cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Endocannabinoid-Dependent Synaptic Plasticity in the Striatum

The striatum plays a critical role in mediating the goal-directed and habitual behaviors involved in the development of drug abuse and addiction. Cannabinoid receptor-dependent synaptic plasticity is a prominent regulator of striatal circuit function. It is increasingly clear that striatal endocannabinoid signaling impacts the development of drug abuse. The expression of endocannabinoid-mediated plasticity in the striatum is affected by disparate types of drugs of abuse, such as opiates and alcohol. Understanding the mechanism of endocannabinoid-mediated plasticity and its effects on striatal circuit function may elucidate how endocannabinoids shape addiction-related behavior and perhaps offer new therapeutic avenues for treating drug abuse.
Reversible Excited-State Electron-Transfer Reactions of Transition Metal Complexes

Systems exhibiting reversible excited-state electron-transfer reactions are currently of great interest because of their utilization in photogalvanic cells and photocatalysis.
Institutional Point of Care Ultrasound

Point of Care US programs have grown within hospitals and health systems, creating the need for institutional point of care leadership. Institutional US leaders have the opportunity to bring successful practices to machine purchase, workflow, QA, education, and training. Strategies unique to system US implementation are discussed.
The Functional Amyloid Curli Protects Escherichia coli against Complement-Mediated Bactericidal Activity

Escherichia coli strains may be beneficial or pathogenic. Many E. coli strains that cause human disease, especially those responsible for bacteremia and sepsis, express virulence factors that impart resistance to the complement system. The bacterial amyloid curli functions in bacterial adherence and enhances the formation of biofilms. Survival of curli-producing parental and curli-deficient mutant E. coli in the context of a human complement response was evaluated using an in vivo murine model of bacteremia. Results showed that curli production enhanced E. coli survival, which suggests that curli defends against complement-mediated killing. This observation was supported by the results of in vitro assays comparing bacterial survival in human serum. Experiments in which the classical or alternative complement pathways were blocked indicated that the classical pathway is the major contributor to complement activation and that curli inhibits this activity. Our analyses indicate that curli does not appear to play a role in protecting E. coli against alternative pathway complement activation. We found that curli increases binding of E. coli cells to complement component Complement component 1q (C1q) but does not affect Complement component 3b (C3b) binding. We conclude that curli defends E. coli against complement-mediated killing via inhibition of the classical complement pathway.
Double sided grating fabrication for high energy X-ray phase contrast imaging

Abstract State of the art grating fabrication currently limits the maximum source energy that can be used in lab based x-ray phase contrast imaging (XPCI) systems. In order to move to higher source energies, and image high density materials or image through encapsulating barriers, new grating fabrication methods are needed. In this work we have analyzed a new modality for grating fabrication that involves precision alignment of etched gratings on both sides of a substrate, effectively doubling the thickness of the grating. We have achieved a front-to-backside feature alignment accuracy of 0.5 µm demonstrating a methodology that can be applied to any grating fabrication approach extending the attainable aspect ratios allowing higher energy lab based XPCI systems.
Inhibition of tumorigenesis by chemicals from garlic and tea.

Garlic (Allium sativum) has been used widely in culinary practice and folk remedies in many cultures. Its biological functions are beginning to be understood by studies with modern research tools. Epidemiological studies in China and Italy indicate that more frequent consumption of garlic and other allium vegetables was associated with a lower incidence of gastric cancer.1,2 The inhibition of carcinogenesis by garlic constituents has also been demonstrated in animal models. In previous studies, we demonstrated the selective inhibition and induction of cytochrome P450 enzymes by a garlic compound, diallyl sulfide (DAS), as a possible mechanism for inhibitory action against carcinogenesis.3 In the present paper, this mechanism is discussed further along with new results on the inhibition of tumorigenesis as predicted from metabolism studies.
Comparative Sensitivity of Binucleate and Trinucleate Pollen to ultraviolet Radiation: A Theoretical Perspective

Angiosperm pollen shed in the binucleate condition (which is the case for most species) may be more susceptible to UV radiation damage than pollen shed in the trinucleate condition. This speculation is supported by data summarized from the literature which show that trinucleate pollen is more physiologically advanced at the time when it is shed from the anther. The time course of germination, penetration of the stigma, and successful fertilization is thus more rapid in these trinucleate species. This results in less exposure to solar ultraviolet and consequently less damage should be expected. Experiments are needed to test the sensitivity of these pollen types in vivo and to evaluate the efficacy of possible repair mechanisms.
DELIBERATION AND AGGREGATION IN COMPUTER-AIDED PERFORMANCE EVALUATION

Performance evaluation is often encountered by designers, planners and other decision makers. Deliberated evaluation is a systematic method with the main purpose ‘objectification’ which means that the evaluation conducted by an evaluator can be fully understood and, further, reconstructed by others. The objectification allows an evaluator's idea about a good design be carried by other designers. This method leads to a mapping, as a model of evaluation processes, from objective measures of an evaluated object to its subjectively assessed performance measure. The mapping can be reconstructed in a computer which can help in optimizing the objective properties during a design process.
Finding concurrency errors in sequential code: OS-level, in-vivo model checking of process races

