cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Coagulation Profile of Patients with Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis Undergoing Posterior Spinal Fusion.

Background Blood loss and transfusion requirements during posterior spinal fusion for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis remain a concern. The mechanism of bleeding in these patients is poorly characterized. Thromboelastography is a comprehensive test of a patient's coagulation system commonly used in cardiac surgical procedures. It has not been well studied for use in patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis. Methods A prospective, observational study of the coagulation profile of patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis undergoing posterior spinal fusion is presented. Healthy patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis without a bleeding abnormality were analyzed during posterior spinal fusion. Standard coagulation laboratory and thromboelastogram measures were obtained at the time of the incision and at 1-hour intervals during the surgical procedure. Laboratory values were analyzed in relation to outcomes such as bleeding, transfusion, and a fibrinolysis score. Results Fifty-eight patients were observed. Eighty-one percent of patients were female, the mean age was 13.5 years, a mean of 11.1 levels were fused, the median estimated blood loss was 645 mL, and 47% of patients received blood products. Overall, laboratory values remained stable throughout the surgical procedure. Mild increases in prothrombin time and partial thromboplastin time were observed, and platelets remained stable. From thromboelastogram analysis, an acceleration of clot formation (decreased reaction time) and a slight increase in clot lysis (increased lysis percentage at 30 minutes) were observed. A fibrinolysis score compiled from the presence of fibrin degradation products, the presence of D-dimers, and increased prothrombin time rose steadily over surgical time. The fibrinolysis score was predictive of both transfusion and greater estimated blood loss per level. Conclusions The stress of posterior spinal fusion induces a hypercoagulable state in patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis. Over the first 2 hours of a surgical procedure, varying degrees of fibrinolysis develop. Platelets and coagulation factors are not depleted. Our data support the use of antifibrinolytic therapy for patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis.
Models of High Temperature Superconductors

A central problem in the theory of high-temperature superconductivity is the identification of the simplest model containing the essential physics on an energy scale of a few hundred degrees, where the main phenomena of magnetism, superconductivity and normal charge transport are to be found. A particular issue of importance for this workshop is the nature of the spin fluid probed by neutron scattering, NMR, or μSR. Much of the discussion has addressed the question of whether two spin fluids are required to fit the available data, or one spin fluid will suffice. In our view, neither description is quite accurate - it is better to think in terms of a composite spin fluid.
30. Stevens’ the Man with the Blue Guitar

(1968). 30. Stevens’ the Man with the Blue Guitar. The Explicator: Vol. 27, No. 4, pp. 61-64.
Sexual Sadism Disorder

Sexual sadism disorder is a condition associated with sexual arousal resulting from the suffering of another person. Formulating a precise definition of the disorder has proved challenging through the years on a number of fronts: not being overly inclusive so as to pathologize or stigmatize consensual sexual activity, yet constructing diagnostic criteria that are sensitive enough to allow for study and treatment in both forensic and non-forensic populations. Sexual Sadism has been difficult to identify, and has challenges associated in treating it through both pharmacologic and psychotherapeutic avenues. Studies have noted that the diagnosis has serious and long-term consequences for the patient (Psychiatr Clin North Am 37:215–230, 2014), so it is important to draw a distinction between pathology and variants of normal sexual behavior. How the disorder is defined also has a large role in how we identify the disorder; the definition should provide clinical utility in linking the disorder with people who are prone to sexual offending and recidivism (Severe sexual sadism: its features and treatment, Sex and sexuality, Sexual deviation and sexual offenses, Westport, 227–250). Much of the literature on the subject is in forensic populations alone. There is a paucity of research outside of the forensic population. Moreover, there is scant research on treatments, either pharmacologic or psychotherapeutic, specifically with regard to sexual sadism. However, given the damages the disorder can cause when a patient does offend, intervention is mandated. As we shall demonstrate, the available treatment modalities are limited and have been largely appropriated from the extant research on the treatment of paraphilias in general.
Nanoporous Cu–Al–Co Alloys for Selective Furfural Hydrodeoxygenation to 2-Methylfuran

By finding new catalysts for selective and efficient conversion of biomass-derived products to industrially relevant chemicals and fuels, a transition from fossil fuel feedstocks may be achieved. Furfural (C5H4O2) is a platform chemical which may be converted to multiple heterocyclic and ring-opening products, but to date there have been few catalysts which enable selective hydrodeoxygenation to 2-methylfuran (2-MF, C5H6O). In this work, we present a self-supported nanoporous Cu–Al–Co ternary alloy catalyst with high furfural HDO activity toward 2-MF, achieving up to 66.0% selectivity and 98.2% overall conversion at 513 K with only a ∼5 atomic % Co composition. Further analysis over multiple temperature conditions and nominal Co concentrations was performed to examine optimal conditions and tune catalyst performance, and operando X-ray absorption spectroscopy experiments were conducted to elucidate the structure of the catalyst in the reaction environment.
Correlation of metabolic and volumetric metrics of the structures of the temporal lobe on MRI and FDG-PET in patients with mesial temporal sclerosis

