cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
An Auger and XPS Study on CVD and Natural Diamonds

CVD diamond films, ET 100 of Norton Diamond Film, were treateds in ultrahigh purity O 2 from 420 to 575°C at 95 kPa. Auger and x-ray photoelectron spectra were collected from CVD and natural diamond surfaces. The Auger KVV line shapes of the CVD diamond with various surface conditions were compared to those of natural diamonds and sp 2 -bound graphite (HOPG) and glassy carbon. Comparisons were made on the peak shape of A 1 , which is the major satellite peak of carbon KVV. Auger KVV line shaped of oxidized CVD diamonds were more similar to that of natural diamond than either HOPG or glassy carbon. XPS is more sensitive to the change of surface chemisorbed species. The C Is binding energy of oxygenated and oxidized CVD diamonds (287.3 eV) was higher than that of natural diamond (285.7 eV), graphite (283.0 eV) and glassy carbon (284.2 eV). Auger and XPS findings indicated that when treated in O 2 from 420 to 575°C at 95 kPa, direct oxidation of CVD diamond occurred without graphitization
Effect of Intrinsic Factor on Vit. B12 Uptake by Rat Intestine in vitro.

SummarySacs of everted small intestine of the rat incubated in bicarbonate-saline containing glucose and B12 showed only a very small B12 uptake in the absence of a source of intrinsic factor. In the presence of neutralized rat gastric juice the stimulation of B12 uptake was 10- to 25-fold. No B12 appeared on the serosal side of the preparation. Stimulation of B12 uptake was most marked in segments of intestine taken from the midportion of the small intestine. Evidence is presented that neither B12 nor intrinsic factor when added alone are adsorbed to the intestinal wall but must be present simultaneously to give B12 uptake.
A Comparative Study of Air-Coupled Ultrasound Sensor and Accelerometer in Detecting Bearing Defects

The aim of this preliminary study is to investigate the capabilities of a non-destructive evaluation (NDE) sensor in detecting bearing faults. An air-coupled ultrasound sensor is used for this purpose. An accelerometer, which is the standard sensor used in industry, is also used in order to compare the output spectrums of the two sensor signals. A defect was created intentionally on the bearing components to simulate a fatigue crack or other relevant defect. The power spectra of vibration signals measured by accelerometer and ultrasound sensor are compared and their advantages and disadvantages are determined.© 2005 ASME
Three-dimensional wavefield imaging of data from the USArray: New constraints on the geometry of the Farallon slab

This paper presents preliminary results from direct imaging of P to S conversion data from the Earthscope Transportable Array (TA). Input data are receiver function estimates from the Earthscope Automated Receiver Function Survey (EARS). The waveforms from EARS were first stacked to produce composite events from 60 different source regions defined by a radial grid with a center in the western United States (U.S.). The composite waveforms were imaged with a three-dimensional, prestack migration method using a plane wave decomposition and an inverse generalized Radon transform algorithm to yield estimates of radial and transverse component scattering potential from each composite event. Data deficiencies limited this processing to 50 of the composite events. The migrated results from these 50 events were stacked to produce a final three-dimensional image volume examined in this paper through three-dimensional visualization techniques. The crust-mantle boundary, the 410 km, and 660 km discontinuities are imaged. An erratic negative conversion at the depth that has been suggested as the seismic lithosphere-asthenosphere boundary is observed in these results, but I avoid interpreting this feature as it may be biased by interference with first-order, free-surface multiples from the Moho. The most significant new feature imaged by this technique is a series of east-dipping conversions directly above the 410 km discontinuity. This feature is imaged in the region immediately above the transition zone across the entire western U.S., although it becomes partly obscured in Arizona by interference with what I interpret as sediment reverberations that contaminate some stations in southern California and the Rio Grande Rift. Overlaying these results with published tomography models suggests that this feature is linked to the Juan de Fuca–Farallon slab. I follow this hypothesis to build a three-dimensional model of the top of the Farallon slab that honors the new data and results from published tomography models. The model clarifies that these dipping features are consistent with a bending plate model of the slab. Using a simple kinematic model of the geometry of the slab window linked to the widening of the San Andreas system, I argue that the same dipping features seen under Nevada are consistent with those seen to the north, suggesting that there is a continuous, relatively smooth slab-related boundary layer under most of the western U.S.
Cross-corpus acoustic emotion recognition from singing and speaking: A multi-task learning approach

Emotion is expressed over both speech and song. Previous works have found that although spoken and sung emotion recognition are different tasks, they are related. Classifiers that explicitly utilize this relatedness can achieve better performance than classifiers that do not. Further, research in speech emotion recognition has demonstrated that emotion is more accurately modeled when gender is taken into account. However, it is not yet clear how domain (speech or song) and gender can be jointly leveraged in emotion recognition systems nor how systems leveraging this information can perform in cross-corpus settings. In this paper, we explore a multi-task emotion recognition framework and compare the performance across different classification models and output selection/fusion methods using cross-corpus evaluation. Our results show the classification accuracy is the highest when information is shared only between closely related tasks and when the output of disparate models are fused.
Pulse Oximetry and Intuition in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit

This article poses an argument supporting the position that it is important for nurses to become involved, at every level, in the development of the technology that they use. The advantages and disadvantages of one commonly used technological device in the intensive care nursery, the pulse oximeter, are identified. An example of how nursing intuition affected and was incorporated into the design of a new neonatal pulse oximeter is described.
Data mining in the MetaCyc family of pathway databases.

