unexplored regime, we simultaneously apply two continuous quantum non-demolition probes of non-commuting observables to a superconducting qubit. We implement multiple readout channels by coupling the qubit to multiple modes of a cavity. To control the measurement observables, we implement a 'single quadrature' measurement by driving the qubit and applying cavity sidebands with a relative phase that sets the observable. Here, we use this approach to show that the uncertainty principle governs the dynamics of the wavefunction by enforcing a lower bound on the measurement-induced disturbance. Consequently, as we transition from measuring identical to measuring non-commuting observables, the dynamics make a smooth transition from standard wavefunction collapse to localized persistent diffusion and then to isotropic persistent diffusion. Although the evolution of the state differs markedly from that of a conventional measurement, information about both non-commuting observables is extracted by keeping track of the time ordering of the measurement record, enabling quantum state tomography without alternating measurements. Our work creates novel capabilities for quantum control, including rapid state purification, adaptive measurement, measurement-based state steering and continuous quantum error correction. As physical systems often interact continuously with their environment via non-commuting degrees of freedom, our work offers a way to study how notions of contemporary quantum foundations arise in such settings.
Pre-operative echocardiography among patients with coronary artery disease in the United States Veterans Affairs healthcare system: A retrospective cohort study.

Echocardiography is not recommended for routine pre-surgical evaluation but may have value for patients at high risk of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE). The objective of this study was to evaluate whether pre-operative echocardiography is associated with lower risk of post-operative MACE among patients with coronary artery disease. Using administrative and registry data, we examined associations of echocardiography within 3 months prior to surgery with postoperative MACE (myocardial infarction, revascularization, or death within 30 days) among patients with coronary artery disease undergoing elective, non-cardiac surgeries in the United States Veterans Affairs healthcare system in 2000–2012. Echocardiography preceded 4,378 (16.4 %) of 26,641 surgeries. MACE occurred within 30 days following 944 (3.5 %) surgeries. A 10 % higher case-mix adjusted rate of pre-operative echocardiography assessed at the hospital level was associated with a hospital-level risk of MACE that was 1.0 % (95 % confidence interval [CI] 0.1 %, 2.0 %) higher overall and 1.7 % (95 % CI 0.2 %, 3.2 %) higher among patients with recent myocardial infarction, valvular heart disease, or heart failure. At the patient level, pre-operative echocardiography was associated with an odds ratio for MACE of 1.9 (95 % CI 1.7, 2.2) overall and 1.8 (95 % CI 1.5, 2.2) among patients with recent myocardial infarction, valvular heart disease, or heart failure adjusting for MACE risk factors. Pre-operative echocardiography was not associated with lower risk of post-operative MACE, even in a high risk population. Future guidelines should encourage pre-operative echocardiography only in specific patients with cardiovascular disease among whom findings can be translated into effective changes in care.
Motion and Noise Artifact-Resilient Atrial Fibrillation Detection Using a Smartphone

Smartphone signals corrupted by motion and noise artifacts (MNAs) are often misclassified into atrial fibrillation (AF) by our previous smartphone AF detection application [1]. We developed an MNA-tolerant AF detection algorithm for smartphones, which first detects MNAs in the smartphone signals, removes them, and finally detects AF from the MNA-free smartphone signals. To detect MNAs, we used time and frequency-domain parameters: high-pass filtered signal amplitude, successive pulse amplitude ratio, and successive maximum dominant frequency. AFs are detected using our previous AF detection algorithm based on root mean square of successive RR difference (RMSSD) and Shannon Entropy (ShE) values [1]. The clinical results show that the accuracy, sensitivity and specificity of the proposed AF algorithm are 0.9632, 0.9341, and 0.9899, respectively.
Novel Neoichnology of Elephants: Nonlocomotive Interactions with Sediment, Locomotion Traces in Partially Snow-Covered Sediment, and Implications for Proboscidean Paleoichnology

