cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Solvent generator extraction and evaluation of 99mTc from ultra low-specific activity 99Mo made from linear accelerator irradiated 100Mo in natural molybdenum.

439 Objectives Low-specific activity 99Mo/99mTc preparations from alternative, non-fission production processes saturate common aluminum column capacities and therefore extraction of 99mTc requires other separation technologies. This study tested the ability of solvent extraction generator technology to effectively extract sodium pertechnetate (NaTcO4) from ultra low-specific activity 99Mo. Methods A linear accelerator (10kW, 35keV) irradiated two batches of six natural molybdenum (100Mo) discs to produce 99Mo following the 100Mo(ɣ,n)99Mo reaction. After dissolving the discs in 30% hydrogen peroxide and drying the resulting solution to form molybdenum trioxide (MoO3 powder), the solution was converted into sodium molybdate using 5M sodium hydroxide. The solution was loaded into an in-house developed solvent 99Mo/99mTc extraction generator, from which 99mTc in NaTcO4 form was extracted over a period of a week. The product was analyzed against United States Pharmacopeia (USP) and additional specifications to determine the quality of the extracted product. Results Specific activities were as low as 36.15 and 18.12 MBq/g for the two shipments respectively. Five extractions were performed for the first and seven extractions for the second irradiated batches. Average extraction efficiencies of 82% and 72% respectively were obtained, with a trend toward slight deterioration in efficiencies for later extractions. All the NaTcO4 extracts passed the QC limits with the exception of the first extract for both shipments. These two extracts had high molybdenum breakthrough with the extract from the second shipment also having a high pH, likely due to operator error. Conclusions Extraction of good quality NaTcO4 product from ultra low-specific activity 99Mo using the described 99Mo/99mTc solvent extraction generator was successfully performed. For 10 of 12 extractions, all QC parameters stipulated by the USP were met demonstrating the quality of the extracted product.
NICMOS and its arrays

NICMOS is a second generation instrument for the Hubble Space Telescope to provide imaging and spectroscopic capabilities in the near infrared region. NICMOS utilizes HgCdTe detectors in three cameras, one with grisms, to image in the 0.8 – 2.5 mm spectral region.
A Compelling Intersectionality: Paleoethnobotany, Social Theory, and Feminist Commitments

The term “intersectionality” was coined (Crenshaw 1991) and subsequently developed and used to characterize approaches that explored the interconnections between systems of oppression. In the context of paleoethnobotany, intersectionality raises the issue of how our own subsets of issues and perspectives intersect. Christine Hastorf and other researchers remind us that we do not just “apply” theory nor just “do” methods—there is a creative and interpenetrating relationship that can yield genuinely original insights. In particular, a feminist perspective should not just allow for, and positively enhance, the likelihood that our investigations will “complicate” our all-too-often essentialized grand narratives. Here I discuss what a more fully developed intersectional social/feminist paleoethnobotany can be from a recent generation of researchers who are looking over their field and its potentials. The overarching goals are to make a deeper and often more complex and nuanced sense of people and plants, a better sense of the on-the-ground human activities, and meaning-making that mobilize culture and precipitate the events to which archaeologists have some access. In the end, some might say that the presence of a seed (and its identification) in an archaeological context alone will “speak” to us, but when in dialogue with a revelatory theoretical framework, that seed will actually shout.
Solid Solubility of Oxygen In Columbium

The solubility limit of oxygen in columbium has been determined in the range between 775° and 1100°C by means of lattice parameter measurements and microscopic examination. The solubility is a function of temperature and varies, in the range given above, from 0.25 to 1.0 pet 0, respectively.
The Individual and Population Genetics of Antibody Immunity.

