cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Identification and biochemical characterization of the fructokinase gene family in Arabidopsis thaliana.

Fructose is an abundant sugar in plants as it is a breakdown product of both major sucrose-cleaving enzymes. To enter metabolism, fructose is phosphorylated by a fructokinase (FRK). Known FRKs are members of a diverse family of carbohydrate/purine kinases known as the phosphofructokinase B (pfkB) family. The complete complement of active fructokinases has not been reported for any plant species. Protein sequence analysis of the 22 Arabidopsis thaliana pfkB members identified eight highly related predicted proteins, including one with previously demonstrated FRK activity. For one, At1g50390, the predicted open reading frame is half the size of active FRKs, and only incompletely spliced RNAs were identified, which led to a premature stop codon, both indicating that this gene does not produce active FRK. The remaining seven proteins were expressed in E. coli and phosphorylated fructose specifically in vitro leading us to propose a unifying nomenclature (FRK1–7). Substrate inhibition was observed for fructose in all FRKs except FRK1. Fructose binding was on the same order of magnitude for FRK1–6, between 260 and 480 μM. FRK7 was an outlier with a fructose Km of 12 μM. ATP binding was similar for all FRKs and ranged between 52 and 280 μM. YFP-tagged AtFRKs were cytosolic, except plastidic FRK3. T-DNA alleles with non-detectable wild-type RNAs in five of the seven active FRK genes produced no overt phenotype. We extended our sequence comparisons to include putative FRKs encoded in other plant sequenced genomes. We observed that different subgroups expanded subsequent to speciation. Arabidopsis thaliana as well as all other plant species analyzed contain multiple copies of genes encoding FRK activity. Sequence comparisons among multiple species identified a minimal set of three distinct FRKs present on all species investigated including a plastid-localized form. The selective expansion of specific isozymes results in differences in FRK gene number among species. AtFRKs exhibit substrate inhibition, typical of their mammalian counterparts with the single AtFRK1 lacking this property, suggesting it may have a distinct in vivo role. Results presented here provide a starting point for the engineering of specific FRKs to affect biomass production.
Mid-infrared quantum cascade lasers transfer-printed on silicon-on-sapphire

We experimentally demonstrate transfer-printing of mid-infrared quantum cascade lasers onto a silicon-on-sapphire platform and laser light coupling to a silicon waveguide via an adiabatically tapered mode converter. Transferred devices operate in pulsed mode at room-temperature.
Comparing geographic area-based and classical population-based incidence and prevalence rates, and their confidence intervals

To quantify the HIV epidemic, the classical population-based prevalence and incidence rates (P rates) are the two most commonly used measures used for policy interventions. However, these P rates ignore the heterogeneity of the size of geographic region where the population resides. It is intuitive that with the same P rates, the likelihood for HIV can be much greater to spread in a population residing in a crowed small urban area than the same number of population residing in a large rural area. With this limitation, Chen and Wang (2017) proposed the geographic area-based rates (G rates) to complement the classical P rates. They analyzed the 2000-2012 US data on new HIV infections and persons living with HIV and found, as compared with other methods, using G rates enables researchers to more quickly detect increases in HIV rates. This capacity to reveal increasing rates in a more efficient and timely manner is a crucial methodological contribution to HIV research. To enhance this newly proposed concept of G rates, this article presents a discussion of 3 areas for further development of this important concept: (1) analysis of global HIV epidemic data using the newly proposed G rates to capture the changes globally; (2) development of the associated population density-based rates (D rates) to incorporate the heterogeneities from both geographical area and total population-at-risk; and (3) development of methods to calculate variances and confidence intervals for the P rates, G rates, and D rates to capture the variability of these indices.
Causal Paths and Exogeneity Tests in Generalcorr Package for Air Pollution and Monetary Policy

Since causal paths are important for all sciences, my package 'generalCorr' provides sophisticated R functions using four orders of stochastic dominance and generalized partial correlation coefficients. A new test (in Version 1.0.3) replaces Hausman-Wu medieval-style diagnosis of endogeneity relying on showing that a dubious cure (instrumental variables) works. An updated weighted index summarizes causal path results from three criteria: (Cr1) lower absolute gradients, (Cr2) lower absolute residuals, both quantified by stochastic dominance of four orders, and (Cr3) from goodness of fit. We illustrate with air-pollution data and causal strength of six variables driving 'excess bond premium,' a good predictor of US recessions.
Teaching Counseling Skills in Audiology Graduate Programs: Clinical Supervisors' Perceptions and Practices.