While thread races have drawn huge attention from the research community, little has been done for process races, where multiple--possibly sequential--processes access a shared resource, such as a file, without proper synchronization. We present a preliminary study of real process races and show that they are numerous, dangerous, and difficult to detect. To address this problem, we present the design of RACEPRO, an in-vivo model checking system for automatically detecting process races in deployed systems, along with preliminary results from a RACEPRO prototype. To the best of our knowledge, we are the first to study real process races, and RACEPRO is the first system to detect them.
Laparoscopic Conversion of a Vertical Banded Gastroplasty to a Sleeve Gastrectomy in a Morbidly Obese Patient with a Complicated Medical History.

Purpose We present our technique for performing a laparoscopic conversion of vertical banded gastroplasty (VBG) to sleeve gastrectomy (SG) in a morbidly obese patient. Materials and methods A 58-year-old female with history of hypertension, diabetes, and morbid obesity (BMI 41). She had initially undergone an open VBG (BMI 58) and cholecystectomy (2002) and subsequently underwent two laparotomies for small bowel obstructions and two open ventral hernia repairs. She initially presented for repair of her large ventral hernia; however, to minimize the risk of recurrence and complications during the abdominal wall reconstruction, she was referred first for surgical weight loss and scheduled for laparoscopic conversion of VBG to gastric bypass. Results Initial access was obtained using an Optiview trocar and significant amount of adhesions were noted to the omentum, abdominal wall, stomach, and liver, including dense interloop adhesions precluding us from proceeding with a gastric bypass, our initial choice for conversion. Adhesions were taken down with a LigaSure device and sharp dissection. The previous vertical staple line was identified endoscopically. The banded area was narrowed, but intact, so the Marlex ring was divided to allow space for the new SG staple line. Stapler firings were oriented to divide the stomach parallel to the lesser curve and through the middle of the prior EEA opening, then up towards the Angle of His. Using Endo Stitch, the entire staple line was oversewn in a Lembert fashion. There was no evidence of narrowing on repeat endoscopy and leak test was negative. Conclusions This video demonstrates the feasibility and safety of one-step laparoscopic conversion of vertical banded gastroplasty to sleeve gastrectomy.
Safety of dual biological therapy in Crohn’s disease: a case series of vedolizumab in combination with other biologics

Uncertainty exists regarding safety and efficacy of dual biological therapy (DBT) in inflammatory bowel disease. We present four cases of DBT in Crohn's disease. Three patients had refractory disease non-responsive to biological monotherapy or combination therapy with immunomodulators. One patient had concomitant ankylosing spondylitis. DBT was implemented by combining vedolizumab with an anti tumour necrosis antibody or with ustekinumab. DBT was well-tolerated, though two patients did experience self-limited infections. The efficacy of DBT remains unproven but it appears promising as three of the four patients achieved clinical remission. Our case series contributes insight into the safety of DBT that incorporates vedolizumab for future efficacy studies.
IoT Devices Fingerprinting Using Deep Learning

Radio Frequency (RF) fingerprinting as a physical layer authentication method could be used to distinguish legitimate wireless devices from adversarial ones. In this paper, we present a wireless device identification platform to improve Internet of things (IoT) security using deep learning techniques. Deep learning is a promising method for obtaining the characteristics of the different RF devices through learning from their RF data. Specifically, three different deep learning models, namely Deep Neural Network (DNN), Convolutional Neural Network (CNN), and Recurrent Neural Network (RNN) are considered here to identify wireless devices and distinguish among wireless devices from the same manufacture. As a case study, large data sets of RF traces from six “identical” ZigBee devices are collected using a USRP based test bed. We captured RF data across a wide range of Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR) levels to guarantee the resilience of our proposed models to variety of wireless channel conditions in practical scenarios. Experimental results demonstrate high accuracy of deep learning methods for wireless device identification that potentially could enhance IoT security.
High-Pressure Synthesis of Metallic Perovskite Ruthenate CaCu3Ga2Ru2O12

A new perovskite ruthenate, CaCu3Ga2Ru2O12, has been synthesized at 12.5 GPa and 1200 °C and recovered to room pressure and temperature conditions. This oxide is isostructural with CaCu3Ti4O12 and CaCu3Ru4O12, crystallizing in space group Im3 with Ga and Ru cations disordered over the octahedral sites. CaCu3Ga2Ru2O12 exhibits a temperature-independent Pauli-paramagnetic and metallic character, indicating delocalized electrons for both Cu and Ru. Bond valence calculations based on the refined structure give oxidation states of 2.31 and 4.53 for copper and ruthenium cations, respectively. The itinerant electron behavior is thought to originate from a significant oxidation of Cu(II) by Ru(V). Such a situation corresponds to Cu(II)−O−Ru(V) ↔ Cu(III)−O−Ru(IV) valence degeneracy. This places CaCu3Ga2Ru2O12 among an unusual and interesting group of perovskites that show heteronuclear valence degeneracy.
Singularity Analysis for Redundant Manipulators of Arbitrary Kinematic Structure.