Antibodies (Abs) produced by immunoglobulin (IG) genes are the most diverse proteins expressed in humans. While part of this diversity is generated by recombination during B-cell development and mutations during affinity maturation, the germ-line IG loci are also diverse across human populations and ethnicities. Recently, proof-of-concept studies have demonstrated genotype–phenotype correlations between specific IG germ-line variants and the quality of Ab responses during vaccination and disease. However, the functional consequences of IG genetic variation in Ab function and immunological outcomes remain underexplored. In this opinion article, we outline interconnections between IG genomic diversity and Ab-expressed repertoires and structure. We further propose a strategy for integrating IG genotyping with functional Ab profiling data as a means to better predict and optimize humoral responses in genetically diverse human populations, with immediate implications for personalized medicine.
Adductor Canal vs. Femoral Nerve Block in Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Objectives:Peripheral nerve blocks are commonly performed as a part of multimodal pain control regimens, especially for outpatient surgical procedures. Femoral nerve blocks (FNB) have been the trad...
A Predictive Model for a Reputation-Based General Surgery Residency Match and a Novel Online Calculator

Objective This study aimed to identify medical student characteristics that predict a successful categorical match into a general surgery residency and a match based upon Doximity program rankings. Design This was a retrospective study that analyzed academic and personal predictors of a successful general surgery residency match. Setting This study was set at the University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Medicine, a public medical school. Participants This study included 173 fourth-year medical students at a public medical school who matched into general surgery residency programs. Methods Our cohort comprised students graduating from our institution between 2004 and 2015 that matched into preliminary or categorical general surgery positions. We collected academic variables and performed univariate analyses and logistic regression to examine the likelihood of specific match outcomes. Results Of 173 students, 132 (76%) matched into a categorical position and 41 (24%) matched into a preliminary position. Of all variables, clinical ranking quartile was most effective in predicting a categorical match (R2 = 0.35). Models for a match based upon Doximity ranking lacked the same predictive power. Conclusions This research identifies students that are at risk for not matching into a categorical position and predicts competitiveness for certain programs. It provides a novel calculator to give applicants easily interpretable match probabilities.
Modularity versus Laplacian Eigenmaps for dimensionality reduction and classification of hyperspectral imagery

Since hyperspectral imagery typically contains information from hundreds of spectral bands, dimensionality reduction is often used as a pre-processing step in algorithms for classifying pixels/regions. A popular algorithm for dimensionality reduction is Laplacian Eigenmaps (LE), which uses a graph-based model of the hyperspectral data and constructs a basis for the reduced-dimensional space from a few generalized eigenvectors of the graph Laplacian matrix. A related matrix that can be constructed from the same graph-based model is the modularity matrix, which has been used in complex network problems to detect “community” structures in graphs. In this paper, we use the modularity matrix to construct a basis for dimensionality reduction, yielding an algorithm called Modularity Eigenmaps (ME). We then assess the performance of ME versus LE on the subsequent classification of publicly available hyperspectral imagery with known ground truth labels, illustrating a tradeoff between accuracy/precision measures and computational speed.
The Rhetoric of Health and Medicine as a “Teaching Subject”: Lessons from the Medical Humanities and Simulation Pedagogy

ABSTRACTThe rhetoric of health and medicine has only begun to intervene in health pedagogy. In contrast, the medical humanities has spearheaded curriculum to address dehumanizing trends in medicine. This article argues that rhetorical scholars can align with medical humanities’ initiatives and uniquely contribute to health curriculum. Drawing on the author’s research on clinical simulation, the article discusses rhetorical methodologies, genre theory, and critical lenses as areas for pedagogical collaboration between rhetoricians and health practitioners.
Organ-Preserving Strategies for the Management of Near-Complete Responses in Rectal Cancer after Neoadjuvant Chemoradiation

In recent years, organ preservation has been considered a feasible alternative to total mesorectal excision for patients with locally advanced rectal cancer with a clinical complete response to neoadjuvant therapy. However, the degree of tumor response to neoadjuvant therapy is variable. A fraction of the patients who did not achieve a complete response had grossly visible tumors. These patients, with clearly incomplete clinical response, need a total mesorectal excision. In addition, some patients with a significant tumor response still have some abnormalities in the bowel wall, such as superficial ulceration or tissue nodularity, which, while not conclusive for the presence of a tumor, are indicative of the possibility of a residual tumor in the bowel wall or in mesorectal lymph nodes. The management of patients with a so-called near-complete clinical response to neoadjuvant therapy is controversial. In this article, we will review the clinical and radiological criteria that define a clinical response to neoadjuvant therapy, possible treatment strategies, and follow-up protocols. We will also discuss patient and tumor characteristics that in our opinion can be useful in selecting the most appropriate treatment alternative. Although organ preservation and quality of life are important, the primary goal of treatment for these patients should be local tumor control and long-term survival.
Density and Shape Factor Terms in Stokes' Equation for Aerodynamic Behavior of Aerosols