BACKGROUND Counseling is a critical component within audiological service delivery. Partnering with patients to support them in learning to effectively cope with their hearing challenges is a key component in achieving desired outcomes. Even though there is agreement on the foundational role counseling plays in audiology service delivery, counseling instruction varies among audiology training programs. PURPOSE The purpose of this study was to investigate the perspectives and practices of supervisors in audiology graduate training programs related to mentoring students in the acquisition of counseling skills. RESEARCH DESIGN A cross-sectional design was used; participants completed a self-report survey. STUDY SAMPLE The survey was sent to 323 clinical supervisors in AuD graduate programs in the United States. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS Completed surveys were received from 205 supervisors. Responses were analyzed using descriptive statistics to identify practice trends. RESULTS Participants reported their perceptions about importance of teaching counseling skills to audiology students, their confidence in teaching skills, their self-efficacy for supporting student learning, how they provide feedback to students, and challenges they encounter. Most participants reported their program requires a counseling course (88%; n = 176). Most of the participants reported confidence in teaching counseling skills; however, fewer reported being very or extremely confident in teaching students how to talk with clients about their emotions (53%; n = 109) and explaining the rationale behind specific counseling strategies (47%; n = 97). Participants with more years of supervisory experience had statistically significantly higher self-ratings for teaching confidence and self-efficacy for supporting student learning in counseling than those with fewer years of experience. CONCLUSIONS Audiology supervisors in AuD programs believe counseling is important to teach to students; however, they report variability in use of methods for providing feedback, evaluating student performance, and in their self-efficacy for supporting student learning. Future audiologists would benefit from a more systematic approach within graduate training for teaching counseling skills.
Reporting Clinical Genomic Assay Results and the Role of the Pathologist

High-throughput sequencing is a disruptive technology that will significantly impact pathologists’ role in analyzing, interpreting, and reporting clinical laboratory results. Laboratory personnel must develop procedures and policies for producing and managing the vast amount of data, integrating bioinformatics analysis and filters, and annotating variants to create clear, informative, and timely reports. Professional societies and organizations are developing recommendations and guidelines. This chapter delineates current challenges to generating high-throughput sequencing clinical reports and emerging solutions.
Compressive Sensing Based State Estimation for Three Phase Unbalanced Distribution Grid

Smart metering infrastructure and sensor deployment in the distribution grid is an integral part of the smart grid transition. These smart meters/sensors generate large volumes of data whose aggregation presents a significant challenge from a communication network standpoint. Additionally, the lack of reliability in aggregating this data prevents its use for real time operations such as state estimation and control. In this paper, we propose for the first time, a 2D compressive sensing based strategy to efficiently aggregate power measurements across a three phase unbalanced distribution grid and use it for voltage state estimation. By exploiting the underlying sparsity that results due to spatio temporal correlation of distributed generation and loads, we show that high fidelity estimation of voltage states is feasible even at 50% compression ratios. Using the IEEE 34 node test feeder system as an example, we also demonstrate the impact of the choice of the projection matrix and sparsity basis on reconstruction accuracy.
Non-tensor wavelet sparse basis for Random Hirschman Sensing Matrices

The RHSMs (Random Hirschman Sensing Matrices) are newly developed sensing structures based on Discrete Hirschman Transform (DHT). The RHSMs are superior in computational efficiency and recovery precision to the other DFT/DFT-like sensing structures. However, the common used DWT sparse basis is highly incoherent with low-frequency transforms especially for DFT based sensing structures. In this paper, we introduce a non-tensor wavelet transform (NWT) as the replacement for DWT. Compare to the traditional DWT-DFT sensing system, the NWT-DHT sensing system has better recovery performance and is more efficient in computation.
Periprosthetic bacterial biofilm and quorum sensing

Periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) is a common complication after total joint arthroplasty leading to severe morbidity and mortality. With an aging population and increasing prevalence of total joint replacement procedures, the burden of PJI will be felt not only by individual patients, but in increased healthcare costs. Current treatment of PJI is inadequate resulting in incredibly high failure rates. This is believed to be largely mediated by the presence of bacterial biofilms. These polymicrobial bacterial colonies form within secreted extracellular matrices, adhering to the implant surface and local tissue. The biofilm architecture is believed to play a complex and critical role in a variety of bacterial processes including nutrient supplementation, metabolism, waste management, and antibiotic and immune resistance. The establishment of these biofilms relies heavily on the quorum sensing communication systems utilized by bacteria. Early stage research into disrupting bacterial communication by targeting quorum sensing show promise for future clinical applications. However, prevention of the biofilm formation via early forced induction of the biofilm forming process remains yet unexplored. © 2018 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 36:2331-2339, 2018.
Measurements of the 48 Ca ( γ , n ) reaction

The ${}^{48}\mathrm{Ca}(\ensuremath{\gamma},n)$ cross section was measured by using $\ensuremath{\gamma}$-ray beams of energies between 9.5 and 15.3 MeV generated at the Triangle Universities Nuclear Laboratory high-intensity $\ensuremath{\gamma}$-ray source. Prior to this experiment, no direct measurements had been made with $\ensuremath{\gamma}$-ray beams of sufficiently low energy spread to observe a structure in this energy range. The cross sections were measured at 34 different $\ensuremath{\gamma}$-ray energies with an enriched ${}^{48}\mathrm{Ca}$ target. Neutron emission is the dominant decay mechanism in the measured energy range that spans from the threshold, across the previously identified $M1$ strength, and up the low-energy edge of the $E1$ giant dipole resonance. This paper found $B(M1)=6.8\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.5{\ensuremath{\mu}}_{N}^{2}$ for the 10.23-MeV resonance, a value greater than previously measured. Structures in the cross section have been observed whose magnitudes are in agreement with existing data and that are commensurate with extended random-phase approximation calculations.
Use of Rarefaction and Related Methods in Ecology

