cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Low-temperature specific heat capacity measurements and application to Mars thermal modeling

Abstract Data returned from Martian missions have revealed a wide diversity of surface mineralogies, including in geological structures interpreted to be sedimentary or altered by liquid water. These terrains are of great interest because of their potential to document the environment at a time when life may have appeared. Intriguingly, Martian sedimentary rocks show distinctly low thermal inertia values (i.e. 300 - 700 Jm−2K−1s−1/2, indicative of a combination of low thermal conductivity, specific heat capacity, and density). These low values are difficult to reconcile with their competent bedrock morphologies, whereas hundreds of bedrock occurrences, interpreted as volcanic in origin, have been mapped globally and display thermal inertia values > 1200 Jm−2K−1s−1/2. Bedrock thermal inertia values are generally assumed to be driven by their bulk thermal conductivity, which in turn is controlled by their micro- and macro-physical properties (i.e., degree and style of cementation in the case of detritic rocks, horizontal fractures and layering, etc.), and not by their density (well-known from terrestrial analog measurements, and with modest variability) or specific heat capacity (generally uncharacterized for non-basaltic materials below room temperature). In this paper, we demonstrate that specific heat capacity cannot be a potential cause for the differential thermophysical behavior between magmatic and sedimentary rocks through a series of experimental Cp(T) measurements at 100–350 K using differential scanning calorimetry. The results on 20 Martian-relevant minerals investigated in this work indicate that these materials exhibit very similar specific heats, ranging from 0.3–0.7 Jg−1K−1 at 100 K to 0.6–1.7 Jg−1K−1 at 350 K. When used in a Martian thermal model, this range of Cp values translate to very small surface temperature differences, indicating that uncertainty in composition (and its effect on the specific heat) is not a noticeable source of thermal inertia variability for indurated units on Mars. We therefore conclude that the low thermal inertia value of sedimentary rocks compared to magmatic/volcanic rocks is likely due to their low apparent bulk conductivity, which bears information on their internal physical structure. Future work combining the analysis of thermal observations acquired at various local times and seasons will help further characterize this heterogeneity.
Boundary-type sets in maximal outerplanar graphs

Abstract The periphery Per( G ) of a graph G is the set of vertices of maximum eccentricity. A vertex v belongs to the contour Ct( G ) of G if no neighbor of v has an eccentricity greater than the eccentricity of v . The extreme set Ext( G ) of G is the set of all its simplicial (also called extreme) vertices; an extreme vertex is such that its neighborhood induces a complete graph. The eccentricity Ecc( G ) of a graph G is the set of all its eccentric vertices, i.e. vertices that are antipodal to some other vertex in G . A vertex v is a boundary vertex if there is another vertex u in G such that no u - v geodesic can be extended at v to a longer geodesic. The boundary ∂ ( G ) of G is the set of all its boundary vertices. For the family of maximal outerplanar graphs, we provide a characterization of ∂ ( G ) and Ext ( G ) in terms of vertex degrees. We characterize those graphs that are induced by Per( G ) and Ct( G ). We show that, unlike for trees, all relationships between boundary-type sets in maximal outerplanar graphs are as rich as in general graphs and we construct a single maximal outerplanar graph showing the sharpness of all those inclusions.
Microfluidic synthesis and on-chip enrichment application of two-dimensional hollow sandwich-like mesoporous silica nanosheet with water ripple-like surface

The merits of microfluidics bring new opportunities for engineering of nanomaterials with well controlled chemical, physical and biological properties for a variety of applications. Herein, using a two-run spiral-shaped microfluidic device, we first develop a facile and straightforward flow synthesis strategy to create two-dimensional mesoporous silica nanosheet (MSN). Such MSN exhibits typical hollow sandwich-like bilayer and unique water ripple-like wrinkle surface, which greatly increase the particulate accessibility for mass transfer. The enhanced on-chip enrichment performance of MSN is further confirmed toward different substrates (dye, protein, drug). These findings not only shed new light on microfluidics-enabled chemicals engineering, but also open up numerous new possibilities by microfluidics in adsorption, separation, and biomedical fields.
Context-Aware Energy Optimization for Perpetual IoT-Based Safe Communities

Abstract The IoT revolution has provided a promising opportunity to build powerful perpetual awareness systems. Perpetual awareness systems are sensing systems characterized by continuous monitoring and ubiquitous sensing; they are essential to many safety and mission-critical applications, e.g. assisted living, healthcare and public safety. In this paper, we present SAFER, a perpetual heterogeneous IoT system; deployed in homes to detect critical events (injury, hazardous-environment) that must trigger immediate action and response. A key challenge here is the energy consumption associated with perpetual operations. We propose a novel energy-aware perpetual home IoT system where battery-operated and wall-powered IoT devices co-execute to ensure safety of occupants. We use a semantic approach that utilizes context of extracted activities of daily living (ADLs) from device data to drive energy optimized sensor activations. To validate our approach, we developed an elderly fall detection system using multi-personal and in-situ sensing devices derived from real world deployments in SCALE project which has been deployed in Montgomery county, MD. Using initial measurements to drive larger simulations, we show that proposed Cost-Function-Gradient algorithm can achieve greater than 4X reductions in energy dissipation and doubling system of battery powered devices lifetime without loss of sensing accuracy.
Strategies to improve equity in faculty hiring