1866 (b) Objectives To correlate metrics of metabolic activity on FDG PET and volume on MRI of different temporal lobe structures in patients with mesial temporal sclerosis (MTS) who were seizure-free for at least 2 years after surgery. To correlate the degree of temporal hypometabolism on FDG PET and volume on MRI with total epilepsy duration. Methods We retrospectively reviewed the pre-surgical brain FDG PET-CT and MRI of 18 patients with intractable temporal lobe epilepsy and MRI findings of MTS, who were seizure-free for at least 2 years after temporal lobectomy. On MRI we automatically segmented the bilateral hippocampi and amygdalae and calculated their volume. On PET we automatically segmented the bilateral hippocampi, amygdalae, and whole temporal lobes. We calculated the mean SUV for each of those brain structures and compared their metabolic activity to a population of normal patients in terms of Z-scores, and calculated the volume of the tissue that was hypometabolic as compared to the normalized dataset, using 2 SD as threshold. We compared the SUV, Z-scores, and volume values in the bilateral structures using the paired t test. We correlated the volume and SUV and Z-scores metrics with the total epilepsy duration (years from onset) by means of the Spearman Rank correlation coefficient. Results 14 patients were female (77.8%). 12 subjects had left MTS (66.7%). Mean age was 37.2±12.9 years. Mean total epilepsy duration was 22.9±12.9 years. Mean total volume of hypometabolic temporal tissue was 34.3±29.8 ml. Mean SUV in the diseased side was significantly lower than the contralateral side for hippocampus (4.13±1.76 vs 4.93±1.85), amygdala (3.9±1.85vs 4.45±1.76), and whole temporal lobe (4.91±2.16 vs 5.66±1.88) (p Conclusions There was no interdependence between metabolic activity and volume of the medial temporal lobe structures, which suggests that FDG PET and MRI add unique and separate information. Total epilepsy duration correlated with the degree of hippocampal and amygdalar hypometabolism relative to normals, but not absolute SUV values; although this could be due to small sample, it highlights the importance of comparing PET data of epileptic patients to normalized datasets and suggests that cortical hypometabolism may be associated with the duration of epilepsy. There was also a significant relationship between epilepsy duration and the degree of hypometabolism of the contralateral hippocampus, which may indicate remote neuronal damage in patients with longstanding seizures.
Limited Effect of TET2 Mutations on Promoter DNA Methylation in Chronic Myelomonocytic Leukemia

Abstract 1365 TET2 enzymatically converts 5-methylcytosine to 5-hydroxymethylcytosine, possibly leading to loss of DNA methylation. TET2 mutations are common in myeloid leukemia and were proposed to contribute to leukemogenesis through DNA methylation. To expand on this concept, we studied chronic myelomonocytic leukemia (CMML) samples. TET2 missense or nonsense mutations were detected in 53% (16/30 patients). By contrast, only 1/30 patients had a mutation in IDH1 or IDH2 , and none of them had a mutation in DNMT3A . By bisulfite pyrosequencing, global methylation measured by the LINE-1 assay and DNA methylation levels of 10 promoter CpG islands frequently abnormal in myeloid leukemia were not different between TET2 mutant and wild-type cases. This was also true for 9 out of 11 gene promoters reported by others as differentially methylated by TET2 mutations. We confirmed only two non-CpG island promoters, AIM2 and SP140 , as hypermethylated in patients with mutant TET2 . These were the only two gene promoters (out of 14 475 genes) previously found to be hypermethylated in TET2 mutant cases. This finding shows that hypermethylation of both AIM2 and SP140 are bona fide markers of TET2 mutant cases in CMML. On the other hand, total 5-methylcytosine levels in TET2 mutant cases were significantly higher than TET2 wild-type cases. Thus, TET2 mutations have a limited impact on promoter DNA methylation in CMML. To confirm this, we performed genome-wide analysis using a next-generation sequencing method for DNA methylation levels in three TET2 mutant cases. TET2 mutant CMMLs had an average of 230 (1.9%) promoter CpG island sites hypermethylated compared to normal blood, which is close to what is generally observed when one compares cancer to normal. By contrast, all three cases had near normal to increased levels of methylation outside CpG islands. The median methylation levels in non-promoter, non-CpG island sites was 88.7% in normal blood compared to 91.7%, 92.1% and 94.6% in the three TET2 mutant cases. Thus, TET2 mutant CMMLs escape the general hypomethylation phenomenon seen in many cancers. All together, our data suggest that TET2 mutant CMML cases may have distinct DNA methylation patterns primarily outside gene promoters. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.
White Lupin: A Model System for Understanding Plant Adaptation to Low Phosphorus Availability