Rarefaction is a statistical technique useful in both pollution and evolutionary ecology. It can be used to infer whether samples are drawn from the same community and also to estimate minimum feasible sample size. In this setting it essentially tells the investigator what would have been found had sample size been smaller, but some surprising uses arise if questions are phrased properly. Rarefaction is most powerful in pollution ecology when entire curves, and not just single values, are calculated. In evolutionary ecology, species/genus and related ratios have been examined as an indicator of both competition and adaptive radiation, but rarefaction demonstrates that the former, at least, is rarely evidenced by such ratios. The ratios are largely determined by the number of species, and claimed relationships between the ratios and area are primarily artifacts of the high correlation between the ratios and species number. The analytic expressions for expectation and variance in rarefied samples and a FORTRAN IV program for their calculation are given.
Other Efforts to Secure Data in Computer Networks

The rapid advances in computer technology, the plummeting prices of information processing and indexing devices, and the development of sprawling global networks have all made the generation, collection, processing, indexing, and storage of information easy. Massive information is created, processed, and moved around on a daily basis. The value of information has skyrocketed, and information has all of a sudden become a valuable asset for individuals, businesses, and nations. The security of nations has come to depend on computer networks that very few can defend effectively. Our own individual privacy and security have come to depend on the whims of the kid next door.
Case 21: Potential Disaster: An Intravenous Line That Stops Working in the Perioperative Phase

A 10-year-old boy (30 lb) is scheduled for a left hernia repair. His medical history is otherwise unremarkable. The patient has no known drug allergies, and the family history is negative for anesthesia-related problems. An intravenous (IV) line (20 gauge) in the back of the hand is seen to be adequate; it was placed by the pediatric resident for preoperative IV antibiotic. The patient is taken to the operating room, and monitoring equipment is placed on the child (electrocardiogram [ECG], pulse oximeter, a nerve stimulator, noninvasive blood pressure [BP], and precordial stethoscope). General anesthesia is induced with propofol, 75 mg, and the patient falls asleep. The patient is easily ventilated via a face mask with sevoflurane 1–4 % with 100 % oxygen, and vecuronium, 4 mg, is given by the 20 gauge IV. After 3 min, the nerve stimulator indicates that the patient is not adequately relaxed. The IV is checked and found to be nonfunctioning. A new IV is inserted and a repeat dose of vecuronium is administered. Within 3 min, the patient is adequately relaxed, and an endotracheal tube (ETT) is inserted into the trachea atraumatically. Breath sounds are equal bilaterally. Anesthesia is maintained with nitrous oxide 70 % in oxygen with isoflurane 0.6 % and with meperidine, 15 mg. The surgery commences and concludes uneventfully. At the end of the surgery, with the patient breathing spontaneously, the ETT is removed from the patient’s trachea. The child is taken to the postanesthesia care unit (PACU) asleep but arousable. Twenty minutes later, when you are about to induce anesthesia in your next case, you get a call from the PACU. You are told that your previous patient is not breathing and the oxygen saturation is now 76 %. You tell the nurse to commence artificial ventilation and you run to the PACU. In the PACU, the nurse is successfully administering oxygen 100 % via a face mask using a Jackson Rees modification of the Ayres T-piece. The oxygen saturation is now 96 %, and his vital signs include a heart rate of 140 beats per minute (bpm) and a BP of 80/50 mmHg.
Quality Dollar Cost Averaging Investing Versus Quality Index Investing

Financial independence is defined as the ability to do anything at any time without financial restrictions. In an age of job insecurity and economic volatility, financial independence is difficult to acquire unless a person is financially independent of his/her employment organization. The purpose of this paper is to develop a strategy for generating an increasing income stream and capital appreciation during both the employee’s working years and retirement years by comparing dollar-cost averaging to an initial lump sum investment while reinvesting the dividends in both cases.
Haunting Wholeness: Inviting Ghosts on the Bridge So We Can Transform

In this article, I share my journey toward haunting wholeness in the social justice work that I am beginning to take up as a scholar, teacher, and community member. I evoke Avery Gordon’s notion of...
Mechanism Design for Multi-Type Housing Markets with Acceptable Bundles

We extend the Top-Trading-Cycles (TTC) mechanism to select strict core allocations for housing markets with multiple types of items, where each agent may be endowed and allocated with multiple items of each type. In doing so, we advance the state of the art in mechanism design for housing markets along two dimensions: First, our setting is more general than multi-type housing markets (Moulin 1995; Sikdar, Adali, and Xia 2017) and the setting of Fujita et al. (2015). Further, we introduce housing markets with acceptable bundles (HMABs) as a more general setting where each agent may have arbitrary sets of acceptable bundles. Second, our extension of TTC is strict core selecting under the weaker restriction on preferences of CMI-trees, which we introduce as a new domain restriction on preferences that generalizes commonly-studied languages in previous works.
Filtering Methods for Subgraph Matching on Multiplex Networks