Through targeted recruitment and interventions to support their success during training, the fraction of trainees (graduate students and postdoctoral fellows) in academic science from historically underrepresented groups has steadily increased. However, this trend has not translated to a concomitant increase in the number of faculty from these underrepresented groups. Here, I focus on proven strategies that departments and research institutions can develop to increase equity in faculty hiring and promotion to address the lack of racial and gender diversity among their faculty.
Severe local lattice distortion in Zr- and/or Hf-containing refractory multi-principal element alloys

Abstract Whereas exceptional mechanical and radiation performances have been found in the emergent body-centered cubic (BCC) refractory multi-principal element alloys (RMPEAs), the importance of their complex atomic environment, reflecting diversity in atomic size and chemistry, has been largely unexplored at the atomic level. Here, we adopt a local structure approach based on the atomic pair distribution function measurements in combination with density functional theory (DFT) calculations to investigate a series of BCC RMPEAs. Our results demonstrate that all the analyzed RMPEAs exhibit local lattice distortions (LLD) to some extent, but a severe LLD, a breakdown of the 15% atomic size difference in Hume-Rothery rules, occurs only in the Zr- and/or Hf-containing RMPEAs. In addition, through the DFT calculations we show that charge transfer among the elements profoundly reduces the size mismatch effect in average to stabilize this energy-unfavorable severe LLD. The observed competitive coexistence between LLD and charge transfer demonstrates the importance of the electronic effects on the local environments in RMPEAs.
Hues of Martyrdom: Monastic and Lay Asceticism in Two Homilies of Gregory the Great on the Gospels:

Pope Gregory I was the first monk to hold the office of Bishop of Rome, and he was one of the most prolific papal writers of the Middle Ages. It should not be a surprise that his views on monastici...
The Impact of Dedicated Cardiac Intensive Care Units on Outcomes in Pediatric Cardiac Surgery: A Virtual Pediatric Systems Database Analysis

Care of children undergoing cardiac surgery occurs in dedicated cardiac intensive care units (CICU) or mixed intensive care units. In this article, we analyzed data from Virtual Pediatric Systems (VPS, LLC) database (2009-2014) for children < 18 years of age undergoing cardiac surgery, classified according to Society of Thoracic Surgery-European Association of Cardiothoracic Surgery (STS-EACTS) risk category. We had 25,052 (52%) patients in 53 mixed units (mortality rate, 2.99%), and 22,762 (48%) patients in 19 dedicated CICUs (mortality rate, 2.62%). There was a direct relationship between STS-EACTS risk category and death rate in both units. By multivariable logistic and linear regression, there was no difference in mortality between mixed unit and CICU death rates within STS-EACTS risk categories. We found no difference in outcomes for children undergoing cardiac surgery based on the unit type (dedicated CICU or mixed unit).
Hand gesture recognition using surface electromyography

Surface electromyography has become one of the popular methods for recognizing hand gestures. In this paper, the performance of four classification methods on sEMG signals have been investigated. These methods are developed by combinations of two feature extraction methods, including Mean Absolute Value and Short-Time Fourier Transform, and two classifiers, including Support Vector Machine and Convolutional Neural Network. These classification methods achieved an accuracy over 97 % on the NinaPro dataset 1. In addition, a new dataset, which includes the Activities of Daily Living, was proposed and an accuracy over 98 % was obtained by applying the presented classification methods.This methodology can provide the basis for a robust quantitative technique to evaluate hand grasps of stroke patients in performing activities of daily living that in turn can lead to a more efficient rehabilitation regimen.
Effect of repeated locomotor training on ventilatory measures, perceived exertion and walking endurance in persons with motor incomplete spinal cord injury.

Study design Pre-Post, Repeated Measures. Objectives To determine if a warm-up bout of exercise could elicit a phasic ventilatory response to constant work rate (CWR) exercise in individuals with incomplete spinal cord injury (iSCI) during unsupported CWR treadmill walking. Describe the changes in ventilatory kinetics, ventilatory variability and ratings of perceived exertion (RPE) before and after 12 and 24 weeks of overground locomotor training (OLT). Investigate the relationship among minute ventilation (VE) variability, RPE, and walking endurance. Setting Laboratory. Methods A 6-min CWR was used as a warm-up preceding a CWR, at the same walking speed, until volitional fatigue or 30 min. Breath-by-breath ventilatory data were examined during the second CWR using a mono-exponential model. VE variability was calculated as the difference between the observed and predicted values. Data were time-matched before and after 12 and 24 weeks of OLT. A Pearson's correlation was used for VE variability, RPE, and walking endurance. Results A warm-up CWR did elicit a phasic ventilatory response. OLT resulted in faster ventilatory kinetics. Ventilatory variability reduced after 12 weeks of OLT but returned to pre-OLT values after 24 weeks of training. The change in VE variability was correlated with the change in RPE throughout the study. 12 and 24 weeks of OLT resulted in significant improvements in treadmill walking time. Conclusions SCI patients can achieve a phasic ventilatory response to walking if the exercise bout is preceded by a warm-up. OLT normalizes the ventilatory kinetics and improves walking endurance. The change in VE variability is correlated to RPE.
High-grade urothelial carcinoma with hypochromatic chromatin in urine cytology.