Phosphorus (P), in its ionized form (Pi), is one of the most limiting nutrients for plant growth and development. White lupin is a dinitrogen (N2)-fixing legume that can increase Pi availability in soils. Under Pi deficiency, white lupin develops cluster roots, also known as proteoid roots. Cluster roots are densely packed lateral roots, resembling bottlebrushes. The resulting increase in root surface, together with coordinated biochemical responses, releases bound Pi and makes it available for plant uptake. The most noticeable biochemical responses that increase Pi availability include excretion of organic anions and phosphatases. As a consequence, white lupin can grow without addition of Pi fertilizer, and its ability to fix N2 is less inhibited by Pi deficiency, compared to other legumes. However, formation of cluster roots requires additional carbon (C) and nitrogen (N). Thus, white lupin needs to carefully balance C use with the formation of cluster roots and nodules. High-throughput approaches, particularly RNA-seq, have revealed many of the genes involved in cluster root formation and function and are beginning to reveal networks that regulate Pi acquisition and use. A better understanding of white lupin’s responses to low nutrients may help to overcome inhibition of N2 fixation by low Pi availability in other legumes.
What Is the Economic Basis for Solar Power Satellites

This chapter addresses the financial attractiveness of clean and abundant energy delivered continuously to Earth 24-hours-a-day when compared with the rising energy costs and environmental damage caused by carbon-based energy sources. Steps forward are considered.
Domain-specific activities in ASL-English interpreting and their relevance to expertise development

This exploratory mixed-methods study examined domain-specific activities practiced by expert American Sign Language (ASL)-English interpreters. Qualitative data was collected through interviews for initial identification of domain-specific activities, making it possible to establish a list of 19. Then, quantitative data was analyzed from responses to a questionnaire regarding five characteristics of the identified activities: (a) relevance to improvement; (b) requisite effort; (c) inherent enjoyment; (d) frequency; and (e) competence improvement goal. Of the 19 identified activities, four were rated as highly relevant to improvement of interpreting. Characteristics of the four activities were compared with the professional development activities recommended in the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf (RID) Code of Professional Conduct (CPC), as well as with related domain-specific activities in other professions. Given their higher ratings, defining characteristics, and similarities to activities in other professions, the four activities identified could result in greater performance gains for ASL-English interpreters than the activities recommended in the CPC. The findings may serve to guide interpreters in selecting professional development activities and enhancing their interpreting performance.
Exploring electrodermal activity in water-immersed subjects

In conditions of pressure and temperature associated with immersion in water, humans are more susceptible to severe stress, challenging the human physiological control systems. Reliable tools for the assessment of the stress underwater are needed. Electrodermal activity (EDA) is considered a promising alternative for the assessment of the level of stress in humans. EDA is a measure of the changes in conductance at the skin surface related to sweat production. In normal humidity conditions, EDA changes in response to stress in three main ways: the skin conductance level (SCL) is increased, the occurrence of non-specific skin conductance responses (NS.SCRs) increases, and the normalized spectral power in the band from (EDASympn) 0.045 to 0.25 Hz is elevated. When skin is immersed in water, the humidity blocks the sweat glands, changing the dynamics of EDA. For this reason, we have tested the measures of EDA for subjects immersed in water, as response to cognitive stress. Four subjects were recruited for the experiment. Subjects remained four minutes underwater, prior to performing the Stroop task, a test utilized to induce cognitive stress. The SCL and NS.SCRs, didn't exhibit significant differences due to cognitive stress, compared to baseline measurements. EDASymp exhibited significant differences due to cognitive stress. We conclude that the only measure of EDA sensitive to cognitive stress under water is the EDASymp, and it can be potentially used to assess cognitive stress level in divers.
Punishing failed attempts less severely than successes

L'A. remet en question la distinction entre les notions de crime et tentative de crime, ainsi que les degres de severite qui en resultent dans l'attribution des peines. Soulevant la question d'une punition preventive, l'A. compare les theses de l'externalisme moral, de l'expressivisme, du retributivisme et de l'egalitarisme au sein du systeme judiciaire.
Restoration of Hand Function in Stroke and Spinal Cord Injury

Neurological injury, such as that resulting from stroke or spinal cord injury, often leads to impairment of the hand. Due to the importance of the hand in so many activities of our lives, diminished motor control can profoundly impact quality of life. In the past 25 years especially, robotic and mechatronic technology has been developed to alleviate some of the functional losses resulting from neurological injury. The devices generally fall into one of two categories based on intended use: assistive technology, programmed to perform specific tasks for the user, and therapeutic technology, designed to facilitate therapeutic practice. Assistive devices are intended for chronic use when neurological recovery has reached a plateau, while the goal of therapeutic devices is to enhance recovery to the point where the devices are no longer needed. In the past, actuated assistance has largely consisted of robotic arms and hands which perform a task for the user. A number of individuals, however, could benefit from actuated hand exoskeletons which make use of residual arm function to position and stabilize the user’s own hand. These devices would be much smaller and could exploit residual sensory information to provide feedback to the user. Recently, therapeutic devices for the hand have begun to utilize increasing knowledge of stroke to target specific impairment mechanisms. While, traditionally, assistive devices have been developed for individuals with spinal cord injury and therapeutic devices have been developed for stroke survivors, individuals with incomplete spinal cord injury may benefit from hand therapy, while stroke survivors with severe hand impairment may see functional benefits from using assistive devices.
Drug Abuse Prevention Research for Asian and Pacific Islander Americans