Pathway databases collect the bioreactions and molecular interactions that define the processes of life. The MetaCyc family of pathway databases consists of thousands of databases that were derived through computational inference of metabolic pathways from the MetaCyc Pathway/Genome Database (PGDB). In some cases these DBs underwent subsequent manual curation. Curated pathway DBs are now available for most of the major model organisms. Databases in the MetaCyc family are managed using the Pathway Tools software. This chapter presents methods for performing data mining on the MetaCyc family of pathway DBs. We discuss the major data access mechanisms for the family, which include data files in multiple formats; application programming interfaces (APIs) for the Lisp, Java, and Perl languages; and web services. We present an overview of the Pathway Tools schema, an understanding of which is needed to query the DBs. The chapter also presents several interactive data mining tools within Pathway Tools for performing omics data analysis.
Comment: The Status of Nonattitudes

This is the fourth set of extended comments I have been asked to make on this evolving manuscript, my third effort having been a 27page rejoinder prepared for publication. The original version of the Pierce-Rose piece contained, in addition to several interesting and fresh ideas, a lengthy section impugning my methods, common sense, and good faith in reporting the work I did years ago with what I called the "black-and-white model." This polemic rested, as it has turned out, on a labyrinth of factual misconceptions as to what I had actually done or why, underpinned by some embarrassing confusions on the authors' part with respect to elementary distinctions in the philosophy of science, the nature of attitude measurement, types of error structure and the like. The majority of these flaws, including the ad horninew elements and the most egregious factual errors, have been progressively weeded out over three distinct versions of the manuscript. But in each new version new inaccuracies or misleading statements have relentlessly appeared, requiring another round of commentary on my side. As of this writing I have spent well over one hundred hours in these tutorial communications, a matter which may help to explain why my patience has worn thin. A small fraction of this time has, as it seems to me, been well spent. One of the dozen or more issues covered below-that regarding the effect of response set in these estimates-was left unexplained in my original article because of space pressures, and I am pleased to have an opportunity to discuss it here. The other nine-tenths of the time and space has been spent, however, either on direct misreadings of things made clear in my original text that seem to have caused no confusion among astute readers in the profession, or on matters usually sifted clear in elementary statistics courses. I have doubts as to whether any of this has been worth anybody's time, or surely this much space in the Review. However, even in its current version the Pierce-Rose piece seems likely to stir up a maze of unnecessary confusion, and hence requires this fourth rejoinder.
Conservation of the C-type lectin fold for accommodating massive sequence variation in archaeal diversity-generating retroelements

Diversity-generating retroelements (DGRs) provide organisms with a unique means for adaptation to a dynamic environment through massive protein sequence variation. The potential scope of this variation exceeds that of the vertebrate adaptive immune system. DGRs were known to exist only in viruses and bacteria until their recent discovery in archaea belonging to the ‘microbial dark matter’, specifically in organisms closely related to Nanoarchaeota. However, Nanoarchaeota DGR variable proteins were unassignable to known protein folds and apparently unrelated to characterized DGR variable proteins. To address the issue of how Nanoarchaeota DGR variable proteins accommodate massive sequence variation, we determined the 2.52 A resolution limit crystal structure of one such protein, AvpA, which revealed a C-type lectin (CLec)-fold that organizes a putative ligand-binding site that is capable of accommodating 1013 sequences. This fold is surprisingly reminiscent of the CLec-folds of viral and bacterial DGR variable protein, but differs sufficiently to define a new CLec-fold subclass, which is consistent with early divergence between bacterial and archaeal DGRs. The structure also enabled identification of a group of AvpA-like proteins in multiple putative DGRs from uncultivated archaea. These variable proteins may aid Nanoarchaeota and these uncultivated archaea in symbiotic relationships. Our results have uncovered the widespread conservation of the CLec-fold in viruses, bacteria, and archaea for accommodating massive sequence variation. In addition, to our knowledge, this is the first report of an archaeal CLec-fold protein.
Shigella Vaccine Development: Finding the Path of Least Resistance