Introduction Some high-grade urothelial carcinomas (UCs) in urine cytology have hypochromatic chromatin, but the incidence and criteria for diagnosis are not well described. Materials and Methods Urine cytology cases with biopsy follow up were reviewed. Results Cytospin preparations from 331 cases with biopsy follow up (230 benign/low-grade UC, 101 malignant) were reviewed. There were no false-positive cases. Cases with malignant cells with hypochromatic chromatin were identified in a total of 17 cases (16.8% of all malignancies). These comprised 2 carcinoma in situ, 11 high-grade papillary UC, 3 invasive UC, and 1 adenocarcinoma. Sixteen of 93 high-grade UCs (17.2%) had cells with hypochromatic chromatin. These cells were the only type of malignant cell in 4 of 101 cases (4.0%). All cases had cells with high nuclear-to-cytoplasmic ratios and markedly indented and irregular nuclear membranes that could be identified on both cytology and subsequent histology. Conclusions Malignant urothelial cells in urine cytology with hypochromatic chromatin can be present in 17% of cases and can be diagnosed as “positive for malignancy” based on their high nuclear-to-cytoplasmic ratio, and markedly indented and irregular nuclear membranes.
Probing Metastable Space-Charge Potentials in a Wide Band Gap Semiconductor.

While the study of space-charge potentials has a long history, present models are largely based on the notion of steady state equilibrium, ill-suited to describe wide band gap semiconductors with moderate to low concentrations of defects. Here we build on color centers in diamond both to locally inject carriers into the crystal and probe their evolution as they propagate in the presence of external and internal potentials. We witness the formation of metastable charge patterns whose shape---and concomitant field---can be engineered through the timing of carrier injection and applied voltages. With the help of previously crafted charge patterns, we unveil a rich interplay between local and extended sources of space-charge field, which we then exploit to show space-charge-induced carrier guiding.
Viet nam--reform and stabilization, 1986-1992

Viet Nam has made substantial progress in the transition to a market economy and toward financial stability since economic reform began in 1986. Piecemeal measures were adopted at first, followed by the launching of a bold and comprehensive program of structural reform in March 1989. Complemented by policies designed to achieve financial stabilization, the program met early success. Its continuation, however, was put at risk by the withdrawal of external financing by the former Soviet Union and the breakdown of preferential arrangements with the CMEA area. Although economic performance weakened temporarily in the wake of these shocks, the Vietnamese intensified the adjustment process. Viet Nam has since resumed its progress toward financial stability and sustained growth.
Analysis and comparison of genetic variants and mutations of the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2

We present an analysis and comparison study of genetic variants and mutations of about 1200 genomes of SARS-CoV-2 virus sampled across the first seven months of 2020. The study includes 12 sets of about 100 genomes each collected between January and September. We analyzed the mutations, mutation frequency and count trends over time, and genomes trends over time from January through September. We show that certain mutations in the SARS-CoV-2 genome are not occurring randomly as it has been commonly believed. This finding is in agreement with other recently published research in this domain. Therefore, this validates other findings in this direction. This study includes approximately 1000 genomes and was able to identify over 35 different mutations most of which are common to almost all genomes groups. Some mutations' ratios (frequency percentage) fluctuate over time to adapt the virus to various environmental factors, climate, and populations. One of the interesting findings in this paper is that the coding region, at the nucleotide level for NSP13 protein is relatively conserved compared with other protein regions in the ORF1ab gene which makes this protein a good candidate for developing drug targets and treatment for the COVID-19 disease. Although this outcome was already reported by other researchers, we corroborated their result with our work in a different approach and another experimental setting with almost one thousand complete genome sequences. We presented and discussed all these results and findings with tables of results and illustrating figures.
Comparison of Hospitalizations Outcomes for Delivery and Resource Utilization Between Pregnant Women with Kidney Transplants and Chronic Kidney Disease in the United States