This paper presents a technique to identify singularities of any rank for a robot of any kinematic structure. The technique is based on computing the gradient of singular values of the robot Jacobian. The algorithm deals with the situations when two or more singular values become nearly equal and their corresponding singular vectors are ill-defined. Also, an algorithm is developed to identify the physically meaningful singular directions from the high dimensional singular subspaces of high-rank singularities. The suggested technique is applied to a 4-DoF and a 7-DoF robot to show its efficacy at identifying robot singularities of all ranks and dealing with the ill-defined singular directions.
Molecular Testing on Pleural Fluid Samples

Pleural effusions are a common manifestation of both malignant and nonmalignant diseases. The sampling of pleural fluid helps categorize effusions as transudative or exudative and helps differentiate paramalignant from malignant disease. Accurate pleural fluid analysis is critical to the appropriate staging of cancers with significant prognostic and treatment implications. However, the etiology of pleural effusions remains unclear in a significant number of cases after routine thoracentesis and pleural fluid analysis. For malignant pleural effusions, cytologic evaluation of pleural fluid has a relatively low sensitivity. We describe the evolving field of molecular pleural fluid analysis in the setting of malignant disease as an active area of investigation with both diagnostic and therapeutic implications.
Bacidia thiersiana (Ramalinaceae), a new species with lobaric acid widespread in southeastern North America

Bacidia thiersiana is described as new to science from scattered locations throughout southeastern North America, including the southern Appalachian Mountains and Coastal Plain. The species is characterized by its frequent occurrence on and near thalli of Bathelium carolinianum, minutely areolate, esorediate thallus with small, pale to tan, biatorine apothecia and the production of lobaric acid. In addition to comparison with other morphologically similar species that produce lobaric acid and other fluorescent secondary compounds, Bacidina crystallifera is discussed and illustrated in detail.
Pedestrian Localization on Topological Maps with Neural Machine Translation Network

Pedestrians and vehicles tend to follow certain paths even in the case of no road or walkable path is prescribed. This fact makes topological representation of maps very important in navigation and localization applications. When infrastructure-based systems (e.g., GPS, Wi-Fi) are available, the problem is referred to as map-matching where the goal is to improve localization accuracy. On the other hand, localization becomes a problem in the lack of initialization for infrastructure-free systems (e.g., dead reckoning via odometry). For example, a pedestrian inertial navigation system (INS) can be used to generate drift-prone trajectories that would perfectly turn into graphs (consisting of nodes and edges) after heuristic corrections such as zero-velocity update (ZUPT), heuristic drift reduction (HDR) and motion direction aid by Earth’s magnetic field. Most of the approaches use probabilistic generative methods to solve sub-graph traversal problem. This research adopts a neural network structure that is originally designed for language translation purposes and modifies it to achieve pedestrian localization on topological maps. Different feature combinations (angle vs. edge length) and number of traversed nodes are tested in the experiments. A minimum accuracy of 95% is achieved with all feature configurations while traversing only six nodes on the map.
Receipt of opioids and patient care experiences among nonsurgical hospitalized adults.

OBJECTIVE To examine the association between receipt of opioids and patient care experiences among nonsurgical hospitalized adults. DATA SOURCES A total of 17 691 patient-level responses to the Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (HCAHPS) patient care experience survey linked to medical records from nonsurgical hospitalizations in an 11-hospital health care system in a Midwestern state, years 2011-2016. STUDY DESIGN We conducted a pooled cross-sectional study that used propensity score matching analyses and logistic regression to estimate the relationship between patients' care experience measures (overall and pain-specific) and their receipt of opioids while hospitalized. In supplementary analyses, we used the same propensity score matching methods to estimate the relationship between patient care experience measures and receipt of opioids in four patient subgroups based on average patient-reported pain during hospitalization (no pain; mild pain; moderate pain; and severe pain). PRINCIPAL FINDINGS Receipt of opioids was not associated with patient care experience measures in our main analysis. In our supplementary analysis, we found lower ratings for pain control among hospitalizations for patients who reported moderate pain (Marginal Effects = -4.5 percent; P value = .015). CONCLUSIONS Counter to some previous studies, we observed that receipt of opioids was not associated with patient care experience measures for nonsurgical hospitalized adults. These findings may be due to different pain experiences of adults hospitalized for nonsurgical versus surgical reasons.
Impact of Preoperative Anemia on Outcomes After Posterior Spinal Fusion for Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis

Objective The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship of preoperative anemia and outcomes after posterior spinal fusion (PSF) for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS). Methods A retrospective cohort study was performed using the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program–Pediatric database from 2016 to 2018. All pediatric patients (age 10–18 years) with AIS undergoing PSF were identified. Two cohorts were categorized into anemic and nonanemic cohorts based on age-based and sex-based criteria for anemia. Thirty-day outcomes and readmission rates were evaluated. Results A total of 4929 patients were identified, of whom 592 (12.0%) were found to have preoperative anemia. The anemic cohort had a greater prevalence of comorbidities and longer operative times. Compared with the nonanemic cohort, the anemic cohort experienced significantly higher rates of perioperative bleed/transfusion (nonanemic, 67.4% vs. anemic, 73.5%; P = 0.004) and required a greater total amount of blood transfused (nonanemic, 283.2 ± 265.5 mL vs. anemic, 386.7 ± 342.6 mL; P Conclusions Our study suggests that preoperative anemia may be a risk factor for a greater perioperative bleed/transfusion event and slightly longer length of stay; however, it was not associated with greater 30-day complication and readmission rates in patients with AIS undergoing PSF.
Opportunity and threat behind the Iron Curtain: The failed diffusion of human rights activism in Romania:

Research has highlighted the importance of diffusion processes for the emergence and spread of collective action, yet less attention has been paid to cases where diffusion fails to lead to successf...
A PROPOSED SCALE-DEPENDENT COSMOLOGY FOR THE INHOMOGENEOUS UNIVERSE

We propose a scale-dependent cosmology with the stress-energy tensor of viscous fluid, in which the Robertson-Walker metric and the Einstein equation are generalized in such a way that Ω0, H0 and the age of the Universe all become scale-dependent. Its implications on the observational cosmology and possible modifications of the standard Friedmann cosmology are discussed. For example, since the age of the Universe in this model depends on the local values of Ω0 and the Hubble parameter, the age of the locally open Universe even with the high value of hubble parameter can be long enough to accommodate the measured ages of the oldest stars and globular clusters.
Stochastic many-body perturbation theory for Moiré states in twisted bilayer phosphorene.

We implement stochastic many-body perturbation theory for systems with 2D periodic boundary conditions. The method is used to compute quasiparticle excitations in twisted bilayer phosphorene. Excitation energies are studied using stochastic G0W0 and partially self-consistent ∆GW0 approaches. The approach is inexpensive; it is used to study twisted systems with unit cells containing > 2,700 atoms (> 13,500 valence electrons), which corresponds to a minimum twisting angle of ≈ 3.1◦. Twisted bilayers exhibit band splitting, increased localization and formation of localized Moire impurity states, as documented by band-structure unfolding. Structural changes in twisted structures lift band degeneracies. Energies of the impurity states vary with the twisting angle due to an interplay between non-local exchange and polarization effects. The mechanisms of quasiparticle energy (de)stabilization due to twisting are likely applicable to a wide range of low-dimensional Moire superstructures.
Workload of learners during simulated paediatric cardiopulmonary resuscitation

Introduction Learner workload during simulated team-based resuscitations is not well understood. In this descriptive study, we measured the workload of learners in different team roles during simulated paediatric cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Methods Paediatric emergency nurses and paediatric and emergency medicine residents formed teams of four to eight and randomised into roles to participate in simulation-based, paediatric resuscitation. Participant workload was measured using the NASA Task Load Index, which provides an average workload score (from 0 to 100) across six subscores: mental demand, physical demand, temporal demand, performance, frustration and mental effort. Workload is considered low if less than 40, moderate if between 40 and 60 and high if greater than 60. Results There were 210 participants representing 40 simulation teams. 138 residents (66%) and 72 nurses (34%) participated. Team lead reported the highest workload at 65.2±10.0 (p=0.001), while the airway reported the lowest at 53.9±10.8 (p=0.001); team lead had higher scores for all subscores except physical demand. Team lead reported the highest mental demand (p Conclusions Workload for learners in paediatric simulated resuscitation teams was moderate to high and varied significantly based on team role. Composition of workload varied significantly by team role. Measuring learner workload during simulated resuscitations allows improved processes and choreography to optimise workload distribution.
Use of Neuroimaging for Children With Seizure in General and Pediatric Emergency Departments.

Abstract Background Seizure is a common reason for children to visit the emergency department (ED). Pediatric and general EDs may obtain computed tomography (CT) scans of the head for seizure at different rates. Objective To compare rates of head CT for pediatric seizure between general and pediatric EDs. Methods This was a retrospective cohort study using the National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey for patients Results More than 5 (5.4) million (78.8%) and 1.5 million (21.2%) pediatric patients with seizure presented to general and pediatric EDs, respectively. Of those, 22.4% (1.21 million) and 13.2% (192,357) underwent CT scans of the head, respectively, a risk difference of 9.2% (95% confidence interval [CI] 2.3–16.1). General EDs obtained CT scans of the head more often in patients with epilepsy (risk difference 17.9% [95% CI 4.0–31.9]), without fever (12.2% [95% CI 3.1–21.4]), and without trauma (10.6% [95% CI 4.4–16.8]). Presenting to a general ED, being afebrile, or having trauma were associated with head CT with adjusted odds ratios of 1.7 (95% CI 1.0–3.2), 4.9 (95% CI 2.6–9.2), and 2.0 (95% CI 1.2–3.4), respectively. Age, gender, and epilepsy were not associated with head CT among all patients with seizure. Conclusions Children with seizure are more likely to undergo CT scans of the head at general EDs compared with pediatric EDs.
Digital storytelling: Narrating meaning in bereavement

Individuals who cannot make sense of a significant death are more likely to experience bereavement complications than those who are able to reconcile their loss with existing or newly-developed way...
Incidental and Intentional Medicine Achieve Similar Results in Primary Hyperaldosteronism.