Abstract Pharmaceutical aerosols are used to treat many pulmonary diseases. The use of low-density powders has proven useful to support efficient drug delivery. Measurements must account for the low-density, spherical particle features contributing to aerodynamic behavior. Ideally, the aerodynamic particle size distribution (APSD) is measured experimentally. Without formal measurement of APSD, calculations may be performed using surrogate measures such as bulk or tapped density and dynamic shape factor in Stokes' equation. However, the particles' low density must be established independently for this approach to be valid. In addition, where particles deviate from sphericity, the dynamic shape factor must be estimated from aerodynamic measurement not from geometric imaging of morphology. Finally, geometric sizing from particle images results in number distributions that exhibit smaller median sizes than mass distributions for the same polydisperse system. Simply applying density and shape factor corrections to geometric particle sizes does not convert number distributions to mass distributions. For log-normally distributed particle size distributions, Hatch-Choate equations, employing both median size and geometric standard deviation terms, may be used to convert number to mass distributions. Assigning small APSDs from calculations based on erroneous assumptions will result in serious interpretive flaws in subsequent in vitro and in vivo data.
New Horizons in ACL Surgery

Efforts at improving treatment results following anterior cruciate ligament injury (ACL) continue on several fronts. One research avenue has focused on growth factor enhanced healing of existing reconstruction techniques. Other researchers have attempted to improve bone tunnel position via computerized navigation techniques. There has also been a resurgence of interest in primary repair of the ACL. This chapter will summarize key information regarding each of these new horizons in ACL surgery.
Differences in the Tensor Veli Palatini Between Adults With and Without Cleft Palate Using High-Resolution 3-Dimensional Magnetic Resonance Imaging.

OBJECTIVE To investigate the dimensions of the tensor veli palatini (TVP) muscle in adults with and without cleft palate. DESIGN Prospective study. PARTICIPANTS There were a total of 14 adult participants, 8 noncleft and 6 with cleft palate. METHODS Analysis and comparison of the TVP muscle and surrounding structures was completed using 3D MRI data and Amira 5.5 Visualization Modeling software. TVP muscle volume, hamular process distance, mucosal thickness, TVP muscle length, and TVP muscle diameter were used for comparison between participant groups based upon previous research methods. RESULTS Mann-Whitney U tests revealed a significantly smaller ( U < .001, P = .002) TVP muscle volume in the cleft palate group (median = 536.22 mm3) compared to individuals in the non-cleft palate group (median = 895.19 mm3). The TVP muscle was also significantly shorter ( U = 1.00, P = .003) in the cleft palate group (median = 18.04 mm) versus the non-cleft palate (median = 21.18 mm). No significant differences were noted for the other measured parameters. CONCLUSION Significant differences in the TVP muscle volume and length among the noncleft participants found in this study may insights into the reported increased incidence of otitis media with effusion (OME) seen in the cleft population. Results from this study contribute to our understanding of the underlying anatomic differences among individuals with cleft palate.
The stability of the contact interface of cylindrical and spherical shock tubes

The stability of the contact interface for radial shock tubes is investigated as a model for explosive dispersal. The advection upstream splitting method with velocity and pressure diffusion (AUSM+-up) is used to solve for the radial base flow. To investigate the stability of the resulting contact interface, perturbed governing equations are derived assuming harmonic modes in the transverse directions. The perturbed harmonic flow is solved by assuming an initial disturbance and using a perturbed version of AUSM+-up derived in this paper. The intensity of the perturbation near the contact interface is computed and compared to theoretical results obtained by others. Despite the simplifying assumptions of the theoretical analysis, very good agreement is observed. Not only can the magnitude of the instability be predicted during the initial expansion, but also remarkably the agreement between the numerical and theoretical results can be maintained through the collision between the secondary shock and the contact interface. Since the theoretical results only depend upon the time evolution of the base flow, the stability of various modes could be quickly investigated without explicitly solving a system of partial differential equations for the perturbed flow.
Systematic Medium Access Control in Hierarchical Airborne Networks With Multibeam and Single-Beam Antennas