We present filtering methods for finding all sub-graphs of a large multiplex network that are isomorphic to a smaller template network. These methods are shown to be effective on a set of synthetic transaction networks from the DARPA Modeling Adversarial Activity (MAA) program. In some cases, filtering allows us to identify and enumerate all possible isomorphisms. We observe that in some of the MAA networks, the number of subgraphs isomorphic to the template is orders of magnitude larger than the size of the network.
Photoelectron Spectroscopy of Weakly-Bound Electrons in Sodium Chloride Cluster Anions

Photoelectron spectra are reported for stoichiometric sodium chloride anions containing a single excess electron. Using a magnetic bottle time of flight spectrometer, photoelectron spectra and binding energies of electrons were obtained for the mass-selected negative clusters (NaC1)n − (n=1–13, 22, except n=6, 12). From the spectra of energies observed, we obtained information about the localizations of the excess electrons in the anion clusters and the spatial rearrangement of their host clusters.
Treatment of recalcitrant mycosis fungoides with topical gentian violet.

We present a case of recalcitrant, localized patch disease in a patient with stage IB (T2, N0, M0) mycosis fungoides (MF) that clinically responded to treatment with topical gentian violet (GV) after undergoing several other therapies, including narrowband ultraviolet B (UVB) therapy and topical clobetasol, bexarotene, and mechlorethamine. A reduction of erythema of her treated patches was noted within 2 months of once-daily application of topical GV, and there was no disease progression. However, subsequent biopsy of the most prominent patch found the presence of active disease despite reduction of erythema. There was a partial clinical response to topical GV, and this report is among the first to describe the safety and efficacy of GV in MF.
Multifunctional optofluidic brain probes

Smartphone-controlled optofluidic neural implants with replaceable and replenishable plug-like drug cartridges enable the selective wireless manipulation of brain circuits in rodents via chronic pharmacology and photostimulation.
Bacterial Pericarditis Causing Cardiac Tamponade in a Patient with No Primary Source of Infection

Introduction Bacterial Pericarditis is a rare entity accounting for Case Description 73 year old male with history of coronary artery disease presents with pleuritic chest pain and dyspnea since 2 days. On arrival, he was hemodynamically stable. EKG showed changes consistent with acute pericarditis. Echo showed moderate pericardial effusion without tamponade and normal systolic/diastolic function. Patient was treated with colchicine, NSAIDS could not be given due to acute kidney injury. His home dose of aspirin and clopidogrel were continued. Overnight, patient decompensated with persistent tachycardia, tachypnea and hypoxia. He started spiking fevers with worsening leucocytosis. Echo showed moderate pericardial effusion with signs of cardiac tamponade. Urgent pericardiocentesis was done and 250 mL of serosanguinous fluid was removed and a pigtail catheter was left in situ. His antiplatelet agents were discontinued to prevent hemorrhagic pericardial effusion. Methicillin sensitive Staphylococcus aureus was detected in cultures of pericardial fluid and blood. His antibiotic was deescalated to intravenous nafcillin. Echo post procedure showed small pericardial effusion with fibrinous echogenic material. His pericardial drain was not draining enough and was removed the next day. He started developing moderate left sided pleural effusion, likely an extension of pericardial inflammation. A small bore pleural catheter was placed in left pleural space for drainage. He had to undergo pericardectomy for definitive drainage and a chest tube was placed in right pleural cavity for drainage. Transesophageal echocardiogram demonstrated no further pathology. Repeat echo and CT-chest did not show any effusions, so pleural drains were removed on 6th day and patient was doing well. Discussion Purulent pericarditis presents as an acute illness characterized by fever in all patients, chest pain in 25-37% of patients. Bacterial pericarditis is usually not a primary infection, but occurs as a complication of underlying infection. Risk factors are immunosuppression, chest injuries, and chronic kidney disease with hemodialysis, diabetes mellitus and alcoholism. About 15% of patients with purulent pericarditis can develop cardiac tamponade. Typically small effusions accumulate quickly and develop tamponade. Large effusions can accumulate slowly allowing the pericardial sac to expand. Treatment is drainage of pus along with antibiotic therapy. Pericardiocentesis may be sufficient but in case of recurrent effusion or poor drainage of thick loculated fluid, pericardiotomy and pericardial window with manual lysis of adhesions and loculations allowing complete drainage is required. Survival in purulent pericarditis depends on early empiric antibiotic therapy and pericardial drainage.
Observations on the etiologic relationship of achylia gastrica to pernicious anemia. XIII. Hematopoietic activity of vitamin B12a (Vitamin B12b).