Primary hyperaldosteronism is a common cause of hypertension, with significant cardiovascular, renal, and metabolic sequelae. Delayed diagnosis of primary hyperaldosteronism can lead to severe disease and lower cure rates after adrenalectomy. This study investigated the presentation and outcomes of patients who had primary hyperaldosteronism diagnosed after incidental discovery of an adrenal mass. A retrospective cohort study investigated patients receiving adrenalectomy for primary hyperaldosteronism at the authors’ institution from 2001 to 2014. Patients were classified as nonincidental if the aldosteronoma was identified on imaging performed for a hypertension or hypokalemia workup or after a biochemical diagnosis or as incidental if the aldosteronoma was identified on imaging performed for any other reason. Nonincidental and incidental patients were compared in terms of patient demographics, clinical history, preoperative test results, surgical pathology findings, and postoperative course. The study included 210 patients, 17 (8.1 %) of whom were incidental. At the time of surgical evaluation, 88 % of the incidental patients met the criteria for primary hyperaldosteronism screening based on hypokalemia or the degree of hypertension. The incidental patients were younger than the nonincidental patients, but the two groups were otherwise demographically and clinically similar. The incidental patients had larger aldosteronomas than the nonincidental patients. The nonincidental and incidental patients had similar rates of postoperative cure and failure. Nonincidental and incidental patients have comparable disease severity before surgical evaluation and similar rates of postoperative cure. Increased adherence to guidelines for screening of primary hyperaldosteronism will lead to a more timely diagnosis for all patients and a higher potential for surgical cure.
Nuclear Magnetic Resonance and Magnetic Resonance Imaging for Process Analysis

Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy is an experimental technique based on the interaction between nuclear magnetic moments and an applied magnetic field. The nuclei emit and absorb energy at a specific frequency that is proportional to the applied magnetic field. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is the term used to describe the spatial resolution of NMR signals within a sample. NMR/MRI may provide information on the weight, chemical composition, physical properties, and structure of a sample. NMR is a noncontacting and noninvasive measurement. NMR and MRI are suitable for use in process control and have been applied to polymer processing, food processing and refinery processes. The response is linear from the detection limits of approximately 10 ppb to 100%. The accuracy of the technique depends on the signal-to-noise ratio (S/N), which is a function of the sample size, applied magnetic field strength, the radio-frequency (rf) coil and the spectrometer hardware. Typical accuracy of the technique is 0.5% for measurements of composition and 1–5% for viscosity. NMR cannot generally be applied to magnetic or highly conductive materials.
The Incredible, Edible Balut : Ethnographic Perspectives on the Philippines' Favorite Liminal Food

This paper provides a critical food analysis of balut. These popular Filipino street snacks comprised of partially incubated duck eggs with a decidedly liminal character have become increasingly familiar to Westerners over recent years thanks to their most sensationalized depictions in various genres of popular culture. A number of pertinent examples from Western reality television, independent film, post-grunge alternative rock, international prizefighting, and myriad foodie/gastroporn websites, as well as my own ethnographic experience in the Philippines dating back to the mid-1990s, highlight balut's symbolic value both in the construction of identity for native Filipinos and as a rite of passage for others.
DYNAMIC ANALYSIS OF CABLE STIFFENED STRUCTURES

A method is presented for computing the nonlinear dynamic response of planar cable-stiffened structures. The nonlinear dynamic equations are reduced to a smaller system by expanding the unknown variables as a series of mode shapes which were found by an eigenvalue analysis of the linear dynamic equations. The method is applied to two types of cable-stayed bridges. Results are presented for the static, linear dynamic, and nonlinear dynamic responses of these structures. The effect of damping is also indicated in the computations. It is found that for the structures under investigation a linear dynamic analysis is suitable.
Busting the Hart & Wechsler Paradigm

Federal Courts law was once a vibrant area of scholarship and an essential course for intellectually ambitious students. Now its prestige has diminished so much that scholars debate its future in a recent issue of the Vanderbilt Law Review, where even one of its champions calls it (albeit in the subjunctive mood) a "scholarly backwater."l What, if anything, went wrong, and what should Federal Courts scholars do about it? In his contribution to the Vanderbilt symposium, Richard Fallon defends the reigning model of Federal Courts law, an approach to jurisdictional issues that dates from the publication in 1953 of Henry Hart and Herbert Wechsler's casebook, The Federal Courts and the Federal System.z In Fallon's view, nothing went wrong, and in any event there is not much we can do about it. In brief, Fallon argues that with a few adjustments, Federal Courts scholars should continue to work within the model set out by Hart & Wechsler forty years ago, a model that rests upon "the principles and policies underlying federalism and the separation of powers,''3 and such process
Stellar Population and Comparison with Other Galaxies