We observed trace-making behaviors of one female African elephant (Loxodonta africana) and one female Asian elephant (Elephas maximus) in a zoo setting. Our objective was to document uncommonly studied traces, that is, traces other than dung and footprints in sediments, so that paleoichnological researchers may benefit from a broader search pattern when investigating trace fossils with potential proboscidean affinities. We observed six distinct traces: trunk-grasping traces, small pits from active and passive dispersal of water and sediment, urination traces, resting traces, wallowing traces, and dissected tracks created in partially snow-covered sediment. Of these traces, none attributable to proboscideans have been reported in the fossil record. The resting traces we observed, however, were created in dry sand and would likely not be preserved in the fossil record because of a high potential for disturbance before burial. Similarly, the trunk traces we observed in dry sand would likely have low preservation potential. Pits from thrown and blown sediment and water, wallowing traces, and snow-influenced tracks should have a higher probability of survival into the fossil record. Tracks representative of partially snow-covered ground are recognizable by sediment pedestals within undertracks. In such tracks, which we refer to as hanging tracks, the top surface of the pedestal is all that remains of the true track. The undertrack surrounding the pedestal(s) was created from the elephant’s foot pressing snow into the underlying sediment. The snow later melted away. Pleistocene proboscideans likely encountered partially snow-covered ground, so hanging tracks may be preserved in the rock record. Recognition of these tracks would be extremely informative about paleoclimate, but further research is needed to determine if they can be easily distinguished from tracks created exclusively in sediment.
The Role of Defects in Persistent Photoconductivity in YBa2Cu3O6 + x

In the persistent photoconductivity (PPC) phenomena, illumination of a material with light leads to a long-lived photoconductive state. During illumination of oxygen deficient YBCO near the insulator–metal transition, the illuminated material may even become superconducting. Accompanying the large relative changes in resistance are transport and structural changes as well as changes in the photoluminescence and infrared quenching spectrum. Infrared quenching data show that the magnitude of IR quenching saturates quickly as a function of visible photon dose, long before the PPC effect saturates. Our experimental and theoretical results have suggested that persistent photoconductivity (PPC) in YBCO may be explained by a model that incorporates both electrons trapped at defects (oxygen vacancies) and resulting structural rearrangement in the basal plane. A simple cellular automata model based on the idea that trapped electrons in the basal plane lead to structural rearrangements when illuminated with light predicts the correct time dependence of the photoexcitation process.
Clinical Trial of Paricalcitol in Myelodysplastic Syndrome.

Myelodysplastic syndrome is often a pernicious disorder associated with pancytopenia in the elderly. Therapeutic approaches need to balance their toxicities versus the side-effects of the disease. 1,25(OH) 2 -vitamin-D 3 inhibits proliferation and induces differentiation of leukemic cells in vitro. Small clinical trials have shown slight efficacy in MDS. Hypercalcemia prevents the administration of doses of this seco-steroid, which have been shown to be effective in vitro. This has provided a stimulus to identify vitamin D analogs that have anti-leukemic activity with minimal hypercalcemic effects. Paricalcitol (19-nor-1,25(OH) 2 D 2 , Zemplar) has been approved by the FDA for the treatment of secondary hyperparathyroidism; the drug is unique because it has little hypercalcemic potential; but in vitro, it has strong antileukemic effects. We conducted a clinical trial of oral paricalcitol to twelve MDS patients whose disease varied between an IPSS of low to high. Therapy began at 8 μg per day and increased at two week intervals until serum calcium was slightly above normal level; at which point, dose was decreased by 4-8 μg qd. The amount of paricalcitol taken varied between 8 μg qod to 54 μg qd (average 16 μg qd). We confirmed that the drug was having biologic activity in vivo by examining a target of the activated vitamin D 3 receptor, 1,25-(OH) 2 -vitamin-D 3 -24(OH)ase mRNA. Each patient had prominent induction of this transcript in his or her white blood cells. Furthermore, in selected patients serum paricalcitol was measured and confirmed to be prominently present. The drug was well tolerated in all patients. Two of the 12 patients showed a clinical response. One patient’s platelet counts rose from 50,000 to 120,000/ul blood over 5 weeks; however, the patient succumbed to a fatal fungal infection. The second patient responded by a decrease in RBC transfusions associated with a rise in his hemoglobin, which lasted for about 5 months. Eventually, his hemoglobin began to fall, and erythropoietin therapy was substituted for paricalcitol. In summary, high doses of paricalcitol were well tolerated in all patients. Two patients had a partial clinical response. In general, paricalcitol given as a single agent to individuals with MDS is not therapeutically very efficacious; further trials should examine it in combination with other approaches.
The End of Alchemy: Money, Banking, and the Future of the Global Economy