Shigella spp. represent the second most common etiologic pathogen causing childhood diarrhea in developing countries. There are no licensed Shigella vaccines, and progress for such vaccines has been limited. In this issue of Clinical and Vaccine Immunology, Riddle and colleagues (M. S. Riddle, R. W. Kaminski, C. Di Paolo, C. K. Porter, R. L. Gutierrez, et al., Clin Vaccine Immunol 23:908-917, 2016, http://dx.doi.org/10.1128/CVI.00224-16) report results from a phase I study of a parenterally administered monovalent O-polysaccharide "bioconjugate" directed against Shigella flexneri 2a. Ultimately, the goal is to develop a broad-spectrum Shigella vaccine to address this public health concern. A parenteral Shigella vaccine capable of eliciting protection in children of developing countries would be an important tool to reach this goal.
Stress and the gonadal axis in the female rhesus monkey: interface between the immune and neuroendocrine systems

This paper is a short review of results obtained in the ovariectomized rhesus monkey relating to the interactions between the immune and adrenal/gonadal axes. The results indicate causative relationships between the activation of the adrenal axis and the acute suppression of the gonadal axis.
DRESS syndrome: Part II. Management and therapeutics

The appropriate management of the drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS) syndrome is paramount because it is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. This syndrome shares clinical features with other dermatologic conditions, including other severe cutaneous drug reactions, requiring the clinician to carefully examine the proposed criteria to make the appropriate diagnosis. Once the diagnosis of DRESS syndrome has been established, the next step in management is immediate cessation of the causative medication(s). In cases in which the culprit drug is not obvious, clinicians must use their clinical judgment to select which medication to discontinue. They may also utilize patch or lymphocyte transformation tests to aid in identification when appropriate. Topical corticosteroids can be used for symptomatic relief, but systemic steroid therapy is generally required. Other immunosuppressants have also been employed in treatment and show promise in future therapy. Patients with DRESS syndrome should be managed in an intensive care or burn unit for appropriate care and infection control. In addition, appropriate specialists should be consulted based on the affected organ systems. Most patients recover completely after drug withdrawal and appropriate therapy. However, some patients with DRESS syndrome suffer from chronic complications and approximately 10% die, primarily from visceral organ compromise. Controlled clinical trials investigating the most appropriate therapies and their risks, particularly intravenous corticosteroids, are lacking, and would be invaluable in determining the optimal future treatment regimen for DRESS syndrome.
Photovoltaic applications in rural areas of developing countries: a survey of evidence

Deficient energy supplies compound the economic problems facing many developing countries. Fuel wood and charcoal are scarce and/or increasingly expensive due to the rising demand for forestry resources and insufficient afforestation. The supply of oil products is also deficient as a result of the balance of payments deficits experienced by most developing countries in recent years. Photovoltaic (PV) technology is a viable alternative for providing electricity for rural areas. There are three groups of PV application. The first consists of technologies that are viable even under present conditions. The second group of applications are those that are low powered, but for which other existing technologies are more cost effective at current prices and development levels. To the third group belong the high–power applications. Since PV technology can be shown to be reliable and cost–effective for some applications, it should be considered as an alternative to rural electrification.
Aircraft measurements in the boundary layer

Aircraft have had a long history of use for meteorological research. Indeed, the history of aircraft closely parallels the history of meteorology. This is not surprising, since flying requires accurate weather information and, conversely, aircraft provide a convenient and unique platform for collecting meteorological information. Thirty years ago, before the widespread use of pressurized aircraft, a large fraction of aircraft flight time was within the boundary layer. Even now, commercial jet aircraft must at least pass through the boundary layer on takeoff and landing. Thus, the structure of the boundary layer is still very relevant to the needs of aviation. At the same time, developments in aviation technology have led to improved tools for observing the boundary layer from aircraft.
Liquid-infused surfaces as a passive method of turbulent drag reduction

Liquid-infused surfaces present a novel, passive method of turbulent drag reduction. Inspired by the Nepenthes Pitcher Plant, liquid-infused surfaces utilize a lubricating fluid trapped within structured roughness to facilitate a slip at the effective surface. The conceptual idea is similar to that of superhydrophobic surfaces, which rely on a lubricating air layer, whereas liquid-infused surfaces use a preferentially wetting liquid lubricant to create localized fluid–fluid interfaces. Maintaining the presence of these slipping interfaces has been shown to be an effective method of passively reducing skin friction drag in turbulent flows. Given that liquid-infused surfaces have only recently been considered for drag reduction applications, there is no available framework to relate surface and lubricant characteristics to any resulting drag reduction. Here we use results from direct numerical simulations of turbulent channel flow over idealized, liquid-infused grooves to demonstrate that the drag reduction achieved using liquid-infused surfaces can be described using the framework established for superhydrophobic surfaces. These insights can be used to explain drag reduction results observed in experimental studies of lubricant-infused surfaces. We also demonstrate how a liquid-infused surface can reduce drag even when the viscosity of the lubricant exceeds that of the external fluid flow, which at first glance can seem counter-intuitive.
Advances in Mechanisms of Anti-oxidation