The Galactic Center appears to contain a variety of stellar populations of varying ages and with differing distributions around SgrA*, including both the bulge population sampled through Baade’s Window, a population with an age of roughly 0.1 GYr that increases in numbers substantially between Baade’s Window and Sgr A*, and a very young (~ 10 million year old) population that occupies the central parsec and provides most of its luminosity. Comparison with the nuclei of M31 and M32 indicates that this latter population is a transient phenomenon, created in an episode of formation of massive stars, triggered in an as yet mysterious fashion, and undergoing evolution that departs significantly from that found elsewhere in the Galaxy.
Balance as a measurement of fatigue in postcall residents.

Objectives/Hypothesis To determine the degree to which balance is impaired by fatigue in postcall medical residents and to assess the validity of posturography in quantifying that impairment. Study Design Prospective study. Methods Medical residents underwent the following tests before and immediately after overnight call: 1) computerized dynamic posturography (CDP) using the Equitest force platform (Natus Medical Inc., Clackamas, OR); 2) Clinical Test of Sensory Interaction and Balance, in which the residents stood on a compliant foam mat with closed eyes and flexed and extended their necks; 3) a computerized reaction time test (available at www.humanbenchmark.com). All tests were performed before and after call at approximately the same time of day to exclude circadian rhythm influence on fatigue. The residents also completed questionnaires, including the Stanford Sleepiness Scale, describing their level of fatigue before and after call. Results A statistically significant difference was found between a resident's pre- and postcall test with regard to reaction time (P = .01), Stanford Sleepiness Scale score (P = .001), and preference for the visual system as measured by CDP (P = .05). Linear regression analysis showed a statistically significant relationship between sleep deprivation and multiple performance variables measured by CDP. Conclusions With the growing attention paid to resident duty hours, there is an increasing need for research involving fatigue and practical ways to measure it. This study shows that residents who are measurably fatigued (both objectively and subjectively) may have difficulty utilizing vestibular input during quiet standing but can compensate by means of somatosensory and visual input. Level of Evidence NA Laryngoscope, 125:337–341, 2015
Clinical practice guidelines: when the tool becomes the rule

This work provides a critical examination of the use of clinical practice guidelines to measure individual performance. The problems inherent in using a measure of central tendency derived from a distribution of individual performances are addressed, as is the translation of the collectively determined guidelines into a measurement instrument. It is suggested that every process on the distribution of processes used to determine the guideline must be considered equally legitimate representations of the process in question. It is further suggested that to accept as a standard of quality, a particular process simply because there is a minimum of variation between providers, is to ignore the importance of the linkage between process and outcome. The importance of an independent measure of quality based on outcomes is further emphasized by highlighting the tautological nature of analyses that include an input measure, such as nursing hours, in both the dependent variable and the list of independent variables. It is recommended that individual performance be evaluated within the tolerances of the distribution from which they were derived and not be held to some measure of central tendency of that distribution. The alternative is to use the measure of central tendency with plus or minus limits such as one, or more, standard deviations.
Origin of localized fast mantle flow velocity in numerical models of subduction

[1] The origin of localized fast mantle flow near subduction zones found in regional (Jadamec and Billen, 2010, 2012) and global (Stadler et al., 2010; Alisic et al., 2010) numerical models using non-Newtonian rheology is explored using 3D models with simple geometry. Two suites of models, using both a free slab and a slab attached to a lithospheric layer, are presented to determine (1) the origin of high magnitudes of mantle flow (>50 cm/yr) and (2) focusing of flow within the mantle wedge, with mantle wedge velocities up to two times higher than slab sinking velocities. The rheology in the models is either Newtonian with a prescribed low viscosity wedge (LVW) or non-Newtonian wherein low viscosity regions form in response to high stress surrounding the sinking slab. The results show that there are two aspects of the models that lead to localized fast velocities: reduction in the mantle viscosity surrounding the sinking slab leads to faster overall flow rates induced by the negative buoyancy of the sinking slab; and geometric effects that are caused by lateral variations in viscosity, including retrograde pivoting motion of the slab.
Persisting Racial Disparities in Total Shoulder Arthroplasty Utilization and Outcomes.