Mervyn King was governor of the Bank of England from 2003 to 2013. His recent book, The End of Alchemy, is a multifaceted study of modern monetary and financial economics, central banking, and moda...
Sovereign Default Concentration Risk Mitigationin Global Bond Indices

This article reviews the fundamental shift in the market perception of risk factors in fixed-income investments. The sovereign spread risk has increased substantially in recent years and contributes an even bigger portion than corporate credit spread in some investment universes, like euro treasury fixed-income indices. The major drivers of sovereign spread include economic and financial systematic factors and issuer-specific solvency factors. The concentration of sovereign risk has become a critical concern to the investors in the investment of global treasury securities. This article reports major testing results using an in-house intensity-based sovereign default risk model. The model has been used to evaluate the diversification effect of weighting mechanisms using GDP and fiscal strength as risk indicators.
Hydrogen Shifts in Aryl Radicals and Diradicals: The Role of m-Benzynes.

Density functional and coupled cluster results are presented for hydrogen shifts in radicals derived from polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and for rearrangement mechanisms for several phenylenes. RCCSD(T)/cc-pVDZ//UBLYP/cc-pVDZ free energy barriers for 1,4-H shifts at 298 K are consistently predicted to be ca. 25 kcal/mol, whereas barriers for 1,5- and 1,6-shifts range from 6 to 28 kcal/mol. The barriers correlate reasonably well with the distance from the radical center to the shifting hydrogen in the reactant. Proposed mechanisms (via diradical intermediates) of known rearrangements of linear [3]phenylene, benzo[b]biphenylene, and angular [4]phenylene have BD(T)/cc-pVDZ//(U)BLYP/cc-pVDZ computed barriers of 74–82 kcal/mol, consistent with pyrolysis temperatures of 900 to 1100 °C. Hydrogen shift reactions in most of the aryl diradicals arising from phenylenes produce m-benzyne intermediates which, despite being 8–15 kcal/mol more stable than other diradicals involved in the pathways, do not signif...
Peel mechanics with large bending

Previous small bending models for the peeling of an elastic strip from a rigid substrate are extended to large bending. Computational results obtained by an initial value method are presented. One finding is that the present large bending analysis and the conventional models based on energy considerations predict the same dependence of peel force on peel angle.
Using Law and Equity for the Poor and the Environment

This chapter discusses ways of overcoming “adaptation apartheid,” a term used to describe the differences in reactions to environmental disasters between poor and wealthy people and countries. The chapter focuses on “environmental protection and poverty alleviation.” The first section describes the connections between poverty and environmental damage, and the second section discusses distributive justice, defined as “an ethical imperative based on the notion of moral reciprocity.” Third, the chapter lists the sources of law pertaining to environmental justice, including private law, regulation, market mechanisms, and rights-based approaches. The chapter concludes by noting the advantages and challenges to a rights-based approach and advocates for an approach that addresses both environmental and human rights.
A call for action: Latinxs in social work education

ABSTRACTThis study examines the need for a culturally prepared social workforce to serve the nation’s largest minority group and provides recommendations to address this burgeoning issue. Using the same goal of population parity established by the 2007 Task Force on Latinos in Social Work Education, the authors (a) present an update on Latinxs presence in social work programs, (b) propose a theoretical framework and a conceptual paradigm to prepare future social workers to properly serve Latinx communities, and (c) introduce a case study designed to systematically address this issue.
Unfolding and Vector Models