Background This study aimed to assess outcomes of delivery hospitalizations, including acute kidney injury (AKI), obstetric and fetal events, and resource utilization among pregnant women with kidney transplants compared to pregnant women with no known kidney disease and chronic kidney disease (CKD) stages 3-5. Method Hospitalizations for delivery in the US were identified using the enhanced delivery identification method in the National Inpatient Sample dataset from the years 2009 to 2014. Diagnoses of CKD stages 3-5, kidney transplantation, along with obstetric events, delivery methods, and fetal events were identified using ICD-9-CM diagnosis and procedure codes. Patients with no known kidney disease group were identified by excluding any diagnoses of CKD, end stage kidney disease and kidney transplant. Multivariable logistic regression accounting for the survey weights and matched regression was conducted to investigate the risk of maternal and fetal complications in women with kidney transplants, compared to women with no kidney transplants and no known kidney disease, and compared to women with CKD stages 3-5. Result A total of 5,408,215 hospitalizations resulting in deliveries were identified from 2009 to 2014, including 405 women with CKD stages 3-5, 295 women with functioning kidney transplants, and 5,405,499 women with no known kidney disease. Compared to pregnant women with no known kidney disease, pregnant kidney transplant recipients were at higher odds of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (OR = 3.11, 95%CI [2.26, 4.28]), preeclampsia/eclampsia/HELLP syndrome (OR = 3.42, 95%CI [2.54, 4.60]), preterm delivery (OR = 2.46, 95%CI [1.75, 3.45]), fetal growth restriction (OR = 1.74, 95%CI [1.01, 3.00]), and AKI (OR = 10.46, 95%CI [5.33, 20.56]). There were no significant differences in rates of gestational diabetes or cesarean section. Pregnant women with kidney transplants had 1.30-times longer lengths of stay and 1.28-times higher costs of hospitalization. However, pregnant women with CKD stages 3-5 were at higher odds of AKI (OR = 5.29, 95%CI [2.41, 11.59]), preeclampsia/eclampsia/HELLP syndrome (OR = 1.72, 95%CI [1.07, 2.76]) and fetal deaths (OR = 3.20, 95%CI [1.06, 10.24]), and had 1.28-times longer hospital stays and 1.37-times higher costs of hospitalization compared to pregnant women with kidney transplant. Conclusion Pregnant women with kidney transplant were more likely to experience adverse events during delivery and had longer lengths of stay and higher total charges when compared to women with no known kidney disease. However, pregnant women with moderate to severe CKD were more likely to experience serious complications than kidney transplant recipients. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
Is the Implant in Bone? The Accuracy of CT and Fluoroscopic Imaging for Detecting Malpositioned Pelvic Screw and SI Fusion Implants.

Background Spine fusions to the pelvis have been associated with increased strain to the sacroiliac joint (SI) and possibly continued postoperative low back pain. To minimize this, concomitant SI joint fusion at the time of lumbopelvic fixation has been advocated. This requires concomitant placement of sacral alar iliac screws (S2AI) for lumbopelvic fixation and triangular titanium rods (TTR) for the SI joint fusion. Traditionally, surgeons have mostly relied on fluoroscopic images to confirm final implant position and patient safety after pelvic instrumentation, although computer tomography (CT) has also been used. Methods We wanted to know which imaging modality, if any, was superior in helping to identify malpositioned implants during concomitant lumbopelvic fixation and SI joint fusion. We instrumented pelvic sawbones models with S2AI screws, TTR's, or both in the correct anatomic positions or malpositioned variants that led to known cortical breaches. Pelvic models were then imaged with fluoroscopy and CT, and the images assessed by blinded reviewers (spine surgeons and a musculoskeletal radiologist) for the presence of cortical breaches, the identity of the breached implant, and its direction. The responses of the blinded reviewers were then compared to the known position of the implants and Kappa coefficient calculated to determine agreement. Results We found that thorough evaluation of implant position with multiple fluoroscopic views (kappa 0.641) or CT imaging (kappa 0.906) allowed reviewers to assess implant position, identity, and breach direction. Conclusion These findings suggest that intraoperative CT imaging allows surgeons to make the best decision regarding implant position prior to leaving the operating room, thus potentially improving patient safety and unplanned returns to the operating room.Level of Evidence: V.
Center effects, therapist effects, and international student clients' drop out from psychotherapy.

In 2019-2020, 1,075,496 international students pursued higher education in the United States. Many of these students endure unique experiences of psychological distress that accompanies their shared experience of studying abroad in the United States. Researchers have explored clinical experiences within this diverse group, with some suggesting that international students are at greater risk than students from the United States for dropping out of psychotherapy. This issue is underexplored in the extant psychotherapy literature. Therefore, we used a large, national data set and multilevel analyses to test if international students are more likely than students from the United States to drop out of psychotherapy, defined in this study as failure to attend one's last scheduled session. Data from 65,293 clients (n = 3,970 international students), 2,735 therapists, and 131 university/college counseling centers were included in the analysis. Results revealed that (a) international students are no more likely to drop out than United States domestic students, (b) on average, centers (ICC = 0.045) and therapists (ICC = 0.071) are differentially effective at preventing drop out, and (c) therapist effects on drop out differ for international students. We discuss these findings with respect to therapist and center roles in international students' drop out from treatment. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved).
Cryptoglandular Abscess and Fistula

Cryptoglandular sepsis is the leading cause of anorectal abscess, and at least one-third of abscess cases progress to anorectal fistula formation. Management of these disorders centers on the control of sepsis, amelioration of symptoms, prevention of recurrence, and preservation of continence. There are numerous techniques and methods that can be employed in disease management, some of which have stood the test of time and some have not. Creative clinicians continue to attempt to expand the treatment armamentarium such that we can arrive at a “perfect” treatment. Unfortunately, this treatment does not currently exist. In this chapter, we attempt to provide background on the majority of methods used to treat cryptoglandular abscess and fistula as well as some insight into the potential treatments of the future.
Some improvements in the flexural damping measurement technique