Asian and Pacific-Islanders (APIS) are the fastest growing ethnic minority in the United States. The rates of growth were 142 and 107.8%, respectively, between 1980 and 1990. The total API population reached 8,451,000 or about 3.3% of total U.S. population in 1995, and it is estimated to reach 8.2% of the U.S. population in 2050 (U.S. Census Bureau, 1992). Ninety-five percent of APIS are Asian-Americans and 5% are Pacific-Islanders. Six subgroups make up almost 90% of the Asian-American population: Chinese (23.8%), Filipinos (20.4%), Japanese (12.3%), AsianIndians (11.8%), Koreans (11.6%), and Vietnamese (8.9%). A majority of the APIS reside in only 10 states (CA, NY, HI, TX, IL, NY, WA, VA, FL, MA) and just over 50% live in the western United States (U.S. Census Bureau, 1992). Despite their dramatic growth, APIS remain one of the least understood and most neglected ethnic minority groups. Due to lack of understanding and media influence, people often think of APIS as a "model minority" and a homogeneous group with few health problems. They are also perceived as being highly successful in educational attainment and socioeconomic status. In fact, APIS are a diverse group with different languages, cultures, levels of acculturation, and immigration histories. Almost three-quarters of APIS are foreign bom, and many are recent immigrants or refugees. An estimated 40% of APIS do not speak English fluently. Among Chinese and Koreans, 51% have limited English proficiency, and more than 60% of Southeast Asians have limited English proficiency (U.S. Census Bureau, 1990). Furthermore, a majority of Southeast Asian immigrants and refugees, particularly Hmong and Laotians, are generally poor, illiterate, and unfamiliar with
Radicalism and Haitian Political History

Historians of Haiti have tended to focus on the Haitian Revolution, the U.S. occupation and the Duvalier regime, leaving room for Matthew Smith to pioneer a study of turbulent politics and conflict in post-occupation Haiti. The complexity of the political changes in post-occupation Haiti from 1934-1957 led Smith to interrogate new sources in order to provide a more complete history of this period, building upon works such as David Nicholls’ From Dessalines to Duvalier: Race, Colour, and National Independence in Haiti and Michel-Rolph Trouillot’s Haiti, State Against Nation: The Origins and Legacy of Duvalierism. Smith’s book provides a broader perspective on Haitian politics by arguing that these radical movements were more complex than color differences that David Nicholls noted. Smith’s methodology successfully employs the use of archival research, audio-visual sources, and interviews with participants in radical political movements of this era, demonstrating the thorough research the author has conducted to complete this book. The colors red and black in Smith’s title refer to the Marxist and noiriste movements respectively and Smith’s book examines how they transformed Haiti’s political culture. Although these radical movements had a great impact on Haitian politics, they failed to move beyond their own internal rivalries to establish a strong independent future for post-occupied Haiti.
Aging impairs protective host defenses against Clostridioides (Clostridium) difficile infection in mice by suppressing neutrophil and IL-22 mediated immunity

Abstract Background Morbidity and mortality associated with Clostridioides (formerly Clostridium) difficile infection (CDI) rises progressively with advanced age (≥65 years) due in part to perturbations of the gut microbiota and immune dysfunction. Epidemiological data of community-acquired CDI suggests increased susceptibility may begin earlier during middle-age (45–64 years) but the causation remains unknown. Methods Middle-aged (12–14 months) and young (2–4 months) adult mice were infected with C. difficile, and disease severity, gut microbiome and innate immune response were compared. Cytokine reconstitution studies were performed in infected middle-aged mice. Results Infection of middle-aged mice with C. difficile led to greater disease compared to young controls, which was associated with increases in C. difficile burden and toxin titers, and elevated bacterial translocation. With the exception of an expansion of C. difficile in middle-aged mice, microbiome analysis revealed no age-related differences. In contrast, middle-aged mice displayed a significant defect in neutrophil recruitment to the colon, with diminished levels of innate immune cytokines IL-6, IL-23 and IL-22. Importantly, recombinant IL-22 administration during CDI reduced morbidity and prevented death in middle-aged mice. Conclusion Increased susceptibility to C. difficile occurs in middle-aged mice modeling the community-acquired CDI demographics and is driven by an impaired innate immune response.
Learning from Latin America’s Informal Sector

The essay reviews the following works: Slum Health: From the Cell to the Street. Edited by Jason Corburn and Lee Riley. Oakland: University of California Press, 2016. Pp. xvii, 315. $34.95, paperback. ISBN: 9780520281073. Cities from Scratch: Poverty and Informality in Urban Latin America. Edited by Brodwyn Fischer, Bryan McCann, and Javier Auyero. Durham, NC: Duke University Press, 2014. Pp. 293. $24.95, paperback. ISBN: 9780822355335. Owners of the Sidewalk: Security and Survival in the Informal City. By Daniel M. Goldstein. Durham, NC: Duke University Press, 2016. Pp. xiv, 334. $26.95 paperback. ISBN: 9780822360452. Housing and Belonging in Latin America. Edited by Christien Klaufus and Arij Ouweneel. CEDLA Latin American Studies, 105. New York: Berghahn, 2015. Pp. xiii, 330. $120 hardcover. ISBN: 9781782387404. For a Proper Home: Housing Rights in the Margins of Urban Chile, 1960–2010. By Edward Murphy. Pittsburgh, PA: University of Pittsburgh Press, 2015. Pp. ix, 343. $32.95 paperback. ISBN: 9780822963110.
Two Theories of Transparency