A heterogeneous medium access control (MAC) scheme (with both scheduled and random communications) is proposed for airborne networks. These networks have a hierarchical topology with a small number of powerful aircraft nodes with multibeam antennas and long-distance links at the higher level, and high-density unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) nodes with single-beam directional antennas at the lower level. Our proposed MAC scheme has the following three parts: First, multibeam, long-distance MAC for aircraft to aircraft links : a dynamic, scheduled MAC is proposed to take advantage of the multibeam features to achieve high-throughput transmissions, and the beam locking/synchronization issues are solved; second, uplink MAC for UAV to aircraft communication : conventional IEEE 802.11n MAC is enhanced with fame aggregation and compressive-sensing-based request polling; and third, MAC for UAV to UAV links : IEEE 802.11e DCF MAC is enhanced through parameter adjustment for channel access. Our simulation results show the significant performance improvement over conventional MAC protocols.
A Network Analysis of Biomarkers for Type 2 Diabetes

Numerous studies have investigated individual biomarkers in relation to risk of type 2 diabetes. However, few have considered the interconnectivity of these biomarkers in the etiology of diabetes as well as the potential changes in the biomarker correlation network during diabetes development. We conducted a secondary analysis of 27 plasma biomarkers representing glucose metabolism, inflammation, adipokines, endothelial dysfunction, IGF axis, and iron store plus age and BMI at blood collection from an existing case-control study nested in the Nurses' Health Study (NHS), including 1,303 incident diabetes case subjects and 1,627 healthy women. A correlation network was constructed based on pairwise Spearman correlations of the above factors that were statistically different between case and noncase subjects using permutation tests (P 10 years after blood collection versus noncase subjects. Although pairwise biomarker correlations tended to have similar directions comparing diabetes case subjects to noncase subjects, most correlations were stronger in noncase than in case subjects, with the largest differences observed for the insulin/HbA1c and leptin/adiponectin correlations. Leptin and soluble leptin receptor were two hubs of the network, with large numbers of different correlations with other biomarkers in case versus noncase subjects. When examining the correlation network by timing of diabetes onset, there were more perturbations in the network for case subjects diagnosed >10 years versus <5 years after blood collection, with consistent differential correlations of insulin and HbA1c C-peptide was the most highly connected node in the early-stage network, whereas leptin was the hub for mid- or late-stage networks. Our results suggest that perturbations of the diabetes-related biomarker network may occur decades prior to clinical recognition. In addition to the persistent dysregulation between insulin and HbA1c, our results highlight the central role of the leptin system in diabetes development.
A Structural Model of Dynamic Market Timing: Theory and Estimation

This paper derives and analyzes dynamic timing strategies of a fund manager with private information. Endogenous timing strategies generated by various information structures and skills, and associated fund styles are identified. Endogenous fund returns are characterized in the public information of an uninformed observer. Econometric methods for style analysis are developed. New tests of timing skill are proposed and their detection ability is analyzed. An application to a universe of hedge fund indices shows significant timing ability in specific categories of hedge fund styles.
Mercury speciation, bioavailability, and biomagnification in contaminated streams on the Savannah River Site (SC, USA)