Some of the most popular flexural damping apparatuses use the well-known cantilevered beam method. However, these apparatuses suffer from a major disadvantage: some energy is always lost in the grips leading to a systematic error in the measured value of damping. Another popular damping apparatus uses a free-free beam suspended at its nodes by two strings. Since it is virtually impossible to find the exact location of the nodes, some energy is inevitably lost in the vibration of the strings, leading once again to a systematic error in the measured value of damping. Historically, specific damping capacity (ψ) values have been reported with an accuracy e ψ = O(10 - 3 ). Here ψ≡ΔW/W, where ΔW is the energy dissipated per cycle, and W is the maximum elastic stored energy. In this paper, we report some simple experimental procedures for improving the measurement accuracy by one order of magnitude. We will show that either the cantilevered beam or the free-free beam can be used to measure the specific damping capacity to an accuracy of e ψ = O(10 - 4 ).
Energy of Contraction in Muscle

A large body of the present day theory of production and absorption of work and heat by the contracting muscle is inferred from the experimental study of excised amphibian muscle at 0°. The questio...
Failure of parathyroid hormone to cross the nonhuman primate placenta

Abstract Following infusion of parathyroid extract (PTE), parathyroid hormone (PTH) did not cross the placenta from the monkey mother to her fetus. Although maternal PTH levels increased four- to 12-fold, fetal PTH levels remained at the base line at all times tested. To determine if PTH crossed the placenta from fetus to mother, PTE was infused into the fetal aorta while the monkey baby remained in utero. PTH in the fetal serum increased ten-fold without a significant change in maternal serum PTH. Thus, PTH does not cross the placenta in either direction. Blood ionized calcium levels in nonpregnant female monkeys, following infusions of ethylenediaminetetra-acetate (EDTA) were shown to decrease, with a subsequent increase in blood PTH levels. Thus, the monkey parathyroid gland was shown to be physiologically responsive to lowered calcium levels. Biological half-life disappearance times of beef PTH in monkey fetuses and their mothers were similar to those found in human beings.
The Years of His Advocateship

In January 1723, then, or at his age of about twenty-seven, the young Home “passed advocate,” as the trials for admission to the bar were called, and was thus permitted to put on the gown and to plead “causes” before the bench, which in Edinburgh meant usually before the Court of Session or the Court of Justiciary, the highest civil and criminal courts, respectively, in the land.
Networks, Crowds, and Markets: Bargaining and Power in Networks

In our analysis of economic transactions on networks, particularly the model in Chapter 11, we considered how a node's position in a network affects its power in the market. In some cases, we were able to come up with precise predictions about prices and power, but in others the analysis left open a range of possibilities. For example, in the case of perfect competition between traders, we could conclude that the traders would make no profit, but it was not possible to say whether the resulting situation would favor particular buyers or sellers – different divisions of the available surplus were possible. This is an instance of a broader phenomenon that we discussed earlier, in Chapter 6: when there are multiple equilibria, some of which favor one player and some of which favor another, we may need to look for additional sources of information to predict how things will turn out. In this chapter, we formulate a perspective on power in networks that can help us further refine our predictions for the outcomes of different participants. This perspective arises dominantly from research in sociology, and it addresses not just economic transactions but also a range of social interactions more generally that are mediated by networks. We will develop a set of formal principles that aim to capture some subtle distinctions in how a node's network position affects its power. The goal will be to create a succinct mathematical framework enabling predictions of which nodes have power, and how much power they have, for arbitrary networks.
Synthesis and solution characterization of antimony polyesters

The synthesis of antimony polyesters occurs under quite specific conditions utilizing the interfacial technique. Reaction is second order with specific rate constants in the range of 10−1 to 101 1/mol·s. Molecular weight is independent of reaction time. Reaction rate increases as the reaction liquid phase volume increases. The products are oligomeric to polymeric with weight average molecular weights of 3 to 100 × 103. Many products exhibit low viscous drag compared with chain length. The products are near semiconductors. Die Synthese von Antimon enthaltenden Polyestern wird unter ganz bestimmten Bedingungen durch die Grenzflachenkondensations-Methode durchgefuhrt. Die Reaktion verlauft nach der zweiten Ordnung mit Geschwindigkeitskonstanten von 10−1 bis 1011/ mol·s. Das Molekulargewicht ist unabhangig von der Reaktionszeit. Die Reaktionsgeschwindigkeit steigt mit Zunahme des Volumens an reagierender flussiger Phase. Die Produkte sind oligomer bis polymer mit mittleren Molekulargewichten von 3 bis 100 × 103. Viele Produkte haben, auf ihr Molekulargewicht bezogen, recht niedrige Viskositaten. Die Leitfahigkeiten der Produkte liegen nahe bei denjenigen von Halbleitern.
Needle-based confocal endomicroscopy for pancreatic cysts: the current agreement in interpretation.