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are a family of molecules that are continuously produced from oxygen consumption in aerobic cells. Controlled generation of ROS in normal cells serves useful purposes to regulate important cellular processes such as cell proliferation, inflammation, and immune response, but overproduction of ROS causes oxidative stress that contributes to the development of cancer, chronic disease, and aging. These hugely different consequences of ROS exposure demand a carefully balanced control of ROS production and disposition, which is largely achieved through the body’s elaborate antioxidant system. The human antioxidant system consists of small antioxidants, antioxidant proteins, ROS-metabolizing enzymes, as well as many regulator proteins that mediate adaptive responses to oxidant stress. How such a complex system reacts with oxidants and achieves the required specificity and sensitivity for proper anti-oxidation is incompletely understood. In this respect, new advances in the understanding of the chemistry that determines the reaction of a given oxidant or antioxidant with a protein target provide considerable insights into these and related questions. The findings hold certain promise for new drug development for preventing and treating diseases associated with oxidant tissue damage.
Self-Presentation Techniques Used by Local Television Sports Broadcasters on Twitter

Using self-presentation theory as a guide, this study examined if local sports broadcasters in the United States were more likely to write about their work life (front stage) or their personal life (backstage) when on Twitter. A content analysis of 19,649 tweets from 201 sportscasters throughout the United States revealed that the majority of tweets (77.4%) demonstrated front stage personas (a work-related tool), with the remaining 22.6% categorized as backstage personas (giving details about their personal lives). This illustrates that sportscasters’ interactions with followers online are, in essence, not much different from their interactions with them on television, in that they are simply giving them scores and news. Additional analysis addressed the difference in tweet content based on gender and what size city the broadcaster worked in. Theoretical implications regarding self-presentation theory and practical implications for sports media members are discussed.
Double-Directional Channel Characterization of Truck-to-Truck Communication in Urban Environment

This paper reports the first truck-to-truck (T2T) wireless channel measurement conducted at 5.9GHz with multiple antennas at both transmitter and receiver. We present directional analysis of a sample route in downtown Los Angeles, CA USA, where two trucks drive towards each other. Measurements are performed with a self-built real-time MIMO channel sounder and evaluated with RiMAX, a high resolution parameter estimation algorithm, providing time-of-arrival, directional of departure, directional of arrival and Doppler shift for discrete multipath components as well as diffuse multipath scattering. Compared to vehicular channels for passenger cars, our measurements show that the metallic trailer, which is higher than the installed antennas, acts as a strong reflector in line-of-sight (LOS) condition and increases the average received power and angular spread. The extra power attenuation however can be as high as 35dB after two trucks pass each other and the trailers obstruct the LOS.
Strings: Theory, Properties and Applications

Genomic and proteomic data can be represented as sequences over the nucleotides and amino acids alphabets, and many tasks require algorithms working on strings. This chapter introduces the formalism to deal with sequences and the definition of distance metrics, largely used in string selection methods.
Jewish teenagers' syncretism

With the rapid rise of Jewish interfaith marriage and the migration of Jews away from traditional Jewish neighborhoods, many Jewish teenagers in the US. have lit tle interaction with other Jews and little exposure to the Jewish religion. Here I use National Study of Youth and Religion survey data to examine Jewish teenagers 'syn cretism or acceptance of different religious forms. The results show that Jewish teens are more syncretic than other teens, and that variations in religious activity, an empha sis on personal religiosity, and living in an interfaith home explain some of the dif ference in syncretism between Jewish and non-Jewish teens. Among Jewish teens, low levels of religious observance, having few opportunities to interact with other Jews, living in an interfaith home, and lack of an emphasis on personal religiosity are each positively correlated with syncretism. I conclude by discussing the implica tions of Jewish teenagers 'syncretism in a pluralistic, predominantly Christian nation.
Mechanical Properties of Architected Nanomaterials Made from Organic–Inorganic Nanocrystals

Colloidal nanocrystals that consist of an inorganic core and an organic ligand shell can be assembled into architected nanocomposites. A wide range of mechanical properties can be achieved by tuning structural parameters such as sample dimensions, ligand length, and nanocrystal packing density. This review article describes the fabrication, structural characterization and nanomechanical testing of solid assemblies of nanocrystals. Self-assembly and solution processing techniques can be used to form freestanding membranes, thin films and 3D crystals that consist of ordered arrays, or disordered aggregates of nanocrystals. Membrane deflection, nano-indentation, and thin film buckling have been used to determine elastic properties, hardness and fracture toughness. Nanocrystal solids have elastic moduli of < 1–20 GPa, and hardness of ~ 40–450 MPa. Crosslinking of ligands and chemical sintering of inorganic nanoparticles can lead to dramatic improvements in stiffness, strength and toughness. The self-assembly of anisotropic nanocrystals can be used to make nanostructured materials with ordered porosity and 3D architectures.
Dis-placing place-making: how African-American and immigrant youth realize their rights to the city

Notions of place-making assume that individuals and groups of people have legitimate ‘rights to the city.’ This paper unsettles these notions to incorporate the politically and legally tenuous rela...
NEVER AGAIN WOULD BIRDS’ SONG BE THE SAME, OR, ECOPOETICS WHEN “THERE IS NO WORLD”