Objective The purpose was to study whether racial disparities in total shoulder arthroplasty (TSA) utilization and outcomes have declined over time.
Social Contagion of Risk Perceptions in Environmental Management Networks

An important requisite for improving risk communication practice related to contentious environmental issues is having a better theoretical understanding of how risk perceptions function in real-world social systems. Our study applied Scherer and Cho’s social network contagion theory of risk perception (SNCTRP) to cormorant management (a contentious environmental management issue) in the Great Lakes Basin to: (1 )a ssess contagion effects on cormorant-related risk perceptions and individual factorsbelieved to influence those perceptions and (2) explore the extent of social contagion in a fullnetwork (consisting of interactions between and among experts and laypeople) and three “isolated ”m odels separating different types of interactions from the full network (i.e., expert-to-expert, layperson-to-layperson, and expert-to-layperson). We conducted interviews and administered questionnaires with experts (e.g., natural resource professionals) and laypeopl e( e.g., recreational and commercial anglers, business owners, bird enthusiasts) engaged in cormorant management in northern Lake Huron (n=115). Our findings generally support the SNCTRP; however, th es cope and scale of social contagion varied considerably based on the variables (e.g., individual risk perception factors), actors (i.e., experts or laypeople), andinteractions of interest. Contagion effects were identified more frequently, and were stronger, inthe models containing interactions between experts and laypeople than in those models containing only interactions among experts or laypeople.
Capillary torque on a rolling particle in the presence of a liquid film at small capillary numbers

Abstract A theoretical analysis was developed for the capillary torque acting on a spherical particle rolling on a flat surface in the presence of a thin liquid film. The capillary number (the ratio of viscous force to surface tension force) is assumed to be sufficiently small that the liquid bridge has a circular cross-section. The theory identifies two mechanisms for capillary torque. The first mechanism results from the rearward shift of the liquid bridge in the presence of particle rolling, which causes the line of action of the pressure force within the liquid bridge to be located behind the particle centroid, inducing a torque that resists particle rolling. The second mechanism results from the contact angle asymmetry on the advancing and receding sides of the rolling particle, which leads to a net torque on the particle arising from the tangential component of the surface tension force. Estimates for these two types of capillary torque are obtained using experimental data, and correlations for both torques are obtained in the form of power-law fits as functions of the capillary number. When combined with a standard expression for viscous torque on a rolling particle, the capillary torque expressions are found to yield predictions for particle terminal velocity that are in good agreement with experimental data for a particle rolling down an inclined surface.
Dipole-dipole transfer between acetone solvates of chlorophyll a and chlorophyll a dihydrate dimers in water/acetone mixtures. A model for P680 sensitized excitation

Abstract We describe a simple model for P680 sensitized excitation in photosynthesis. Chl a fluorescence quenching effects observed when water is added to Chl a solutions in acetone are shown to be the result of resonant transfer between acetone solvates of monomeric Chl a , Chl a ·Ac, and dimers of Chl a dihydrate. The presence of (Chl a ·2H 2 O) 2 is evidenced by a 678 nm difference absorbance (Δ A band obtained on conversion of a 680 nm absorption shoulder to polycrystalline Chl a precipitate, (Chl a ·H 2 O) n . The equilibration between (Chl a ·2H 2 O) 2 and Chl a ·Ac as a principal mechanism for Chl a ·Ac fluorescence quenching is supported by theoretical fits of the data.
Coordinated Interpersonal Timing in the Conversations of Children Who Stutter and Their Mothers and Fathers.

Coordinated interpersonal timing (CIT) is a measure of “conversational congruence,” or “attunement,” and refers to the degree to which the temporal aspects of the vocal behaviors of co-conversationalists are correlated over the course of a conversation [Jasnow, M., & Feldstein, S. (1986). Adult-like temporal characteristics of mother–infant vocal interaction. Child Development, 57, 754–761]. In the present study, CIT was examined in a group of children who stutter (CWS), and a matched group of nonstuttering children (CWDNS; children who do not stutter), during conversations with either their mother or father recorded in two separate sessions (i.e., mother–child, father–child). Separate audio signals for both the child and parent (mother or father) were analyzed using AVTA software, which allowed for the quantification of sound and silence patterns in simultaneous speech. Squared cross-correlations (i.e., coefficients of CIT) for the durations of five vocal behavior states were obtained for each subject, through time series regression analysis using lag procedures. Vocal state behaviors within conversational turns included: vocalization, pauses, turnswitching pauses, and interruptive and noninterruptive simultaneous speech. Results indicated that CWS and their parents showed mutual influence (i.e., CIT in both directions,
Inhibition of Extrahepatic Human Cytochromes P450 1A1 and 1B1 by Metabolism of Isoflavones Found in Trifolium pratense (Red Clover)

Biochanin A and formononetin are the predominant isoflavones in red clover. In a previous study (J. Agric. Food Chem. 2002, 50, 4783−4790), it was demonstrated that human liver microsomes converted biochanin A and formononetin to genistein and daidzein. This paper now shows CYP1B1-catalyzed O-demethylation of biochanin A and formononetin to produce genistein and daidzein, respectively, which inhibit CYP1B1. Recombinant human CYP1A1 or CYP1B1 was incubated with biochanin A or formononetin. CYP1A1 catalyzed isoflavone 4‘-O-demethylation and hydroxylations with similar efficiency, whereas CYP1B1 favored 4‘-O-demethylation over hydroxylations. Three of the biochanin A metabolites (5,7,3‘-trihydroxy-4‘-methoxyisoflavone, 5,7,8-trihydroxy-4‘-methoxyisoflavone, and 5,6,7-trihydroxy-4‘-methoxyisoflavone) were characterized by 1H NMR spectroscopy and mass spectrometry. Daidzein (Ki = 3.7 μM) exhibited competitive inhibition of CYP1B1 7-ethoxyresorufin O-deethylase activity, and genistein (Ki = 1.9 μM) exhibited mi...
DOPPLER-LIMITED SPECTROSCOPY OF THE $3\nu_{3}$ BAND OF $SF_{6}^{*}$