Abstract 1. Vitamin B12a, derived from vitamin B12 by catalytic hydrogenation, is as potent a hematopoietic agent as vitamin B12 when administered parenterally to patients with pernicious anemia in relapse. 2. The hematopoietic activity of vitamin B12a, like that of vitamin B12, and of vitamin B12b, is potentiated by simultaneous oral administration with normal human gastric juice. 3. Observations on one patient suggest that vitamin B12a, like vitamin B12, will arrest the progress of subacute degeneration of the spinal cord in pernicious anemia.
1-Ferrocenylbutane-1,3-dione as a scaffold for ferrocenyl-based ligands: Synthesis, X-ray and computational studies

Abstract Advanced precursors to novel ferrocene-based ligands Cp2FeC(O)CH(R)C(O)CH3 (R = benzyl, allyl) were synthesized from 1-ferrocenylbutane-1,3-dione via active methylene chemistry. Crystal structures were obtained and computational studies carried out to explore the structural features of these new compounds. Addition of carbonyl electrophiles resulted in the formation of unexpected products, which were identified and mechanisms for their formation proposed.
Low Burden Strategies Are Needed to Reduce Smoking in Rural Healthcare Settings: A Lesson from Cancer Clinics.

Rural populations face significant smoking-related health disparities, such as a higher prevalence of lung cancer and cancer mortality, higher prevalence of smoking, and lower likelihood of receiving cessation treatment than urban counterparts. A significant proportion of health disparities in rural populations could be eliminated with low-barrier, easy-access treatment delivery methods for smoking cessation. In this study, we assessed treatment engagement among patients in rural and urban settings. Then, we examined the effect of an electronic health record-based smoking cessation module on patient receipt of evidence-based cessation care. As part of a quality improvement project, we retrospectively observed 479,798 unique patients accounting for 1,426,089 outpatient clinical encounters from June 2018–March 2019 across 766 clinics in the greater St. Louis, southern Illinois, and mid-Missouri regions. Smoking prevalence was higher in rural versus urban clinics (20.7% vs. 13.9%, 6.7% [6.3, 7.1], odds ratio = 1.6 [1.6, 1.6], p < 0.0001), and yet rural smokers were nearly three times less likely than their urban counterparts to receive any smoking cessation treatment after adjusting for patients clustering within clinics (9.6% vs. 25.8%, −16.2% [−16.9, −15.5], odds ratio = 0.304 [0.28, 0.33], p < 0.0001). Although not yet scaled up in the rural setting, we examined the effects of a low-burden, point-of-care smoking module currently implemented in cancer clinics. After adjusting for patient clustering within clinics, patients were more likely to receive smoking treatment in clinics that implemented the module versus clinics that did not implement the module (31.2% vs. 17.5%, 13.7% [10.8, 16.6], odds ratio = 2.1 [1.8, 2.6], p < 0.0001). The point-of-care treatment approach offers a promising solution for rural settings, both in and outside the context of cancer care.
Beverage Ethics: Education for Alcohol Responsibility

The study looked at the processes in the development of an alcohol responsibility program for post-secondary students in the service management major at the University of Tennessee: he program has been certified by the State of Tennessee to satisfy the Alcohol Beverage Commission requirement for server training related to the handling and service of alcoholic beverages. A managerial viewpoint was adopted so as to provide the greatest benefit to service management graduate.
Seeing the Big Picture: Why Law Fails in The Wire

Popular culture can have political impact. The Wire is not only engrossing melodrama; it also tells a compelling story of how and why the American political system fails us. Because a television series like The Wire not only appeals to a much broader audience than traditional political arguments, but also transforms abstractions into concrete images aimed at both our hearts and our minds, it can play a major role in efforts to change the world for the better.
Generalized Equal Area Criterion for Transient Stability Analysis

In power system fields, the Equal Area Criterion is of great educational importance on revealing the sufficient condition for a grid-connected synchronous machine to maintain its transient rotor angle stability under a disturbance. However, the criterion faces big challenges in stability analysis for either multi-machine power systems or increasing renewable generators that have nonlinear characteristics very different from synchronous machines even if still modeled as oscillators in the grid. This paper proposes a Generalized Equal Area Criterion for quantitative stability analysis of a more general, nonlinear oscillator under a large disturbance. Such a nonlinear oscillator can either model a renewable generator or represent an equivalent oscillator on dominant inter-area oscillations of a multi-machine system. The new criterion is tested for transient stability analysis of single-generator-infinite-bus system and an NPCC 140-bus 48-machine system.
Extended high-frequency hearing and head orientation cues benefit children during speech-in-speech recognition.