Perceptual experience is often said to be transparent; that is, when we have a perceptual experience we seem to be aware of properties of the objects around us, and never seem to be aware of properties of the experience itself. This is a (purported) introspective fact. It is also often said that we can infer a metaphysical fact from this introspective fact, e.g. a fact about the nature of perceptual experience. A transparency theory fills in the details for these two facts, and bridges the gap between them. We have three aims: to scrutinize Michael Tye’s transparency theory (Nous 36(1):137–151, 2002; Consciousness revisited: materialism without phenomenal concepts, MIT Press, Cambridge, 2009; Philos Stud 170(1):39–57, 2014a), introduce a new transparency theory, and advance a meta-theoretical hypothesis about the interest, and import, of transparency theories.
Self-Recognition in Chimpanzees and Man: A Developmental and Comparative Perspective

The concept of self has not only been held to be uniquely human, but essential to the beginnings of effective social and intellectual functioning in the growing child. While the self has been and continues to be a pivotal concept in many areas of psychology, surprisingly little attention has been paid to the development of an individual’s capacity to conceive of himself. Rather than tracking the emergence of self-conception, most work has been directed at trying to determine the factors that influence the content of one’s self-concept and/or how we evaluate ourselves (Wylie, 1974). In this chapter I will describe a technique that can be used to assess self-awareness in animals and man, and review the recent work on self-recognition in human infants. The status of the self-concept and the significance of self-recognition will also be briefly examined.
X-ray microscopy instrumentation developments at NSLS-II: recent progress and future directions

X-ray microscopy is a mature characterization tool routinely used to answer various questions of science, technology and engineering. The high penetration power of X-rays allows to utilize different characterization methods and reveal elemental composition, crystalline phases, strain distribution, oxidation states etc. in macroscopic and microscopic samples. To obtain comprehensive chemical and structural information at the nanometer scale an X-ray microscope must be equipped with adequate capabilities and allow acquisition of multiple datasets simultaneously. Full-field or scanning X-ray microscopes usually serve this purpose and complement each other. In the recent years, a number of X-ray microscopes have been designed, constructed and commissioned at NSLS-II. In this work we provide an overview of the microscopy instrumentation developments at NSLS-II. It includes the multilayer Laue Lens based nanoprobe optimized for 10 nm spatial resolution imaging, it’s current status and future upgrades; the zone plate based full-field imaging system capable of nano-tomography measurements in less than 1 minute; a laser scanning system optimized for ptychography measurements along with algorithms development, and a new Kirkpatrick-Baez based scanning microscope designed for sub-100 nm spatial resolution experiments.
AFB Director Reports to AAWB

This report by the executive director of the American Foundation for the Blind was addressed to the American Association of Workers for the Blind at its convention in Detroit last July. In general,...
Understanding Influential Factors in Turnover Within the Home Care Workforce

By 2060, over 98 million Americans will be 65 years of age and older. As the population ages, there is a need to ensure sufficient resources are available to accommodate potential physical and cogn...
Missing Colonies in American Myths of Slavery: Where Is the “Deep North” in Sociology Textbooks?:

This exercise in reflexive sociology consists of a comparative analysis of the standard verbiage of Introduction to Sociology and Sociology of Race/Ethnicity textbooks on the subject of American sl...
Does diversification destroy value? Evidence from the industry shocks $

Does corporate diversification reduce shareholder value?Since firms endogenously choose to diversify, exogenous variation in diversification is necessary to draw inferences about the causal effect. We examine changes in the within-firm dispersion of industry investment, or ‘‘diversity’’. We find that exogenous changes in diversity, due to changes in industry investment, are negatively related to firm value. Thus diversification destroys value, consistent with the inefficient internal capital markets hypothesis. Measurement error does not cause this finding. We also find that exogenous changes in industry cash flow diversity are negatively related to firm value. r 2002 Elsevier Science S.A. All rights reserved. JEL classification: G34
Discharge dynamics of a nanosecond pulsed helium/argon nanosecond atmospheric pressure glow discharge

A nanosecond pulsed atmospheric pressure dielectric barrier glow discharge in helium with 1% of argon was studied. The effects of the electric field, frequency, and gas mixture ratio on the temporal behavior of the plasma discharge were captured with an ICCD camera. Special interest was given to the timing and scale of the secondary or return stroke. It was found that the external electric field can control the occurrence of the return stroke in a dielectric barrier discharge. If the electric field is high enough, the return stroke occurs earlier than previously observed in other works. Increasing frequency leads to faster discharge initiation times for both the primary and secondary discharges. Increasing the argon ratio of the mixture leads to an increased intensity of the primary discharge, a decrease in the intensity of the secondary discharge, and a delay in the timing of the primary discharge.
Integrated Microwave Photonic Subsystems

We review the latest advances in on-chip microwave photonics and describe recent demonstrations using Lincoln Laboratory’s photonic multi-chip module (P-MCM) hybrid integration platform including high-power lasers, wideband modulators, reconfigurable optical filters and wideband high-saturation photodiodes, suitable for the realization of high-performance microwave photonic subsystems-on-a-chip.
Hypoxic respiratory distress potentially secondary to phosphorus trifluoride gas exposure: A case report.