This essay rethinks the meaning of ecopoetics by exploring poems about birds’ song – one of the most canonical themes in all of poetry – and how their poetics may be understood in relation to our g...
Targeting B7-H1 (PD-L1) sensitizes cancer cells to chemotherapy

Abstract Development of resistance to chemotherapy is a major obstacle in extending the survival of patients with cancer. Although originally defined as an immune checkpoint molecule, B7-H1 (also named as PD-L1 or CD274) was found to play a role in cancer chemoresistance; however, the underlying mechanism of action of B7-H1 in regulation of chemotherapy sensitivity remains unclear in cancer cells. Here we show that development of chemoresistance depends on an increased activation of ERK in cancer cells overexpressing B7-H1. Conversely, B7-H1 knockout (KO) by CRISPR/Cas9 renders human cancer cells susceptible to chemotherapy in a cell-context dependent manner through a reduced activation of p38 MAPK. B7-H1 was found to associate with the catalytic subunit of DNA-dependent protein kinase (DNA-PKcs) and this association promoted or maintained the activation of ERK or p38 MAPK in cancer cells. Importantly, we found that targeting B7-H1 by anti-B7-H1 monoclonal antibody (H1A) increased the sensitivity of human triple negative breast cancer cells to cisplatin therapy in vivo. Our results suggest that targeting B7-H1 by an antibody capable of disrupting B7-H1 signals may be a new approach to sensitize cancer cells to chemotherapy.
Outcome of Premature Infants on Liquid Human Milk Fortifier

Background Fortification of breast milk is necessary to maintain adequate nutrition, growth and development in premature infants. Commercially cow’s milk Fortifier and human milk fortifiers are available in powder and liquid form. Human milk fortifier is a liquid additive made from pooled human milk (breast milk) donors, is pasteurized and has specified nutritional components with higher caloric content and electrolytes. Supplementation with complete human milk has shown reduced incidence of necrotizing enterocolitis, which is a serious infection of the GI tract in preterm neonates. The effects …
Urinary Tract Obstruction

Congenital urinary tract obstruction is distinct from obstruction in the mature kidney in as much as it induces various degrees of renal dysplasia and hypoplasia. The vast majority of prenatally detected uropathies does not require fetal interventions because of acceptable postnatal renal function and unacceptably high fetal morbidity and mortality secondary to the procedure. Symptoms vary depending on age of diagnosis and include urinary tract infection, urosepsis, failure to thrive, pain, nausea, hematuria, and hypertension. The underlying principle for the determination of obstruction by imaging studies is delayed excretion of contrast agents/tracers in a dilated urinary system. The availability of only two treatment options for urinary tract obstruction, observation or surgery, has created a great deal of controversy when to intervene. Indications for surgery are greatly individualized and depend on a multitude of clinical variables including the urologist’s experience and parental preference. This chapter discusses the etiology, epidemiology, presentation, diagnosis, and treatment of the most common and some rare entities of urinary tract obstruction in children.
CMR in the Evaluation of Diastolic Dysfunction and Phenotyping of HFpEF: Current Role and Future Perspectives

Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction presents a challenging diagnosis given a heterogeneous patient population and limited therapeutic options. Diastolic function assessment using echocardiography has been a cornerstone in the work-up and is as important as systolic functional assessment. There has been increased awareness to the potential utility of cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging over the past decade as a promising, radiation-free, robust imaging modality providing an unrestricted field of view and high-resolution images for global and regional functional assessment. CMR provides early markers for detecting myocardial disease using tissue characterization imaging, which might prove useful to improve diagnosis and management. Over the years, several studies have examined CMR-derived diastolic functional indices, including transmitral and pulmonary venous velocities, left ventricular and left atrial strain using myocardial tagging, and, more recently, feature tracking. The relevance of imaging-based diastolic function indices and their clinical application across different modalities is increasingly recognized.
David Boyd Haycock and Patrick Wallis (eds), Quackery and commerce in seventeenth-century London: the proprietary medicine business of Anthony Daffy, Medical History Supplement, no. 25, London, Wellcome Trust Centre for the History of Medicine at UCL, 2005, pp. viii, 216, £35.00, €52.00, $64.00 (hardback 0-85484-101-6).

The editors and compilers of this volume will find a smallish but appreciative audience for the publication of an account book from the business of Anthony Daffy, the well-known manufacturer and trader in what came to be famous as Daffy's Elixir. The account book, with entries for the years 1674–83, was found by Patrick Wallis, and he and David Boyd Haycock set about transcribing and annotating it under the aegis of the Wellcome Trust, one of the few patrons of studies in how the medical market developed during the early modern period. Much of this large market consisted of proprietary medicines—originally secret but, if successful, eventually much copied concoctions, often manufactured as a single product by people not trained as apothecaries or physicians, and therefore generally included under the umbrella of quackery. Similar markets for proprietary medicines have been described by Colin Jones for France, and by David Gentilcore and William Eamon for Italy and the transalpine areas. The manufacture and trade in these products were enabled, as is well known, by increased means of spreading information, above all through printed broadsides, by urbanization, and by a growth in disposable income—factors distinguishing the regional, and eventually national and overseas trade in these medicines from the preparation and sale of medicines by local lay healers, which they supplemented but never entirely displaced.
Nutrition: Whose Responsibility?