Abstract While the audible frequency range for humans spans approximately 20 Hz to 20 kHz, children display enhanced sensitivity relative to adults when detecting extended high frequencies (frequencies above 8 kHz; EHFs), as indicated by better pure tone thresholds. The impact that this increased hearing sensitivity to EHFs may have on children's speech recognition has not been established. One context in which EHF hearing may be particularly important for children is when recognizing speech in the presence of competing talkers. In the present study, we examined the extent to which school-age children (ages 5-17 years) with normal hearing were able to benefit from EHF cues when recognizing sentences in a two-talker speech masker. Two filtering conditions were tested: all stimuli were either full band or were low-pass filtered at 8 kHz to remove EHFs. Given that EHF energy emission in speech is highly dependent on head orientation of the talker (i.e., radiation becomes more directional with increasing frequency), two masker head angle conditions were tested: both co-located maskers were facing 45°, or both were facing 60° relative to the listener. The results demonstrated that regardless of age, children performed better when EHFs were present. In addition, a small change in masker head orientation also impacted performance, with better recognition at 60° compared to 45°. These findings suggest that EHF energy in the speech signal above 8 kHz is beneficial for children in complex listening situations. The magnitude of benefit from EHF cues and talker head orientation cues did not differ between children and adults. Therefore, while EHFs were beneficial for children as young as 5 years of age, children's generally better EHF hearing relative to adults did not provide any additional benefit.
Comparison of Electrified Aircraft Propulsion Drive Systems with Different Electric Motor Topologies

Electric aircraft propulsion is a growing research area that looks into achieving propulsion through fully electric or hybrid electric systems while achieving low CO2 emissions. The system-level be...
Otologic opioid usage and pain control in the postoperative period: An observational prospective study.

Abstract Purpose Evaluate opioid prescribing patterns, opioid consumption, and patient pain patterns following otologic surgery. Materials and methods Patients were included if they were ≥18 years old and received otologic surgery between November 2019 and August 2020. Patients were provided a survey which included a visual analog scale for recording their pain postoperatively and the amount of opioid they had remaining. Patients who did not complete all portions of the survey were excluded. Results Ninety-one patients completed the post-operative questionnaire. Collectively, patients were prescribed 5797 morphine milligram equivalents and used 3092: approximately 47% went unused. Of patients receiving a transcanal incision (n = 28/91, 31%), 70% went unused, whereas patients receiving a postauricular incision (n = 57/91, 63%), 38% went unutilized. The utilization difference between transcanal and postauricular cohorts was significant (p = 0.002). On multivariate analysis, patients who received a postauricular incision had 60% more opioid usage (p Conclusions A significant amount of opioid medication went unused in this study. Patients with postauricular incisions had significantly increased opioid utilization as compared to those with transcanal incisions. Otologists may be able to successfully manage pain in the postoperative period with a reduced opioid prescription multimodal analgesia and increased patient education. Further study is needed to support this suggestion.
Determinants of urologists’ adherence to active surveillance follow-up protocol for low-risk prostate cancer.

12Background: The National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) guideline offers a guideline for follow-up care for patients with low-risk prostate cancer on active surveillance (AS). However, in pr...
On the externalization of auditory images

An acoustic image is said to be 'externalized' if the sound source appears to the listener to lie outside the head. The purpose of the note is to put the phenomenon of externalization of auditory images in proper perspective. It points out that the listener's pinnae (the so-called 'pinna factor') is only one of many factors that determine the extent to which a sound image is externalized and that the relative importance of these factors is not yet clear. The note begins with some general comments on externalization. It then considers the effect of reverberation. It examines head movements, visual effects, and other factors. It concludes with remarks on externalization's relation to head-related transfer functions (HRTFs), the pinna factor, and improved experimental instrumentation.
Neutron capture therapy for melanoma.

The dose-limiting factor in cancer radiation therapy is the tolerance level of normal tissues within the radiation field. In boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT), thermal neutrons interact with boron via the 10B(n,a)/Li reaction (Taylor, 1935) to produce short-range (~ 5–9 µm), high-linear energy transfer radiations which have a large relative biological effectiveness (RBE) (Gabel, 1984; Fukuda, 1987). In theory, selective localization of 10B within the tumor should allow most of the dose to be restricted to the tumor (Locher, 1936). The failure of the initial clinical trials of BNCT, carried out between 1953 and 1961 at Brookhaven National Laboratory and the Massachusetts General Hospital (Farr, 1954; Goodwin, 1955; Asbury, 1972) was attributed to two major factors: (i) the use of boron-containing compounds which showed no selective accumulation in tumor and (ii) the rapid attenuation in tissue of the incident thermal neutron beam. The high neutron doses employed resulted in excessive surface tissue exposure; viable tumor was found at depth following the neutron irradiations. The substantial levels of boron in blood during irradiation contributed to the damage to normal brain vasculature (tumor/blood ratio <1).
Comparison of Rift Valley fever virus replication in North American livestock and wildlife cell lines.