Abstract We herein report a rare, probable exposure of a patient to phosphorus trifluoride gas. The objective of this case report is to highlight the potential exposure to phosphorus trifluoride gas and discuss the best management of it. A 48-year-old worker at a specialty gases laboratory was transported to the community Emergency Department (ED) in respiratory distress, presenting with peripheral cyanosis, an unobtainable oxygen saturation, chocolate-colored blood, and a Glasgow coma scale of 15. A non-rebreather was placed, poison control was contacted, and the patient was administered empiric methylene blue intravenously due to worsening cyanosis and respiratory distress. Upon arrival at the academic facility, the patient was no longer cyanotic and reported improvement of his symptoms. The patient's employer informed staff that a canister of phosphorus trifluoride gas in his workstation was found to be empty but should have been full. It was also discovered that a coworker left work early the same day with similar but milder symptoms. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy was considered; however, the patient was improving on oxygen via non-rebreather, and he had no other indications. Because the patient continued to require supplemental oxygen to maintain their oxygen saturation above 92%, he was admitted to the ICU and treated with prednisone daily for chemical pneumonitis. After 4 days, he successfully transitioned to room air without hypoxia. While exposures such as this do not occur frequently, it is important to maintain a broad differential and treatment plan as we continue to investigate the etiology and best treatment option.
Fronts and the Mid-Latitude Wave Cyclone

This chapter explains the types, notation on weather maps, and mechanisms producing fronts, along with the characteristic types of weather expected along fronts. A cold front is a front in which the air from the colder air mass is advancing and the air from the warmer air mass is retreating. In a warm front, the warmer air is advancing and the colder air is retreating. The “cold” and “warm” in the name of the front is relative, with both happening throughout the year. In a stationary front, neither the colder nor the warmer air mass is advancing. Cold fronts, warm fronts, and stationary fronts generally trail from a system called a mid-latitude wave cyclone, with an enclosed area of low surface pressure at its core. Mid-latitude wave cyclones are born, circulate air at their most vigorous pace as they reach maturity, and then fade away after they have spent their energy. When the cold front eventually catches up with the warm front, lifting it above the surface, an occluded front occurs, leading to the end of the mid-latitude wave cyclone. Because of the favored positions of the Rossby wave ridges and troughs, over time certain spatial patterns of preferred cyclogenesis, migration, and cyclolysis emerge. These preferred tracks around North America are then described along with expected future trends in mid-latitude wave cyclone activity.
A Methodology for In-Situ FIB/SEM Tension Testing of Metals

We report on recent investigations into the mechanical properties of metallic micro-specimens deformed in tension and compression. We will focus on investigations using a custom test apparatus for in-situ focused ion beam and scanning electron microscope (FIB/SEM) mechanical testing. Our system utilizes a 3-axis piezoelectric positioning system that enables precise alignment of the micro-specimens within a tensile grip. Loads are applied using a high-resolution linear actuator with a reported resolution of ~1 nm and measured with a strain gage based S-beam load cell. The load cells have a capacity of 10 or 100 g with a resolution of ~0.01 g. Specimen load/stress and crosshead displacements are measured using a customized data acquisition program, while the specimen strain is calculated from SEM micrographs using an open source digital image correlation script developed by Eberl and coworkers for MATLAB©. This system was used to investigate response of coarse grained and nanocrystalline tantalum micro-pillars with minimum dimensions smaller than 10 μm.
High Modulus Isocyanurate-Urethane RIM Elastomers

Urethane elastomers are segmented block copolymers composed of polyether or polyester soft segments which are connected with the urethane hard segments, formed from diisocyanates and low molecular weight diols or diamines (chain extenders). The segments are incompatible at lower temperatures and therefore, microphase separation proceeds with the formation of soft and hard segment domains. The mechanical properties depend strongly on the phase structure, the content of the hard segments in elastomers, on the molecular weight, distribution and functionality of the soft segments. The degree of phase separation, the size of domains and crystallization play an important morphological role affecting overall properties of urethane elastomers.1–6
Statistical methods for quantitative mass spectrometry proteomic experiments with labeling

Mass Spectrometry utilizing labeling allows multiple specimens to be subjected to mass spectrometry simultaneously. As a result, between-experiment variability is reduced. Here we describe use of fundamental concepts of statistical experimental design in the labeling framework in order to minimize variability and avoid biases. We demonstrate how to export data in the format that is most efficient for statistical analysis. We demonstrate how to assess the need for normalization, perform normalization, and check whether it worked. We describe how to build a model explaining the observed values and test for differential protein abundance along with descriptive statistics and measures of reliability of the findings. Concepts are illustrated through the use of three case studies utilizing the iTRAQ 4-plex labeling protocol.
PVM and MPI: What Else Is Needed for Cluster Computing?