A class of geometric models for individual differences in preferential choice or other ‘dominance’ data are considered, primarily spatial models in which psychological stimuli or other objects (e.g., political candidates in a voting situation) are represented as points in a multidimensional space, while subjects/data sources (e.g., consumers, voters, or demographic subgroups) are represented as vectors (or directed line segments), ideal points (i.e., the most preferred or highest ranked stimulus/object), or other entities (e.g., ‘weighted’ ideal points, with different weights for dimensions defining distances for different subjects/sources, or ‘generalized’ ideal points, with an even more general Euclidean metric defining distance between actual and ideal points). The ideal point models are often called ‘unfolding models.’ In the vector model preferences/dominances are modeled by projection of stimulus/object points onto vectors, while in the ideal point/unfolding models the closer (less distant) an actual point is to the ideal point the more preferred/higher ranked is the corresponding stimulus/object for that subject/source. Methods of fitting this class of models, collectively called the ‘linear-quadratic hierarchy of models,’ are described—both for ‘internal analysis,’ in which all parameters are fitted based on the preference/dominance data alone, and for ‘external analysis,’ where the stimulus/object points are defined a priori (e.g., via multidimensional scaling of proximity data) while subject/source parameters are ‘mapped into’ this fixed stimulus/object space.
Jitter Sensitivity Analysis of the Superconducting Josephson Arbitrary Waveform Synthesizer

We present the first jitter sensitivity analysis of a superconducting voltage reference waveform synthesizer with fundamentally accurate output pulses. Successful deployment of a reference waveform source at microwave frequencies will represent a new paradigm for radio frequency metrology. The programmable waveform synthesizer considered in this paper contains a 1.5 bit delta–sigma digital-to-analog converter (DAC) with a sampling frequency of 28 GHz. We quantify the impact of random and deterministic output pulse position jitter (PPJ) on: 1) the amplitude accuracy of the output fundamental tone and 2) the in-band signal-to-noise and distortion ratio (SNDR). The superconducting DAC features a complete lack of output pulsewidth jitter, and random PPJ up to 200 fs rms has a negligible impact on accuracy and SNDR for synthesized tones up to 1 GHz. However, application of nonzero dc bias current is shown to produce deterministic PPJ of up to 5 ps, which, in turn, is shown to degrade the in-band SNDR by 30 dB at 1 GHz unless eliminated with techniques discussed in this paper. We verify the predicted effects of random and deterministic PPJ with simulations in the range of 100 kHz–1 GHz and with experiments in the range of 100 kHz–3 MHz.
Crime Blindness: How Selective Attention and Inattentional Blindness Can Disrupt Eyewitness Awareness and Memory:

Most people are not constantly watching for crimes and accidents. They are instead focused on other tasks. When people are focused on other tasks, they may fail to see crimes that should be obvious...
(191) Stress Dysregulation in Temporomandibular Disorder: A Study on Autonomic Reactivity and Recovery

Mental stress is a common trigger for worsening pain symptoms in temporomandibular disorder (TMD) and related pain conditions. The cumulative effect from dysregulated stress response (reactivity) and stress recovery is a key factor that links stress to chronic diseases. Although dysregulations in major stress systems have been shown in TMD, little is known about physiological recovery after mental stress exposure in TMD. This pilot study aimed to systematically assess differences in heart rate variability (HRV), a physiological marker of stress reactivity and recovery to mental stress in TMD cases and controls. Based on the Diagnostic Criteria for TMD, 26 females (11 controls and 15 cases) were recruited. Participants completed the Trier Social Stress Test (TSST) which consisted of 3 phases: 1) 15 minutes baseline, 2) 15 minutes of stress exposure, and 3) a recovery period lasting up to 60-minute post stress exposure. Time and frequency domain HRV measures were assessed. Mixed-model ANOVA with repeated measure and Friedman test, along with a two-sample t-test and the Wilcoxon rank-sum test, were used when appropriate to test group (2), time (11 time points) and group x time effects on stress reactivity and recovery (alpha = 0.05). At baseline, a group main effect was noted with the control group showing greater values in SDNN, VLF, LF, TP, and LF/HF ratio HRV measures. During stress exposure and recovery phases, a group main effect was observed with the control group expressing greater SDNN, RMSSD, LF, HF, and TP HRV values compared to TMD participants. Post hoc analysis revealed that the largest group differences were observed in the recovery period during minutes 10 to 30. A group x time interaction was not observed for any HRV measure. These results indicated dysregulations in stress reactivity and recovery that both should be considered when develop TMD intervention strategies.
Ultrasound guidance for peripheral nerve blocks: an observational trend study of national data