Rift Valley fever virus (RVFV) causes disease outbreaks across Africa and the Arabian Peninsula, resulting in high morbidity and mortality among young domestic livestock, frequent abortions in pregnant animals, and potentially severe or fatal disease in humans. The possibility of RVFV spreading to the US or other countries worldwide is of significant concern to animal and public health, livestock production and trade. The mechanism for persistence of RVFV during inter-epidemic periods may be through mosquito transovarial transmission and/or by means of a wildlife reservoir. Field investigations in endemic areas and previous in vivo studies have demonstrated that RVFV can infect a wide range of animals, including indigenous wild ruminants of Africa. Yet no predominant wildlife reservoir has been identified, and gaps in our knowledge of RVFV permissive hosts still remain. In North America, domestic goats, sheep and cattle are susceptible hosts for RVFV and several competent vectors exist. Wild ruminants such as deer might serve as a virus reservoir and given their abundance, wide distribution, and overlap with livestock farms and human populated areas could represent an important risk factor. The objective of this study was to assess a variety of cell lines derived from North American livestock and wildlife for susceptibility and permissiveness to RVFV. Results of this study suggest that RVFV could potentially replicate in native deer species such as white-tailed deer, and possibly a wide range of non-ruminant animals. This work serves to guide and support future animal model studies and risk model assessment regarding this high-consequence zoonotic pathogen.
Chemical and Biochemical Changes in Subcellular Fractions of Guinea Pig Liver During Infection with Coxiella burneti

Abstract Livers of uninfected guinea pigs and of guinea pigs infected with Coxiella burneti were fractionated into smooth endoplasmic reticulum, rough endoplasmic reticulum (RER), pellet, and cell sap fractions. The ribonucleic acid (RNA) and protein of each fraction were determined, and the phosphorylase, glucose-6-phosphatase, and glucosyl transferase (glycogen synthetase) activities of each fraction were measured. Decreased RNA, protein, and enzyme activities were found in the RER and pellet fractions of infected livers, with the greatest differences in the RER. The evidence indicates a solubilization of the phosphorylase and synthetase, with the enzymes moving from the RER and glycogen-containing pellet fraction to the cell sap. The data suggest the RER as a target during Q fever.
Aiming at Virtue in Plato

Introduction 1. Socrates and the supremacy of virtue 2. Determining virtue in the here and now 3. The supremacy of virtue in the Gorgias 4. Trying (and failing) to determine what virtue is 5. Socrates and Thrasymachus: Republic I 6. The benefits of injustice 7. Early education and non-philosophers in the Republic 8. Aiming at virtue and determining what it is 9. Epilogue.
Applications of non-Markovian hybrid Petri-nets in power engineering

This paper is focused on simulation and graphical stochastic modeling of electrical power systems. The main goal of this paper is to develop a tool for modeling and simulation of very large systems with probabilistic incidents. For this purpose, a new extension of Petri nets is introduced in this paper. Using this extension which is suitable for power engineering applications, a large system with stochastic transitions can be studied and analyzed. After a preliminary introduction of Petri nets, the proposed extension is introduced. In order to clarify the modeling process, a case study regarding modeling and analyzing long-term behavior of a Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV) is studied and simulated. The simulation results demonstrate the long-term stochastic dynamics of a charging station without any requirement for rigorous analytical studies of the overall stochastic process.
Chemical lysis of cyanobacteria

We have developed a mixture of enzymes and chemicals that completely lyse cyanobacteria. Since the treatment involves only readily-available chemicals and simple proteins that degrade the components of the cyanobacterial cell wall, it can easily be used in high-throughput applications requiring lysis for subsequent intracellular measurements. Our lysis technique consistently enables complete lysis of several different cyanobacterial strains, and we demonstrated that DNA, mRNA, and proteins are preserved in the lysates. Chemical lysis can be superior to existing techniques because of its convenience, reliability, and amenability to a variety of downstream applications.
The development and implementation of, and first years' experience with, a massive/emergency transfusion protocol (damage control hematology protocol) in a Veterans Affairs hospital.

ABSTRACT Published reports of massive or emergency transfusion protocols (MTP/ETPs) focus primarily on large trauma centers. There is little guidance available in the literature to assist nontrauma, hospital-based blood banks in the development of an MTP/ETP for occasional bleeding emergencies. Here, we describe the design of an MTP/ETP at the Veterans Affairs Connecticut Healthcare System in West Haven. The MTP/ETP consists of a protocolized distribution of red blood cells (RBCs), fresh frozen plasma (FFP) and platelets (PLTs), with cryoprecipitate and recombinant factor VIIa also available. In the first year of operation, the MTP/ETP was activated five times on five separate patients. All of the MTP/ETP patients received RBCs, FFP, and PLTs. Two out of five patients received cryoprecipitate. None of the patients received recombinant factor VIIa. Four of the five patients who underwent MTP/ETP survived at least 21 days following the event. A total of 2 units of FFP and 4 units of RBCs issued as a part of...
Overhead Transparency Skills for Perioperative Nurse Educators

Successful design of creative overhead transparencies should be part of the instructional repertoire of perioperative educators. Personal computers and user-friendly software have revolutionized overhead transparencies' dynamic, imaginative production. This article reviews the advantages and disadvantages of overhead projection, presents practical suggestions for generating and using transparencies, and displays computer designed examples.
Structure of electrodeposited copper single crystals—I. Before plastic deformation

Abstract A systematic study of the structural changes that occur in single crystal copper electrodeposits due to plastic deformation has provided a qualitative, microscopic description of these materials consistent with their mechanical properties. The results indicate that a relationship exists between the degree to which a dislocation cell structure is formed and the rate of work hardening. Those factors that inhibit the formation of a dense, regular cell structure and cause the dislocations to be more uniformly dispersed are also associated with low rates of work hardening. The results are discussed in the context of current information from the literature pertaining to the work hardening of melt-grown single crystals.
Personality similarity and friendship: A follow-up study