The population is spending increasing amounts of money for food away from the home. At the same time people are eating in a more healthful manner. The author discusses what the food service industry can and should do to better meet the needs and demands of consumers.
Standardized Testing Demonstrates Altered Odor Detection Sensitivity and Hedonics in Asymptomatic College Students as SARS-CoV-2 Emerged Locally

ABSTRACT Aerosol droplets have emerged as the primary mode of SARS-Cov-2 transmission and can be spread by infectious asymptomatic/pre-symptomatic persons rendering indicators of latent viral infection essential. Olfactory impairment is now a recognized symptom of COVID-19 and is rapidly becoming one of the most reliable indicators of the disease. We compared olfaction data from asymptomatic students, who were assessed as SARS-CoV-2 was unknowingly spreading locally, to students tested prior to the arrival of the virus. This study was naturalistic by design as testing occurred in the context of four research studies, all of which used the same inclusion/exclusion criteria and the same protocol to objectively assess odor detection, identification, and hedonics with physiological tests. Data from students (Cohort II; N=22) with probable SARS-CoV-2 exposure were compared to students tested just prior to local virus transmission (Cohort I; N=25), and a normative sample of students assessed over the previous four years (N=272). Students in Cohort II demonstrated significantly reduced odor detection sensitivity compared to students in Cohort I (t=2.60; P=.01; d=0.77; CI, 0.17, 1.36), with a distribution skewed towards reduced detection sensitivity (D=0.38; P=.005). Categorically, the exposed group was significantly more likely to have hyposmia (OR=7.74; CI, 3.1, 19.40), particularly the subgroup assessed in the final week before campus closure (OR=13.61; CI, 3.40, 35.66;). The exposed cohort also rated odors as less unpleasant (P
The effect of microstructure on the relationship between grain boundary sliding and slip transmission in high purity aluminum

Abstract The relationship between grain boundary sliding (GBS) and slip transmission is investigated experimentally at grain boundaries in 99.99% aluminum with a through-thickness, coarse-grained microstructure deformed in tension at 190 °C. Using scanning electron microscope-enabled digital image correlation (SEM-DIC) and electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD), high-resolution strain fields and microstructural information were measured to examine the influence of microstructural neighborhoods on interactions between GBS and slip transmission and strain localization. Several distinct cases are presented that highlight important microstructural factors that govern deformation near grain boundaries. The findings include (1) direct transmission and GBS were anti-compatible and facilitated by opposing boundary types (low misorientation and high energy grain boundaries respectively); (2) increased GBS activity was correlated with decreased indirect transmission behavior; (3) GBS accommodation at triple junctions was enabled by intragranular plasticity; and (4) the local intragranular plastic strain discontinuity between grains determined the magnitude of GBS gradients. This work provides insight into the nature of these mechanisms and can be used to identify strain transfer criteria that can lead to improved GBS-sensitive crystal plasticity models.
Upper Extremity Superficial Vein Thromboses Presenting as Acute Neck Pain in a Young and Healthy Male: A Case Report.

# Background and Purpose Neck pain in the United States is pervasive and contributes to disability. While the majority of neck pain in young and healthy individuals is neuromusculoskeletal in nature, screening for red flags is necessary for ruling-out serious medical pathologies. The purpose of this case report is to describe a young and healthy male subject with a primary complaint of acute neck pain with multiple underlying upper extremity superficial vein thromboses (UESVTs). # Case Description The subject was a 27-year-old male active-duty Soldier referred to physical therapy by his primary care provider (PCP) for acute left-sided neck pain. Prior to physical therapy, the subject had been treated with cyclobenzaprine, oxycodone-acetaminophen, trigger point injection and had undergone a D-dimer to rule out a potential thrombus due to air travel and lower extremity immobilization. # Outcomes The subject underwent a D-dimer, Doppler ultrasound, pharmacological treatment of Rivaroxaban, and was referred to hematology/oncology to rule out systemic causes of SVTs. Evidence of subtle increases in blood pressure over the course of three months, a positive D-dimer, and symptoms incongruent with clinical presentation contributed to referral to a hematology/oncology specialist and a diagnosis of multiple UESVTs. The subject was able to return to his previous level of activity by six months and remained free of SVTs at two-year follow-up. # Discussion UESVT events are rare and can be challenging to identify. This case report describes a unique presentation of acute neck pain caused by underlying UESVTs in an otherwise healthy and active young male. # Level of Evidence Level 4
Computational discovery of stable and metastable ternary oxynitrides.