Despite the perception that ultrasound-guided regional anesthesia (UGRA) is becoming a universally adopted tool for peripheral nerve blocks (PNBs), actual data on the utilization of ultrasound for regional anesthesia remain limited. The primary aim of this study was to define the incidence of
General concepts in biostatistics and clinical epidemiology: Experimental studies with randomized clinical trial design

In experimental studies, researchers apply an intervention to a group of study participants and analyze the effects over a future or prospective timeline. The prospective nature of these types of studies allows for the determination of causal relationships, but the interventions they are based on require rigorous bioethical evaluation, approval from an ethics committee, and registration of the study protocol prior to implementation. Experimental research includes clinical and preclinical testing of a novel intervention or therapy at different phases of development. The main objective of clinical trials is to evaluate an interventions efficacy and safety. Conventional clinical trials are blinded, randomized, and controlled, meaning that participants are randomly assigned to either the study intervention group or a comparator (a control group exposed to a placebo intervention or another non-placebo or active interventionor not exposed to any intervention) to reduce selection and confounding biases, and researchers are also unaware of the type of intervention being applied. Intention-to-treat analysis (inclusion of all originally randomized subjects) should be done to avoid the effects of attrition (dropout) and crossover (variance in the exposure or treatment over time). A quasi-experimental design and external controls may also be used. Metrics used to measure the magnitude of effects include relative risk, absolute and relative risk reductions, and numbers needed to treat and harm. Confounding factors are controlled by randomization. Other types of bias to consider are selection, performance, detection, and reporting. This review is the fifth of a methodological series on general concepts in biostatistics and clinical epidemiology developed by the Chair of Scientific Research Methodology at the School of Medicine, University of Valparaiso, Chile. It describes general theoretical concepts related to randomized clinical trials and other experimental studies in humans, including fundamental elements, historical development, bioethical issues, structure, design, association measures, biases, and reporting guidelines. Factors that should be considered in the execution and evaluation of a clinical trial are also covered.
Methods to improve the yield of right heart catheterization in pulmonary hypertension

Abstract Right heart catheterization (RHC) is needed to diagnose pulmonary hypertension (PH). Traditional hemodynamic determinations may be insufficient to identify early stages of the disease and the mechanism of PH, confidently allocate patients to the pre- and/or postcapillary groups of the disease and guide certain treatment decisions (e.g. use of calcium channel blockers). In this review, we discuss the role of established (pulmonary vasodilatory, exercise and rapid fluid infusion challenges) and promising maneuvers (passive leg raising, intrathoracic pressure estimation, temporary exclusion of arteriovenous dialysis accesses and dobutamine infusion) that help interrogate the pulmonary vasculature during RHC, with a focus on describing rationale for use, indications, contraindications, protocols and implications of different responses.
Curious Case of Retroperitoneal Mass with Elevated Serum IgG3 Levels: An Exception to the 2019 ACR/EULAR Classification Criteria for IgG4‐Related Disease

We propose a novel case of a retroperitoneal mass and periaortitis with left periureteral involvement in the setting of elevated serum Immunoglobulin G3 (IgG3) that did not fulfill the criteria for Immunoglobulin G4 Related Disease (IgG4-RD) proposed by the newly updated 2019 ACR/EULAR classification criteria. IgG4-RD is an autoimmune fibroinflammatory condition that can affect virtually any organ in the body.
Human Gastrointestinal Microbiota and Neural Activity: Effects of Probiotics on Mental and GI Health