This study repeated the procedures of an earlier study (see 35: 2117) that showed similarity of objectively measured (Edwards Personality Preference Schedule) personality characteristics to be a significant correlate of friendship. Experiment I tested the repeatability of this finding with a similar sample (college freshmen) and the results again supported the similarity principle. Experiment II tested the generalizability of the earlier finding. The procedures were applied to a different population (college seniors), and the results failed to confirm the similarity hypothesis. Personality differences between freshmen and seniors can be viewed as a function of increased social and emotional maturity on the part of seniors (Izard, 1962). Perhaps the more “mature” person has less need to see his personality characteristics reflected in his friends. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2006 APA, all rights reserved)
Identification of Sample Preparation Defects in Automated Topological Characterization of Composite Materials

Large Area Automated Microscopy, which involves the capturing and montaging of thousands of digital image frames to create one seamless picture of large-area specimens, is increasingly being used to identify and quantify meso-structural topological features in composite materials. In this work we describe the usage of a geometrical descriptor, namely the symmetry ratio (Sr), to isolate and filter out fiber fragments from optical micrographs of cross-sections of pultruded rods reinforced with continuous carbon fibers. Damaged fibers are present in such images as a result of sample preparation and can easily be mistaken for either ‘‘small’’ fibers or ‘‘misaligned’’ fibers by typical image analysis software. Elimination of such defects removes a small but potentially misleading bimodality from the size histogram of the fiber population.
Origin of the cell: experiments and premises.

Theories and component concepts of the origin of life, i.e., primordial life, have emerged from (1) constructionistic studies on model materials and systems, and (2) reductionistic studies of contemporary cells. The resultant views conflict in a number of aspects; many of the differences are analyzed in this article. Constructionistic experiments are appropriate to asking questions about origins since they are in the same direction as evolution itself. These experiments have revealed self-ordering properties and associated emergent functions, which were not predictable.
Green's function for radially symmetric waves in inhomogeneous anisotropic solids

An exact Green's function is presented for radially symmetric waves in cylindrically inhomogeneous anisotropic solids. It is found that the wave which passed through the center (coordinate origin) looses the logarithmic singularity at its front, when a material parameter is a half of odd integer. Further, the time-harmonic Green's function is derived. It is also found that the wave nature of the Green's function vanishes when the wave velocity is a linear function of the radial distance.
Use of naltrexone in the treatment of alcoholism nationally in the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Background: Naltrexone is one of only two medications currently approved by the Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of alcoholism. We attempted to determine the proportion of patients with a diagnosis of alcoholism who were prescribed naltrexone in the Department of Veterans Affairs health-care system during a 6-month period and the sociodemographic and clinical characteristics that distinguished them from veterans who were not prescribed naltrexone. Methods: By using Veterans Affairs workload databases, all outpatients diagnosed with alcoholism (International Classification of Diseases, 9th revision, codes 303.xx or 305.00) during a 6-month period (October 2000 to March 2001) were selected (n= 194,001). Patients in this group who were prescribed naltrexone during this period were identified. Logistic regression was used to compare those who were prescribed naltrexone with other alcoholics. Results: In this sample, only 3,705 patients (1.9%) of the 194,001 veterans with an alcohol use disorder were prescribed naltrexone. Logistic regression analysis showed that naltrexone use was associated with comorbid disorders (bipolar disorder, dysthymia, major depressive disorder, posttraumatic stress disorder, and drug abuse) and recent psychiatric hospitalization. African Americans and veterans with organic brain syndromes were less likely to be prescribed naltrexone. Conclusions: These results suggest that prescribers have not embraced reports of naltrexone's efficacy in alcohol dependence, perhaps due to a general disinclination to use medications rather than a specific attitude toward naltrexone, especially in uncomplicated alcoholism.
Photochemical control of molecular recognition on self-assembled monolayer-protected gold clusters

Abstract The photochemical control of interfacial recognition process between diaminopyridine (DAP)-functionalized colloids and naphthalimide has been explored through the incorporation of azobenzene moieties into nanoparticle monolayers.
Resonance Raman Intensity Analysis of Vibrational and Solvent Reorganization in Photoinduced Charge Transfer

Quantitative analysis of resonance Raman scattering cross sections, together with charge-transfer absorption and emission spectra, can provide detailed information about the changes in nuclear equilibrium geometry undergone by both the electron donor and acceptor and the surrounding solvent in photoinduced charge-transfer processes. The molecular parameters that determine absorption and fluorescence band shapes and resonance Raman cross sections are summarized, and methods for extracting those parameters through spectral modeling are reviewed with emphasis on charge-transfer systems. Applications to the determination of molecular and solvent reorganization parameters to several organic intra- and intermolecular charge-transfer transitions are then presented, and prospects for further development of the technique are discussed.