Water, sediment, and biota from two streams on the Savannah River Site were sampled to study mercury (Hg) biogeochemistry. Total and methyl- Hg (MHg) concentrations were measured for all samples, speciation models were used to explore Hg speciation in the water, and Diffusive gradients in thin films (DGT) were applied to indicate the vertical profiles of labile Hg (DGT-Hg). Trophic position (δ15N) was estimated for biota and used to establish MHg biomagnification model. The speciation model indicated Hg methylation in the water occurred on settling particles and the most bioavailable Hg species to bacteria were complexes of inorganic Hg and labile organic ligands. Correspondingly, dissolved organic carbon concentrations were positively related to MHg concentrations in the water. In the sediment, the sharp increase of DGT-Hg around the sediment water interface underscores the importance of this interface, which determines the differences in the accumulation and generation of labile Hg among different waterbodies. The positive correlation between sediment MHg and sulfate concentrations suggested possible methylation reaction by dissimilatory sulfate reducing bacteria in the sediment. The food web magnification factors of MHg were 9.6 (95% CI: 4.0-23.4) and 4.4 (95% CI: 2.5-7.7) for the two streams established with trophic data of biofilm, invertebrates, and fish. Meanwhile, DGT-Hg concentrations in the water were positively correlated to biofilm Hg concentrations, which can be combined with the MHg biomagnification model to generate a modified biomagnification model that estimate MHg bioaccumulation with only labile Hg concentrations in the water. With this approach, Hg accumulation in abiotic and biotic environmental compartments was connected and the different bioaccumulation patterns of Hg in different waterbodies were explained with both geochemical and biological factors.
Three new egg parasites of South African walking sticks (Hymenoptera: Chrysididae, Amiseginae)

A new genus, Afrosega, is descriptionbed for two new species from Cape Province, A. petiolata (type-species) and A. capensis. A new species, Reidia natalensis, is descriptionbed from Natal.
Separation–permeation performance of porous Si3N4 ceramics composed of columnar β-Si3N4 grains as membrane filters for microfiltration

The separation–permeation performance of porous silicon nitride (Si3N4) ceramics (consisting of columnar grains connected at random in three dimensions) as membrane filters was evaluated, and compared with commercial Al2O3 membranes having a three-layer structure. Si3N4 membranes separate particles with diameters much less than their pore diameters. The permeability of Si3N4 membranes with separability values the same as those of the Al2O3 membranes was about 1.3–2.4 times as large as the Al2O3 membranes. Dead-end filtration examination, using Al2O3 particles with a particle size distribution, indicated that the Si3N4 membrane filtration mechanism obeyed the cake filtration mechanism although the particle size was smaller than the pore size of the Si3N4 membranes.
How language barriers influence provider workload for home health care professionals: A secondary analysis of interview data.

Abstract Background Increasingly, patients with limited English proficiency are accessing home health care services in the United States. Few studies have examined how language barriers influence provider role implementation or workload in the home health care setting. Objectives To explore home health care professionals’ perspectives about how workload changes from managing language barriers influence quality and safety in home health care. Design A qualitative secondary data analysis using a summative content analysis approach was used to analyze existing semi-structured interview data. Setting A large urban home health care agency located on the East Coast of the United States. Participants Thirty five home health care providers [31 registered nurses, 3 physical therapists, 1 occupational therapist]. Results A total of 142 discrete incidents emerged from the analysis. Overall, home health care providers experienced distinct shifts in how they implemented their roles that added to their workload and time spent with Limited English Proficiency patients and family members. Providers were concerned about interpretation accuracy and perceived it as potentially posing risks to patient safety. Changes in work patterns, therefore, sought to maximize patient safety. Conclusions Home health care providers decision-making about how they adapt practice when faced with a language barrier is a sequence of actions based on awareness of the patient’s language preference and if they spoke another language. Subsequent choices showed proactive behaviors to manage increased workload shaped by their perceived risk of the threats posed by the quality of interpreter services. Future research should develop quantitative models examining differences in workload when caring for limited English proficiency versus English speaking patients as well as the relationship between visit length and patient outcomes to determine optimal quality models.
No Fairy Tale Ending: The Future of Water and the American Southwest

It's an early September day in Phoenix, Arizona, and rain is in the forecast. After months of bone-dry conditions, precipitation is expected from the remnants of a tropical storm moving inland from...
Exploring Student Preference between Textbook Chapters and Adaptive Learning Lessons in an Introductory Environmental Geology Course