Background and Aims Diagnosis of pancreatic cystic lesions (PCLs) remains challenging. EUS with FNA is limited by sampling error and nondiagnostic cytology. Needle-based confocal laser endomicroscopy (nCLE) performed during EUS can be used to improve diagnostic yield via FNA by providing in vivo histology of PCLs. However, the interobserver agreement (IOA) of nCLE of PCLs has yet to be studied. Methods Fifteen deidentified nCLE video clips of PCLs were sent to 6 interventional endoscopists at 5 institutions. Six variables were assessed for IOA: presence or absence of (1) vessels, (2) villi, (3) dark clumps, (4) reticular pattern, (5) acinar cells pattern, and (6) debris. PCL interpretation was categorized as mucinous, serous, pseudocyst, malignant, or indeterminate and final diagnosis as benign, malignant, or indeterminate. Results IOA ranged from "poor" to "fair." The K statistics were –.04 (SE = .05) for vessels, .16 (SE = .07) for villi, .22 (SE = .06) for dark clumps, .13 (SE = .06) for reticular pattern, .14 (SE = .06) for acinar cells pattern, .06 (SE = .06) for debris, .15 (SE = .03) for interpretation, .13 (SE = .05) for final diagnosis, and .19 (SE = .05) for image quality. The final diagnosis was malignant (10), benign (13), and indeterminate (2). The mean accuracy of the observers was 46%, with the lowest being 20% and highest being 67%. Conclusions The IOA and accuracy for PCL diagnosis were low. The results of this study support the need to identify and validate imaging criteria to determine whether nCLE has diagnostic value for pancreatic pathology. (Clinical trial registration number: NCT02166086.)
Chapter 8 Impacts of environmental toxicants and natural variables on the immune system of fishes

Publisher Summary This chapter presents some of the evidence for direct impacts of individual environmental toxicants on cells of the immune system in fish. The immune system is the set of mechanisms that protects the host from microorganisms. Suppression of the immune system renders the host susceptible to infection with pathogenic microorganisms or unable to recognize and destroy host cells that have undergone neoplastic transformation. Environmental toxicants such as metals, pesticides, and organics may induce immunosuppression. The chapter describes the fish immune system emphasizing aspects most relevant to current immunotoxicology testing schemes. The chapter focuses on the effects of metals and organometals, pesticide, aromatic hydrocarbons, and intracellular signaling events triggered by toxicant exposures. The chapter concludes with a discussion of some evidences for substantial effects of oxygen and pH on the fish immune system, arguing that the immunotoxic impacts of xenobiotics must be considered in light of variations as well as other natural stressors.
Helping Head Start Parents Promote Their Children's Kindergarten Adjustment: The Research‐Based Developmentally Informed Parent Program

Head Start enhances school readiness during preschool, but effects diminish after children transition into kindergarten. Designed to promote sustained gains, the Research-based Developmentally Informed (REDI) Parent program (REDI-P) provided home visits before and after the kindergarten transition, giving parents evidence-based learning games, interactive stories, and guided pretend play to use with their children. To evaluate impact, two hundred 4-year-old children in Head Start REDI classrooms were randomly assigned to REDI-P or a comparison condition (mail-home math games). Beyond the effects of the classroom program, REDI-P promoted significant improvements in child literacy skills, academic performance, self-directed learning, and social competence, demonstrating the utility of the approach in promoting gains in cognitive and social-emotional skills evident after the transition into kindergarten.
Rickettsial Hemolysis: Adsorption of Rickettsiae to Erythrocytes

The hemolysis of sheep red blood cells by Rickettsia prowazeki has been characterized. A requirement for the adsorption of the rickettsia to the erythrocyte was indicated. No indication of the production of a soluble hemolysin was observed. Neither adsorption nor hemolysis can proceed at 0 C. The hemolytic process is rapid with a half-time of less than 30 min, and both the rate and extent are proportional to the number of rickettsiae present.
IgE-mediated histamine release in rat basophilic leukemia cells: receptor activation, phospholipid methylation, Ca2+ flux, and release of arachidonic acid.

Abstract Stimulation of IgE receptors on rat basophilic leukemia cells causes a transient rise and fall of methylated phopholipids, Ca 2+ influx, and release of arachidonic acid previously incorporated into phosphatidylcholine and liberation of histamine. Inhibition of phospholipid methylation by methyltransferase inhibitors, 3-deazaadenosine and homocysteine thiolactone, almost completely blocks the influx of Ca 2+ , and release of arachidonic acid and histamine. Stimulation of immunoglobulin E receptors by antigen releases only [ 14 C]arachidonic acid but not [ 14 C]linoleic acid, [ 14 C]oleic acid and [ 14 C]stearic acid, all of which were previously incorporated into phospholipids. [ 14 C]Arachidonate was found to be incorporated mainly into phosphatidylcholine. The phosphatidycholine rich in arachidonate appeared to be synthesized to a considerable extent by the transmethylation pathway. These findings suggest that in rat basophilic leukemia cells, immunoglobulin E receptors, phospholipid methyltransferases, Ca 2+ ion channel, and phospholipase(s) that cause release of arachidonic acid and the discharge of histamine are associated.
Radionuclide determination of right- and left-ventricular mixing