The strongest portion of the 3 v3 band of SF6 has been recorded at T = 160 and 295 K with Doppler-limited resolution using a tunable laser difference-frequency spectrometer. The structure in this band has been identified with the P, Q, and R branches of one F1usublevel (with essentially e= 1 character) within the 3 v3 vibrational manifold. Preliminary effective rotational constants have been obtained for this band. The role of hot bands and of the other anharmonic sublevels is discussed in relation to prior interpretations of low resolution spectra and isotope selective CO2 laser photodissociation of SF6.
Versatile aerosol concentration enrichment system (VACES) for simultaneous in vivo and in vitro evaluation of toxic effects of ultrafine, fine and coarse ambient particles Part II: Field evaluation

Abstract This study presents results from a field evaluation of a mobile versatile aerosol concentration enrichment system (VACES), designed to enhance the ambient concentrations of ultrafine (less than 0.18 μm ), fine (0– 2.5 μm ), and coarse particles (2.5– 10 μm ) for in vivo and in vitro toxicity studies. The VACES may be coupled to an exposure chamber system to assess exposure-dose effects of any one, or all, of ambient aerosol on either human subjects and/or animals. Alternatively, concentrated ultrafine, fine and coarse particles can be directly collected by impaction onto a medium suitable for application to cell cultures for in vitro evaluation of their toxic effects. The enrichment and preservation of ambient ultrafine, fine and coarse particles by size and chemical composition was determined by comparisons made between the VACES and a co-located multistage MOUDI impactor, used as a reference sampler. Furthermore, preservation of the ultrafine fraction is measured by the enrichment based on ultrafine particle numbers, morphological characteristics as well as their elemental carbon (EC) content. The results suggest that the concentration enrichment process of the VACES does not differentially affect the particle size or chemical composition of ambient PM. The following fractions: (1) mass (coarse and fine PM); (2) number (ultrafine PM); (3) sulfate (fine PM); (4) nitrate (fine PM, after correcting for nitrate losses within the MOUDI); (5) EC (ultrafine PM); and (6) selected trace elements and metals (coarse and fine PM), are concentrated very close to the “ideal” enrichment value of 22—thereby indicating a near 100% concentration efficiency for the VACES. Furthermore, ultrafine particles are concentrated without substantial changes in their compactness or denseness, as measured by the fractal dimension analysis.
Tropospheric ozone distributions measured with an airborne laser absorption spectrometer

Measurements of tropospheric ozone have been made in the southern and middle California regions and over the Pacific Ocean during two series of flights in February and May 1977. The data were obtained by using a laser absorption spectrometer, a nadir-viewing instrument which remotely measures the ozone column abundance between ground level and aircraft altitude by interacting with ozone at specific wavelengths near 9.5 microns. The measurements indicate significantly lower ozone abundances above the Mojave Desert region as compared with farm, forest, and urban areas. The average tropospheric column density was found to be 0.0027 atm cm/km over the California region and 0.0035 atm cm/km over the Pacific Ocean region 1000-2000 km west of the coast of Mexico.
TRANSFER OF BEHAVIORAL FUNCTION AS A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR IN TREATMENT RELAPSE

When relapse occurs following successful treatment to reduce problem behavior, it is often attributed to inconsistent implementation of maintenance programs. Although less likely, another potential cause for relapse is a change in the behavior's maintaining contingency over time. To examine this possibility, additional assessment was conducted with 4 individuals who were rereferred to a day-treatment program due to recurrence of their self-injurious behavior (SIB) 2 months to 2 years following successful treatment. In each case, the original treatment had been developed and implemented based on the outcome of functional analysis assessments. For 1 subject, results of a second functional analysis were consistent with those from the original assessment, indicating that the function of her SIB had remained unchanged. For the other 3 subjects, results of the second assessment suggested that their SIB had acquired new or additional functions. These findings indicate that factors other than program inconsistency can lead to relapse, and that clinical reevaluation for such cases should include a current functional analysis to determine if new treatment components are needed.
Protein adhesion of block copolymer surfaces

Atomic force microscopy studies on the adhesion between various novel poly(methyl methacrylate)/poly(acrylic acid)-based block copolymers and the proteins fibronectin and bovine serum albumin are presented for the first time. Random, diblock, and triblock copolymers exhibit distinct adhesion profiles although their chemical compositions are identical, implying that biomaterial nanomorphology can be used to control protein–polymer interactions and potentially cell adhesion.