As we start the new millennium, let us first look back over the previous ten years of PVM use (and five yearsof MPI use) and explore how parallel computing has evolved from Crays and networks of workstations to Commodity-off-the-shelf (COTS) clusters. During this evolution, schedulers, monitors, and resource managers were added on top of PVM and MPI. Thist alk looks forward and predicts what software besides PVM and MPI will be needed to effectively exploit the cluster computing of the next ten years.
Blindness and the Role of Companion

Few physical disabilities are as capable of disturbing patterns of human interaction as is blindness. Evoking in others deep and complex emotions, it tends to create impregnable barriers separating those who are blind from the larger society of the sighted. Judgments based on individual uniqueness, which are often present in the social milieu of the sighted, give way to overriding stereotypes and effectively block flexible interpersonal processes. Lack of contact with the blind makes
Existence of dual mass: Linear theory

The field equations of general relativity are symmetrized in a manner similar to Dirac's symmetrization of electromagnetism. This symmetrization allows us to predict the existence of a gravitational, magnetic-like mass which we call dual mass. Time-independent solutions for both rotating and nonrotating sources are constructed for these generalized equations. The gravitational field produced by the dual mass source is compared with the gravitational field that follows from the linearized NUT and Kerr-NUT metrics, and an identification of the NUT parameter with a dual mass monopole is made.
Juvenile hormone acid synthesis and HMG−CoA reductase activity in corpora allata of Manduca sexta prepupae

Abstract Corpora allata (CA) of last instar larvae of Manduca sexta switch from juvenile hormone (JH) to JH acid secretion just before the onset of wandering behavior. JH acid secretion peaked during the prepupal period and ceased prior to pupal ecdysis. HMG-CoA reductase activity also peaked during the prepupal period and then declined. However, substantial enzyme activity was present in pupal and pharate adult glands. Removal of the brain at the wandering stage caused a reduction in JH acid secretion by prepupal CA. The profile of HMG-CoA activity in CA of debrained larvae resembled that of sham-operated larvae except that the prepupal peak was smaller than in control larvae. Addition of brain extracts to CA maintained in vitro neither stimulated not inhibited JH acid secretion and HMG-CoA reductase activity. It is suggested that the brain regulates CA activity in post-wandering stages via intact nerves.
Effect of sodium lauryl sulfate-induced skin irritation on in vitro percutaneous absorption of four drugs.

The influence of sodium lauryl sulfate-induced irritant contact dermatitis on in vivo percutaneous penetration was investigated for four 14C-labeled compounds with diverse physicochemical properties: hydrocortisone (HC), indomethacin (IM), ibuprofen (IB), and acitretin (AC). Hairless guinea pigs were pretreated for 24 h with either 0.5% sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) to induce irritant contact dermatitis or with water (controls). Twenty-four hours after pretreatment, 450 microliters saturated solutions of HC, IM, IB, or AC in isopropylmyristate were applied to the pretreated skin for 24 h. Systemic absorption was determined by urinary and fecal excretion of compounds. Drug concentrations in stratum corneum (obtained by tape cellophane stripping after decontamination of the application site) and in epidermis/dermis (punch biopsy) were also investigated. Systemic absorption of topically applied drugs (as evaluated by urinary and fecal excretion) in SLS-irritated skin was significantly increased for HC (factor 2.6) followed by IB (1.9 times) and IM (1.6 times) but not increased for AC. However, drug concentrations in the viable epidermis and dermis were 70% lower in SLS-irritated than normal skin for HC, but not different for IB, IM, and AC. Thus, the influence of the state of the skin (irritant dermatitis versus healthy) on percutaneous penetration was different for diverse drugs. The general assumption that percutaneous penetration and drug tissue concentrations were higher in diseased versus healthy skin was not found to be true in our irritated-skin model.
Excitatory influence of wind-sensitive local interneurons on an ascending interneuron in the cricket cercal sensory system

This study examined the effects of a set of identified wind-sensitive local interneurons (9DL interneurons) on the wind-evoked spike output and directional sensitivity of an ascending interneuron (10-3) in the cricket (Acheta domesticus) cercal sensory system. Comparison of the directional sensitivities of the 9DL interneurons and 10-3 revealed that 3 of the 9DL interneurons have a large degree of overlap in their excitatory receptive fields with that of 10-3. Photoinactivation of any one of these 3 9DL interneurons resulted in a significant decrease in the spike output of 10-3 at its optimal excitatory wind stimulus positions. However, the overall directional sensitivity of 10-3 remained essentially unchanged. Photoinactivation of the one 9DL interneuron which had no overlap in its excitatory receptive field with 10-3 did not affect 10-3's responsiveness to wind stimuli. Results from simultaneous intracellular recordings of 10-3 and one of the 9DL interneurons which had an excitatory influence on 10-3 showed that depolarization of the local interneuron produced an epsp in 10-3, and could elicit several action potentials. Comparison of the morphologies of the 9DL interneurons and 10-3 revealed that the 3 9DL interneurons which had an excitatory influence on 10-3 all had regions of dendritic overlap with this ascending interneuron.
Regulation of serotonin-1A receptor function in inducible brain-derived neurotrophic factor knockout mice after administration of corticosterone.