This review examines the general parameters of the microbiota-gut-brain axis, with special emphasis on a clinical-medical perspective and anthropological research foci. In particular, the authors focused on the observed vs. non-observed (observable) effects of psychobiotics on psychiatric conditions, as well as IBD and IBS comorbidities with psychiatric conditions; the latter was examined within the context of utilizing dietary changes to influence individuals’ microbiomes and to ameliorate GI and mental health. Despite some fascinating observations seen in preclinical animal models and promising outcomes observed in several clinical studies of probiotic supplementation on humans with psychiatric as well as GI conditions, this area of research warrants further scientific examination. This research is particularly important in order to provide scientific evidence supporting the use of probiotics (exclusively or as an adjunct treatment) for psychiatric and/or GI conditions in clinical settings. An important consideration in this sense is the need for standardized experimental methods, which can help guide evidence-based recommendations such as differences in dosing, timing, and duration of supplementation, as well as help elucidate genetic predispositions and potential dietary-pharmacological interactions. Such research methods would allow for a better understanding of the processes and mechanisms probiotics induce and/or cause within the context of human physiology.
Testing three explanations for stigmatization of people of Asian descent during COVID-19: maladaptive coping, biased media use, or racial prejudice?

To investigate factors associated with the stigmatization of people of Asian descent during COVID-19 in the United States and factors that can mitigate or prevent stigmatization. A national sample ...
Somatic Symptom and Related Disorders in the Emergency Department

Somatic symptom and related disorders exist at the intersection between psychiatric disease and medical disease. Patients with these conditions present with bodily symptoms or concerns about having a disease. As such, they are more commonly encountered in general medical settings like the emergency department (ED) than in psychiatric environments like the acute mental health ward. Indeed, patients with somatization disorders use more primary care, emergency, and hospital resources even when controlling for other medical and psychiatric comorbidities [1]. However, psychiatric pathology drives their healthcare utilization.
The Politics of the Mundane

Extensive research on political participation suggests that parental resources strongly predict participation. Other research indicates that salient political events can push individuals to participate. I offer a novel explanation of how mundane household experiences translate to political engagement, even in settings where low participation levels are typically found, such as immigrant communities. I hypothesize that experiences requiring children of Latinx immigrants to take on “adult” responsibilities provide an environment where children learn the skills needed to overcome the costs associated with participation. I test this hypothesis using three datasets: a survey of Latinx students, a representative survey of young adults, and a 10-year longitudinal study. The analyses demonstrate that Latinx children of immigrants taking on adult responsibilities exhibit higher levels of political activity compared with those who do not. These findings provide new insights into how the cycle of generational political inequality is overcome in unexpected ways and places.
Opioid-Free Thyroid and Parathyroid Operations: Are Patients Satisfied With Pain Control?

BackgroundThe aim of this study was to evaluate pain control and patient satisfaction using an opioid-free analgesic regimen following thyroid and parathyroid operations.MethodsSurveys were distrib...
Improvisational theater as a tool for enhancing cooperation in academic libraries

It is not uncommon for an audience member to be in awe of a professional improvised performance. They may even find it difficult to believe the performers really created a piece of music or a theatrical scene spontaneously before their eyes. What the audience has witnessed is the remarkable power of collaboration. Generally, they are unaware of the skills and processes these performers use instinctively. Arie Y. Lewin notes that improvisation “...has always been recognized in organization theory but it was treated as an organization dysfunction: an unintended outcome or as an organization design failure.”2 This has changed, as interest in improvisation grows among organizational theorists and researchers who relate group dynamics found in improvising groups to creativity, innovation, and flexibility in organizations. The general idea of improvisation in libraries is not new. As in other organizations, however, the mention of improvisation in library contexts can evoke negative images for some people. One reason for this can be certain preconceptions or erroneous conceptualizations of improvisation. Some view improvisation as something one resorts to only in dire circumstances, or because they lack requisite skills, knowledge, or resources. This perception also exists in other types of organizations, particularly those with hierarchical structures and management styles. This paper examines the concept of improvisation and suggests that academic libraries: 1) move beyond the idea of improvisation as merely a useful metaphor; 2) learn from improvisation in non-library organizations; 3) include improvisation as a practical tool for fostering cooperation and teamwork; and 4) institute formal staff development in certain skills used by theatrical improvisers.
Endothelial cell seeded synthetic vascular grafts