Materials design from first principles enables exploration of uncharted chemical spaces. Extensive computational searches have been performed for mixed-cation ternary compounds, but mixed-anion systems are gaining increased interest as well. Central to computational discovery is the crystal structure prediction, where the trade-off between reliance on prototype structures and size limitations of unconstrained sampling has to be navigated. We approach this challenge by letting two complementary structure sampling approaches compete. We use the kinetically limited minimization approach for high-throughput unconstrained crystal structure prediction in smaller cells up to 21 atoms. On the other hand, ternary—and, more generally, multinary—systems often assume structures formed by atomic ordering on a lattice derived from a binary parent structure. Thus, we additionally sample atomic configurations on prototype lattices with cells up to 56 atoms. Using this approach, we searched 65 different charge-balanced oxide–nitride stoichiometries, including six known systems as the control sample. The convex hull analysis is performed both for the thermodynamic limit and for the case of synthesis with activated nitrogen sources. We identified 34 phases that are either on the convex hull or within a viable energy window for potentially metastable phases. We further performed structure sampling for “missing” binary nitrides whose energies are needed for the convex hull analysis. Among these, we discovered metastable Ce3N4 as a nitride analog of the tetravalent cerium oxide, which becomes stable under slightly activated nitrogen condition ΔμN > +0.07 eV. Given the outsize role of CeO2 in research and application, Ce3N4 is a potentially important discovery.
Intracranial Aneurysms in Patients with Marfan Syndrome: A Multicenter Propensity-Matched Analysis.

Objective We sought to identify risk factors for intracranial aneurysms (IAs) in Marfan syndrome (MFS) patients and to describe their characteristics. Methods Patients with confirmed MFS and vessel-dedicated brain imaging from January 1, 1980–December 1, 2020 were categorized according to the presence (IA) or absence (NIA) of IAs. Unmatched logistic regression analysis and propensity score matching were used for comparison. Results We included 159 patients, of whom 18 (11.3%) patients had radiographic diagnosis of IAs. Three patients (16.7%) had multiple lesions for a total of 24 IAs. One patient (5.5%) had de novo IA formation. Four patients (22.2%) underwent treatment: Two (11.1%) had open surgical clipping for ruptured aneurysms, and two (11.1%) patients had endovascular embolization for growth. In the unmatched analysis, current tobacco smoker status (odds ratio [OR]: 4.20; confidence interval [CI]: 1.11–15.6; P = 0.027) and history of coronary artery disease (CAD) (OR: 5.79; CI 1.76–20.2; P = 0.004) increased the odds for IA. Propensity score matching yielded 18 IA and 18 NIA patients matched for age, gender, race, prior stroke, and family history of aneurysms. History of CAD (IA = 11 [61.1%] vs. NIA = 4 (22.2%), P = 0.043) and current smoker status (IA = 6 [33.3%] vs. NIA = 0 (0%), P Conclusions Prevalence of IAs in our series of MFS patients was 11.3%, and de novo formation was 5.5%. MFS patients with a history of CAD and current smoker status had an increased risk of IA. Neurovascular radiographic screening should be considered in all patients with MFS, particularly in patients who smoke or have a history of heart disease.
Seasonal variation in the management and outcomes of cardiac arrest complicating acute myocardial infarction

BACKGROUND There are limited data on the influence of seasons on the outcomes of acute myocardial infarction-cardiac arrest (AMI-CA). METHODS Using the National Inpatient Sample from 2000-2017, adult (>18 years) admissions with AMI-CA were identified. Seasons were defined by the month of admission as spring, summer, fall, and winter. The outcomes of interest were prevalence of AMI-CA, in-hospital mortality, use of coronary angiography, percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), hospital length of stay, hospitalization costs and discharge disposition. RESULTS Of the 10,880,856 AMI admissions, 546,334 (5.0%) were complicated by CA, with a higher prevalence in fall and winter (5.1% each) compared to summer (5.0%) and spring (4.9%). Baseline characteristics of AMI-CA admissions admitted in various seasons were largely similar. Compared to AMI-CA admissions in spring, summer, and fall, AMI-CA admissions in winter had slightly lower rates of coronary angiography (63.3%-64.3% vs 61.4%) and PCI (47.2-48.4% vs 45.6%). Compared to those admitted in the spring, adjusted in-hospital mortality was higher for winter (46.8% vs. 44.2%; odds ratio [OR] 1.08 [95% confidence interval {CI} 1.06-1.10]; p < 0.001), lower for summer (43% vs. 44.2%; OR 0.97 [95% CI 0.95-0.98]; p < 0.001) and comparable for fall (44.4% vs. 44.2%; OR 1.01 [95% CI 0.99-1.03]; p = 0.31) AMI-CA admissions. Length of hospital stay, total hospitalization charges, and discharge dispositions for AMI-CA admissions were comparable across the seasons. CONCLUSIONS AMI-CA admissions in the winter were associated with lower rates of coronary angiography and PCI, and higher rates of in-hospital mortality compared to the other seasons.
Thermoregulatory Responses of Rabbits to Combined Heat Exposure, Pyrogen and Dehydration