Background We examined the effects of a forebrain-specific reduction in brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) on the regulation of serotonin-1A (5-HT 1A ) receptor function in serotonergic cell body areas as well as in limbic and cortical structures of mice chronically treated with corticosterone. Methods 5-HT 1A receptor function, at the level of receptor-G protein interaction, was assessed with quantitative autoradiography of [ 35 S]GTPγS binding stimulated by the 5-HT 1A receptor agonist 8-OH-DPAT. 5-HT 1A receptor number was assessed by measuring the binding of the antagonist radioligand [ 3 H] WAY100635. Results We observed a significant attenuation of 5-HT 1A receptor function, in the absence of a change in receptor number, in the dorsal hippocampus of BDNF knockout versus control mice. There was no difference between control and BDNF knockout mice in 5-HT 1A receptor number or function in the dorsal or median raphe nuclei or medial prefrontal cortex or anterior cingulate cortex. Corticosterone treatment of control mice decreased 5-HT 1A receptor function in the dorsal and median raphe but not in hippocampus or frontal cortical areas. The regulation of 5HT 1A receptor number or function in the dorsal and median raphe by corticosterone was lost in BDNF knockout mice. Conclusions Attenuation of BDNF expression in forebrain regions produces differential effects on distinct 5-HT 1A receptor populations and on the regulation of these receptor populations by corticosterone.
Organization and Elaboration in Children′s Repeated Production of Prose

Abstract A domain-specific view of prose production was proposed in which children generate specific production schemes to meet the demands of the production task and that these production schemes are tied to specific knowledge domains that guide the organization and elaboration of passage content. In keeping with this view it was hypothesized that content elaboration should occur only across repeated productions provided the underlying scheme of the passage shows semantic similarity across productions. In order to evaluate this hypothesis two experiments were conducted in which third graders were asked to produce either narrative or descriptive passages on two occasions, spaced 2 weeks apart. Judges determined whether the second version employed a similar or different underlying scheme, and passages were scored on level of organization (narrative or descriptive) and passage length (number of propositions). For both narrative and descriptive passages, second versions were longer, more elaborate than first versions if the same scheme was used across productions, but not if a different scheme was used. Mean levels of organization increased across versions for both narrative and descriptive passages, regardless of whether the same scheme was used. Based on these findings it was proposed that semantic relatedness is a key to content elaboration across repeated productions. For improvements in organization, however, it was proposed that similarity of task format was the key, with practice enabling the individual to learn to coordinate content generation and organization processes more effectively.
Corticosteroid Use for Diabetic Macular Edema: Old Fad or New Trend?

Diabetic retinopathy is the leading cause of blindness in working age individuals in developed countries. Most cases of diabetes related vision loss result from breakdown of the blood-retinal barrier with resultant diabetic macular edema (DME). For over 30 years, laser photocoagulation has been the standard therapy for DME, but most eyes do not experience significant improvements in visual acuity. Intravitreal injections of drugs that inhibit the action of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) lead to gains in vision, but can be expensive and need to be repeated frequently. In addition to VEGF-mediated breakdown of the blood-retinal barrier, recent evidence suggests that inflammation plays an important role in the development of DME. Recognizing this, physicians have injected steroids into the vitreous and developers have created sustained release implants. Intravitreal injections of triamcinolone acetonide lead to rapid resolution of macular edema and significant short-term improvements in visual acuity, but unfortunately, visual acuities diminish when treatment is continued through 2 years. However, intravitreal triamcinolone remains an attractive treatment option for eyes that are pseudophakic, scheduled to undergo cataract surgery, resistant to laser photocoagulation, or require urgent panretinal photocoagulation for proliferative retinopathy. In controlled trials, intraocular implants that slowly release dexamethasone and fluocinolone show promise in reducing macular edema and improving visual acuity. The high incidences of drug related cataracts and glaucoma, however, require that corticosteroids be used cautiously and that patients be selected carefully. The increasing number of patients with DME, the burgeoning cost of medical care and the continuing development of intravitreal steroids suggest that the use of these agents will likely increase in coming years.
Studies on Deiodination Occurring During Pancreatin Digestion of Thyroid Homogenates and Its Prevention by Methimazole

Experiments were performed to determine some of the factors responsible for the increase in the fraction of inorganic 131I which always accompanies the release of 131I-iodinated amino acids from thyroid protein during pancreatin digestion of labeled thyroid homogenates. When H2O2 (8 X10-6-8 X10-2M) was added to a pancreatin digest of 131I-labeled rat thyroids, a large increase in inorganic 131I was observed, while at the same time the proportion of 131I present as iodothyronine greatly decreased. There was only a minor effect on the 131I-iodotyrosine fraction. The deiodinating effect of H2O2 could be greatly inhibited by8.8XlO-3M methylmercaptoimidazole (MMI), indicating that an oxidative step must be involved in the deiodination process. These observations suggested that the iodide increase that occurred during pancreatin digestion might also be inhibited by a reducing agent such as MMI. Various concentrations of MMI were tested for such an effect, and it was observed that both the yield of 131I-iodothyr...