Seeding of synthetic vascular grafts with enzymatically derived autologous endothelial cells in canine and baboon experimental models results in early development of an antithrombogenic lining. Investigators from ten different institutions have published results of research on graft endothelialization. Linings of seeded grafts have been proven to be endothelium by electron microscopy as well as immunofluorescent microscopy using factor VIII-related antigen. The endothelial surface produces prostacyclin. Endothelial cell-seeded grafts, in contrast to unseeded grafts, have less affinity for platelet attachment, as demonstrated by lesser graft imaging using In 1 1 1 labeled platelets, longer platelet survival times, reduced thrombogenicity at low flow rates, and improved patencies. The efficacy of this technology in clinical settings has not been defined.
The 27th Annual Prostate Cancer Foundation Scientific Retreat Report.

Background The 25th Annual Prostate Cancer Foundation (PCF) Scientific Retreat was held in Carlsbad, CA, from 26 to 28 October 2018. Methods The PCF Scientific Retreat is the foremost scientific research conference in the world that focuses on the most significant and promising recent advancements in basic, translational, and clinical prostate cancer research, as well as research from other fields that has substantial potential to advance prostate cancer research. Results The major topic areas discussed at this year's meeting included (a) new insights into prostate cancer biology and treatment; (b) approaches for accelerating precision medicine for prostate cancer; (c) prostate-specific membrane antigen-targeted therapy and imaging for prostate cancer; (d) updates on Poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP)-inhibitor clinical trial results; (e) the biology and role of prostate cancer stem cells; (f) new approaches for targeting the androgen receptor and other steroid hormone receptor pathways; (g) racial disparities in prostate cancer treatment and outcomes; (h) the role of the nervous system in prostate cancer development and progression; (i) the role of the WNT signaling pathway in normal prostate and prostate cancer biology; (j) novel immunotherapy approaches; and (k) the ecology of prostate cancer. Conclusions This article reviews the research presented by the speakers at the 2018 PCF Scientific Retreat for the purpose of disseminating this knowledge to the global research community and ultimately accelerating new understandings and treatment strategies for prostate cancer.
A Time and Motion Study of Competitive Backstroke Swimming Turns

Abstract A time analysis and motion study of two methods of performing backstroke swimming turns was administered to a selected group of 50 swimmers, ages 18 and over, and an experimental group of 50 swimmers, ages 17 and under. Significant time differences between the experimental method and the universally used method were found for both groups. The majority of the swimmers achieved faster times using the experimental method. Utilizing underwater photography, motion studies determined that seven distinct body movements are eliminated when using the experimental method.
Determination of Si-Al connectivities in zeolites with 2D Al-Si RAPT CPMAS CPMG HETCOR NMR techniques

Abstract The concept of the combined use of RAPT (rotor assisted population transfer) and CPMG (Carr-Purcell-Meiboom-Gill) techniques to boost the sensitivity of CP (cross polarization) based NMR experiments is applied to a synthetic zeolite (ZSM-4). The sensitivity was increased by a factor of ~4 (equivalent to 16X savings in time), which enabled acquisition of a high quality 2D 27 Al- 29 Si HETCOR (heteronuclear correlation) spectrum. By separating the resonances in two dimensions, through-space connectivities between spins were revealed and the effective resolution was improved in both dimensions, allowing clarification of the existing ambiguities in spectral assignments in this material. The spectra indicate random distribution of Al and Si within the ZSM-4 network. Additionally, unexpected correlations were observed between different components of inhomogeneously broadened 29 Si and 27 Al lines, which are most likely due to differences in the second coordination sphere environments.
Biased organelle transmission in somatic hybrids of Lycopersicon esculentum and Solanum lycopersicoides