To determine how the competing demands of combined stressors for shared regulatory systems are met, rabbits were exposed to 37°C, or injected with an exogenous pyrogen, or water-deprived for 48 h, in separate experiments. In other experiments, two or all three of these treatments were combined. Core (Tc) and ear skin (Tsk) temperatures were monitored continuously. Based on the incidence of mortality, dehydration was the chief contributor to decompensation when it and other stressors were applied together. Core heating per se did not appear to be a significant factor in the outcomes.
Achieving Human Scale

Mental health professionals have earnestly sought to bring services into the community arena. Although the community mental health movement has had a profound impact on service delivery, neither providers nor consumers have been satisfied with developments during the past decade. Services tend to be delivered in a fragmented manner. They are often offered in an inefocient, duplicative, and bureaucratically confusing fashion. There is a distinct lack of accountability in the various delivery systems. There is failure to minister to prolonged needs or even to provide comprehensive analysis of clients’ problems.
Injectable bionanocomposite hybrid scaffolds with responsive control for enhanced osteochondral tissue regeneration

Restoration of articular hyaline cartilage within osteochondral tissue defects has been a principal target in the field of tissue engineering due to poor functional regeneration of this avascular and heterogeneous tissue following current treatment options. The major focus thus far has been in constructing implantable scaffolds, which can be readily designed to offer appropriate mechanical properties. However, the use of implantable scaffolds requires open surgery and often cannot be readily applied to defects of irregular shape. Thus, it has become of high interest to develop minimally invasive and degradable hydrogel-based materials capable of delivering and maintaining encapsulated cells in a non-toxic manner and encouraging functional tissue regeneration. This paper reports on the synthesis and characterization of a novel class of injectable, thermally and chemically dual-gelling bionanocomposite hydrogels from thermogelling macromers (TGMs) based on poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (pNiPAAm), degradable polyamidoamine (PAMAMs) crosslinking macromers, and functional hybrid inorganic iron oxide (Fe 3 O 4 ) nanoparticles capable of responding to an external magnetic field to stimulate cell activity and control the regenerative process in situ in a spatiotemporal manner.
Financing a National Transmission Grid: What Are the Issues?

The United States requires a substantial investment in transmission capacity over the next several decades. This investment is needed to ensure system reliability, to accommodate growth in demand for electricity, and to allow the integration of significant amounts of renewable generating capacity. In this paper I survey the need for new transmission capacity and consider the financial and regulatory obstacles that stand in the way of this new investment. This paper makes three points. First, the historical pace of transmission investments will not be adequate to enhance grid reliability or to allow largescale penetration of renewable generating capacity. Second, the replacement of a vertically integrated electric utility industry in many parts of the country by a more disaggregated one composed of merchant generators has added to the challenge of transmission planning and investment. Third, the focus on federal funding for grid improvements is misplaced. There is no evidence that the private sector is incapable of raising the funds needed for critical investment, provided a rationalized regulatory structure is put into place. Making changes to our regulatory and political systems that facilitate transmission investment and siting will not be easy. But the costs of underinvesting in an improved and enlarged national transmission grid are high. Moving to a largely carbon-free economy by the middle of the century will require a transformation of the power system in this country, one that cannot be successful without a strong interstate high-voltage transmission backbone.
Towards LHC physics with nonlocal Standard Model

Abstract We take a few steps towards constructing a string-inspired nonlocal extension of the Standard Model. We start by illustrating how quantum loop calculations can be performed in nonlocal scalar field theory. In particular, we show the potential to address the hierarchy problem in the nonlocal framework. Next, we construct a nonlocal abelian gauge model and derive modifications of the gauge interaction vertex and field propagators. We apply the modifications to a toy version of the nonlocal Standard Model and investigate collider phenomenology. We find the lower bound on the scale of nonlocality from the 8 TeV LHC data to be 2.5–3 TeV.
Tunable Spin Loading and T 1 of a Silicon Spin Qubit Measured by Single-Shot Readout

We demonstrate single-shot readout of a silicon quantum dot spin qubit, and we measure the spin relaxation time T-1. We show that the rate of spin loading can be tuned by an order of magnitude by changing the amplitude of a pulsed-gate voltage, and the fraction of spin-up electrons loaded can also be controlled. This tunability arises because electron spins can be loaded through an orbital excited state. Using a theory that includes excited states of the dot and energy-dependent tunneling, we find that a global fit to the loading rate and spin-up fraction is in good agreement with the data.
Fibonacci thresholding, signal representation and morphological filters

This paper presents a new weighted thresholding concept for the set-theoretical representation of signals and design of new morphological filters. Such representation maps many operations of nonbinary signal and image processing into simple operations over the binary signals and images. The weighted thresholding is invariant relative to the morphological transforms, including the basic ones, erosion and dilation. The main idea of using the weighted thresholding is the right choice of special levels of thresholding for signal and image processing. Fibonacci thresholding is defined and decomposition of the median filter in terms of such thresholding is described.