Previous models for the dynamics of the transit of the bolus of activity of labeled red cells through the chambers of the heart have assumed the complete and instantaneous mixing of tracer with the cardiac blood pool. This assumption can be conveniently tested with a radionuclide procedure. We present a model of the bolus transit through the right and left ventricle that allows the quantitation of the mixing of labeled cells with the residual blood of the cardiac chambers. This model was used to analyze the time-activity curves obtained from a variety of patients undergoing first-pass dynamic scans of the heart. It is shown that technetium-labeled red blood cells and technetium pertechnetate have indistinguishable mixing properties, and the blood in the left ventricle is more thoroughly mixed than that in the right ventricle.
High amplitude events in microchannel plates

Measurements have been made to determine the characteristics of high-amplitude events in microchannel plates (MCPs). The background-pulse-amplitude spectrum is found to extend to >30x to MCP modal gain. The majority of the background events are initiated by /sup 40/K beta decay in the MCP glass. However, up to 40% of the events are due to cosmic rays. Comparison of background pulse-amplitude spectra for horizontal and vertical MCP orientations suggests that the largest events are predominantly cosmic-ray-induced. Anticoincidence measurements confirm this result. A model describing the /sup 40/K beta decay and cosmic-ray interactions in the MCP predicts spectra in accord with these observations. The response of MCPs subjected to simultaneous multiphoton input was also determined, showing that pulse amplitudes many times the modal gain are possible event though the response becomes nonlinear at high amplitudes. >
A first-principles analysis of the chemisorption of hydroxide on copper under electrochemical conditions : A probe of the electronic interactions that control chemisorption at the electrochemical interface

Abstract In this paper we analyze the electronic interactions that control both the binding and the adsorption of hydroxide at the water/copper metal interface under electrochemical conditions using first principle density functional theoretical calculations. The binding energy between the anion and the surface is defined herein as the chemical bond strength between the adsorbate and the metal surface in the absence of water or an applied potential. The adsorption energy for an anion to a metal surface, on the other hand, is typically defined in an electrochemical system as X-(aq) → X ads + e − where X here refers to the hydroxyl anion. The calculations carried out herein examine and test classic theories concerning the influence of electrode potential on the changes to the binding and adsorption of OH to Cu(1 1 1) surface. The hydroxide/water/Cu interface is chosen as a probe system and also due to the importance of its corrosion. The adsorption geometry of the hydroxyl intermediate is monitored over a range of applied potentials. When a positive surface charge density is applied, the hydroxyl interacts with a water molecule in the outer water layer to form an surface bound (OH)OH 2 adduct. The formation of the adduct leads to an increase in the capacitance of the system due to the delocalization of positive charge across the first ‘inner-layer’ of the solution environment. The electronic structure is analyzed in detail to establish how the energy levels of the hydroxyl and oxygen species change relative to the electrode’s d-band structure as an electrochemical potential is applied. The energy levels of the surface hydroxide species follow the changes in the potential of the electrode. The results indicate that the changes in the binding energy with potential are less than 0.1 eV/V over a range of potentials from −2 V to +2.5 V.
The development of endotension is associated with increased transmission of pressure and serous components in porous expanded polytetrafluoroethylene stent-grafts: characterization using a canine model.

Objective This study used a canine model of abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs) to compare intra-aneurysmal pressure and thrombus formation after exclusion with Dacron and expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) stent-grafts. Methods Prosthetic AAAs with implanted strain-gauge pressure transducers were treated by stent-graft exclusion using Food and Drug Administration-approved devices in 10 mongrel dogs: five Dacron (AneuRx) and five ePTFE (original Excluder). Intra-aneurysmal pressure was measured over 4 weeks after AAA exclusion and indexed to the systemic pressure, represented as a percentage of a simultaneously obtained systemic pressure (value = 1.0). Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the intra-aneurysmal thrombus was performed at 1, 2, and 4 weeks after exclusion and expressed as a signal-to-noise ratio (S:N) to control for background signal intensity. Comparisons of pressures and S:N between the two stent-grafts was analyzed with the Student's t test. Intra-aneurysmal thrombus was characterized histologically. Results In animals excluded with both Dacron and ePTFE stent-grafts, the intra-aneurysmal pressure was nonpulsatile and reduced to Conclusions Stent-graft treatment reduces intra-aneurysmal pressure to
Rapid separation of some common intermediates of microbial metabolism by thin-layer chromatography.