Restriction fragment length polymorphisms (RFLPs) were used to determine the transmission of organelle genomes in somatic hybrid plants of tomato and its wild relativeSolanum lycopersicoides. Biased frequencies of organelle combinations were observed in a population of 70 somatic hybrid plants each derived from a separate callus. The plastids in 68 of 70 hybrids examined were fromL. esculentum. One of the remaining hybrids, plant 240, hadS. lycopersicoides plastids and the other, plant 63, had a mixture of parental plastids. Forty-six of the same 70 plants were analyzed for mtDNA and all had that ofS. lycopersicoides including plant 240. One of these hybrids had novel mtDNA fragments which mayhave resulted from recombination or rearrangement. The biased transmission may have resulted from an initial unequal input of organelles, differential replication of organelles, or nucleo-organelle incompatibility.
Monomeric Chelated Amides of Aluminum and Gallium: Volatile, Miscible Liquid Precursors for CVD

New precursors were developed for the chemical vapor deposition (CVD) of aluminum nitride (AIN) and gallium nitride (GaN) at low temperatures. Synthetic methods for the new materials will be reported, along with their analyses and spectral characterization. The precursors are volatile (180 mTorr at 45-55 °C), low-viscosity (10 centipoise) liquids, so they are more convenient as vapor sources than previously available solid sources. They are thermally stable to temperatures well above their vaporization temperatures, so their vaporization is highly reproducible and leaves no residue. Unlike previously available liquid precursors, they are not pyrophoric, so they are safer to handle. AMN films formed by reaction with ammonia at around 200 °C are amorphous, transparent insulators that are good barriers to diffusion of water, oxygen, and other materials.
A standard procedure for cultivating human diploid fibroblastlike cells to study cellular aging

Human diploid cultures are widely used for the study of aging. We have developed quantitative cell culture procedures that include optimization of culture conditions and determination of replicative age by direct cell count. Using these procedures we are able to determine reproducibly the stage in the replicative life history of diploid cell cultures.
The North American opinion climate for nanotechnology and its products: Opportunities and challenges

A January 2005 telephone survey of 1200 people in the U.S. and 2000 Canadians provides a snapshot of current North American opinion regarding nanotechnology at this crucial early point in its emergence from the laboratory to the arena of public discourse and public understanding. Using a typology of “publics” developed through analysis of a previous comparative survey (Priest, S., 2006) and subsequently tested against these newer data (Priest, S., 2005) this article describes the opinion climate for nanotechnology across North America. The comparison of key results from the two countries helps illustrate how social and cultural differences contribute to reactions to new technologies, including nanotech. The article also discusses implications for nanotechnology-related public outreach and risk communication efforts.
Perceptual weighting of the envelope and fine structure across frequency bands for sentence intelligibility: effect of interruption at the syllabic-rate and periodic-rate of speech.

Listeners often only have fragments of speech available to understand the intended message due to competing background noise. In order to maximize successful speech recognition, listeners must allocate their perceptual resources to the most informative acoustic properties. The speech signal contains temporally-varying acoustics in the envelope and fine structure that are present across the frequency spectrum. Understanding how listeners perceptually weigh these acoustic properties in different frequency regions during interrupted speech is essential for the design of assistive listening devices. This study measured the perceptual weighting of young normal-hearing listeners for the envelope and fine structure in each of three frequency bands for interrupted sentence materials. Perceptual weights were obtained during interruption at the syllabic rate (i.e., 4 Hz) and the periodic rate (i.e., 128 Hz) of speech. Potential interruption interactions with fundamental frequency information were investigated by shifting the natural pitch contour higher relative to the interruption rate. The availability of each acoustic property was varied independently by adding noise at different levels. Perceptual weights were determined by correlating a listener’s performance with the availability of each acoustic property on a trial-by-trial basis. Results demonstrated similar relative weights across the interruption conditions, with emphasis on the envelope in high-frequencies.