Abstract Glyoxylic acid metabolism in bacteria has been the subject of extensive research in recent years and has been reviewed by Rabin et al. (1). Although glyoxylate can react enzymically with various compounds to form several important metabolic products (2–10), our laboratory has been concerned mainly with: ( a ) the condensation with acetyl-CoA to form malic acid (2); ( b ) the condensation with propionyl-CoA to form α-hydroxyglutaric acid (3); and ( c ) the reduction to glycolic acid (10). Although the fate of glycolic acid is unknown in bacteria (10), malic acid can be dissimilated by means of the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle, and α-hydroxyglutaric acid is further metabolized either via citramalic (α-methylmalic) acid or succinic acid (11). Studies have been initiated to determine the fate of glyoxylic acid in bacteria and fungi using the technique of pulse labeling with C 14 -sodium glyoxylate. It was necessary, therefore, to develop a chromatographic technique that achieves a rapid and complete separation of glyoxylate from glycolate, malate, succinate, fumarate, α-ketoglutarate, α-hydroxyglutarate, and citramalate. Since α-hydroxyglutarate can lactonize under anhydrous conditions (12), this compound must also be separated. The method presented here permits the resolution of these nine intermediates associated with glyoxylic acid metabolism.
Recognition of handprinted and cursive words by finding feature correspondences

This paper describes a method for off-line recognition of handprinted and cursive words. The module takes as input a binary word image and a lexicon of strings, and ranks the lexicon according to the likelihood of match to the given word image. To perform recognition, a set of character models is used. The models employ a graph representation. Each character model consists of a set of features in spatial relationship to one another. The character models are automatically built in a clustering process. Character merging is performed by finding the appropriate correspondences between pairs of character sample features. This is accomplished by finding a solution to the assignment problem, which is an O(n3) linear programming algorithm. The end result of the training process is a set of random graph character prototypes for each character class. Because it is not possible to clearly segment the word image into characters before recognition, segmentation and recognition are bound together in a dynamic programming process. Results are presented for a set of word images extracted from mailpieces in the live mailstream.© (1994) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Responses of cerebro-cortical neurons to electrical stimulation with particular reference to epileptiform discharges.

Abstract Repetitive intracellular stimulation of a cortical neuron produced post-excitatory hyperpolarization potential if the stimulation consisted of depolarizing pulses and produced postinhibitory depolarization potential if the stimulation consisted of hyperpolarizing pulses. In both cases, no afterdischarge was recorded from the neuron and no change in potential was recorded from the cortical surface. Repetitive stimulation applied to the cortical surface elicited surface paroxysmal (or epileptiform) waves and neuronal afterdischarges of various patterns. The neuron, which appeared to be an active participant in the generation of surface paroxysmal waves, sometimes became inactive when a surface paroxysmal wave developed. On some occasions, bursting neuronal discharges, which occurred along with bursting surface paroxysmal waves, continued for long periods after the subsidence of the paroxysmal waves; this suggests that, on these occasions, the occurrence of the surface waves might have been a factor triggering the neuron to fire and that the occurrence of the waves was not affected by the firing of the neuron.
Object auras: a mobile retail and product annotation system

In this paper, we describe a system used to link physical objects to online content implemented with commercially available pocket computers using bar code scanners, wireless networks, and web services. We describe sample applications built with the system for objects like books, music, packaged goods, and art works as well as a related web application that facilitates the creation of communities around objects scanned by the handhelds. Finally, we suggest several scenarios for uses of these kinds of devices and the possible sociological and commercial implications.
Depression among southern rural African American women: a factor analysis of the Beck Depression Inventory-II.

Background: This is the first reported study involving a factor analysis of the Beck Depression Inventory-II, which was administered to a sample of southern rural African American women. Objective: To determine the factor structure of the Beck Depression Inventory-II using data collected from southern rural African American women. Methods: Using a correlational, descriptive design, 206 southern rural African American women were invited to participate in a face-to-face interview that occurred in a variety of community-based settings. Results: The factor analysis of the Beck Depression Inventory-II resulted in a two-factor solution. Symptoms such as pessimism and worthlessness loaded high on the first factor (cognitive). The second factor explained somatic-affective symptoms of depression, with factor loadings high on tiredness and fatigue and loss of energy. Conclusions: The application of the Beck Depression Inventory-II among African American people would generate needed information about how depressive symptoms may be expressed among them. Knowledge gained from this study promises to be useful for developing appropriate research studies and population-specific treatment approaches for this group of women.
Functional Outcome after Inpatient Rehabilitation following Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage: A Prospective Analysis

AbstractSubarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) secondary to ruptured aneurysm or arteriovenous malformation is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in adults. Neurosurgical outcomes after SAH have been extensively studied. However, functional outcomes following SAH are less well understood. Forty-one consecutive patients were admitted for rehabilitation of SAH due to aneurysm or arteriovenous malformation rupture. Age- and gender-matched groups of patients admitted for rehabilitation of stroke and traumatic brain injury (TBI) were recruited for comparison. Data were prospectively collected and analyzed. Dependent variables included lengths of stay in acute care, lengths of stay in rehabilitation, Functional Independence Measure (FIM) total and subscale score changes (admission to discharge from rehabilitation), FIM total and subscale efficiencies (FIM change per week), and dispositions (home versus not home). The average length of stay for SAH patients in acute care services was 28.7 days, and the averag...