In a Fall 2017 introductory course in Environmental Geology, homework assignments alternated between traditional textbook chapters in an electronic format and adaptive learning platform (ALP) modules on the Smart Sparrow (www.smartsparrow.com) platform to assess student preference for and satisfaction with either modality. Few studies have evaluated the role of ALP technology in a classroom setting, and none have investigated ALPs in a homework setting. To probe student preferences between these assignments, and their engagement with the material through the different modalities, all (n = 17) students in the course were given eight surveys over the Fall 2017 semester. A subset of six students volunteered for qualitative interviews in addition to the quantitative surveys. Analysis of the results shows that students were more satisfied with the ALP modules, except for the longest assigned module. No relationships were found between preference for one module over another and major, engagement, or interest in environmental geology. A majority of the students interviewed identified the interactivity of the adaptive learning modules as a contributing factor to the retention of concepts presented. This suggests students experienced a higher level of cognitive engagement with the ALP material.
AACN President’s Annual Statement of the Academy Report

As I complete my service on the American Academy of Clinical Neuropsychology (AACN) Board I find myself reflecting on the Academy growth and development that I have been privileged to witness durin...
After the Fire: An Assessment of Small Business Preparedness and Recovery in Gatlinburg, Tennessee

For tourism-dependent communities, disaster recovery preparedness is essential for the retail and hospitality industries because they are often under the greatest threat of natural disasters. Using...
Impact of a 2-dose voluntary vaccination strategy on varicella epidemiology in Beijing, 2011–2017

BACKGROUND One-dose voluntary varicella vaccination for children was introduced in Beijing since 1998. In Oct 2012, a second dose varicella vaccine (VarV) was recommended to further decrease varicella disease and the outbreaks. We describe the impact of the 2-dose voluntary vaccination strategy on varicella epidemiology in Beijing, China. METHODS Varicella incidence rates and outbreak characteristics in 2011-2017 was examined using surveillance data. Varicella vaccination coverage among children born in 2007-2012 was estimated through Beijing children immunization registry system. Vaccine effectiveness (VE) for VarV2 was estimated by screening method. RESULTS Overall varicella incidence decreased by 37.8% from 103.2 per 100,000 population in 2011 to 64.2 per 100,000 population in 2017. Incidence declines in children aged <15 years with most significantly decrease by 82.3% in children aged 5-9 years, while no significant change happened in adolescent and adults. A total of 251 outbreaks with 3239 outbreak-related cases were reported in 2011-2017, the number of outbreaks decreased significantly by 50.7% from 69 in 2011 to 34 in 2017. The VarV1 coverage ranged from 85.4% to 92.6% among children 4 year of age and the VarV2 coverage ranged from 40.1% to 72.9% among children 6 year of age in the 2007-2012 birth cohort. Overall VE estimates against all varicella disease was 94.4% (95% CI: 89.9-98.9%) for VarV2. CONCLUSIONS Moderate VarV2 coverage has been achieved in Beijing resulting in remarkable declining of the incidence in children. Varicella outbreaks has not been eliminated suggested that measures such as including a 2-dose varicella vaccination in routine immunization program should be taken in the future.
Structural Consequences of the 1,2,3-Triazole as an Amide Bioisostere in Analogues of the Cystic Fibrosis Drugs VX-809 and VX-770.

Although the 1,2,3-triazole is a commonly used amide bioisostere in medicinal chemistry, the structural implications of this replacement have not been fully studied. Employing X-ray crystallography and computational studies, we report the spatial and electronic consequences of replacing an amide with the triazole in analogues of cystic fibrosis drugs in the VX-770 and VX-809 series. Crystallographic analyses quantify subtle differences in the relative positions and conformational preferences of the R1 and R2 substituents attached to the amide and triazole bioisosteres. Computational studies derived from the X-ray data highlight the improved hydrogen bonding donor and acceptor capabilities of the amide in comparison to the triazole. This analysis of the spatial and electronic differences between the amide and 1,2,3-triazole will inform medicinal chemists as they consider using the triazole as an amide bioisostere.
Motor axonopathies in a mouse model of Duchenne muscular dystrophy

Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is a fatal neuromuscular disease caused by deleterious mutations in the DMD gene which encodes the dystrophin protein. Skeletal muscle weakness and eventual muscle degradation due to loss of dystrophin are well-documented pathological hallmarks of DMD. In contrast, the neuropathology of this disease remains understudied despite the emerging evidence of neurological abnormalities induced by dystrophin loss. Using quantitative morphological analysis of nerve sections, we characterize axonopathies in the phrenic and hypoglossal (XII) nerves of mdx mice. We observe dysfunction in these nerves - which innervate the diaphragm and genioglossus respectively - that we propose contributes to respiratory failure, the most common cause of death in DMD. These observations highlight the importance in the further characterization of the neuropathology of DMD. Additionally, these observations underscore the necessity in correcting both the nervous system pathology in addition to skeletal muscle deficits to ameliorate this disease.
Li 6 - Li 6 and Li 7 - Li 7 elastic scattering from 2.0 to 5.5 MeV

Elastic scattering of $^{6}\mathrm{Li}$ from $^{6}\mathrm{Li}$ and $^{7}\mathrm{Li}$ from $^{7}\mathrm{Li}$ has been studied for beam energies from 2.0 to 5.5 MeV using very thin films of isotopically separated LiF as targets. A double-folding model optical potential provided a good fit for $^{7}\mathrm{Li}$+$^{7}\mathrm{Li}$ for the entire energy range, and for $^{6}\mathrm{Li}$+$^{6}\mathrm{Li}$ for energies low enough that the breakup $^{6}\mathrm{Li}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}\ensuremath{\alpha}+\mathrm{d}$ could not occur. For higher energies, the real part of the $^{6}\mathrm{Li}$+$^{6}\mathrm{Li}$ potential falls off rapidly with energy so that by 5.5 MeV the potential well required to fit the data is only about 40% as deep as is predicted by the folding model.NUCLEAR REACTIONS $^{6}\mathrm{Li}$($^{6}\mathrm{Li}$,$^{6}\mathrm{Li}$) and $^{7}\mathrm{Li}$($^{7}\mathrm{Li}$,$^{7}\mathrm{Li}$), ${E}_{\mathrm{lab}}=2.0\ensuremath{-}5.5$ MeV; measured $\ensuremath{\sigma}(\ensuremath{\theta}, E)$, calculated double-folding model potentials.
When Two Wrongs Make a Right

Those who have taught calculus know there is no shortage of abused differentiation rules. For example: treating 2 like x and concluding the derivative of the constant e2 is e2. Or, for the more sev...
Familial cluster of COVID-19 cases associated with high prevalence of Anosmia, Ageusia, and gastrointestinal symptoms

Background: Patients with COVID-19 most commonly report respiratory symptoms, with a minority reporting gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms in currently available reports Additionally, little is known about the symptoms of anosmia/hyposmia, ageusia, and dysgeusia anecdotally seen in COVID-19 patients, which may be considered both GI and sensory/neurological manifestations of infection Methods: We interviewed 7 patients via oral inquiries and a questionnaire, collecting data on subject symptoms and their durations Reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was used to confirm 2 of these cases Results: We report a familial cluster of 7 COVID-19 cases, 5 of whom reported sensory symptoms of anosmia/hyposmia (5/7), ageusia/hypogeusia (5/7), and/or dysgeusia (3/7) All 7 cases reported GI involvement with one or more symptom of: nausea (5/7), diarrhea (4/7), abdominal pain (3/7), anorexia (3/7), and emesis (2/7) Conclusion: This frequency of GI symptoms is high relative to currently available epidemiological reports, which also infrequently report on sensory symptoms The mechanistic underpinnings of GI and sensory symptoms in COVID-19 warrant close consideration and analysis, especially as it relates to reducing disease transmission COVID-19 exhibits wide variation in duration, severity, and progression of symptoms, even within a familial cluster
Challenges in providing residual risks in carrier testing

The probability an individual is a carrier for a recessive disorder despite a negative carrier test, referred to as residual risk, has been part of carrier screening for over 2 decades. Residual risks are calculated by subtracting the frequency of carriers of pathogenic variants detected by the test from the carrier frequency in a population, estimated from the incidence of the disease. Estimates of the incidence (and therefore carrier frequency) of many recessive disorders differ among different population groups and are inaccurate or unavailable for many genes on large carrier screening panels for most of the world's populations. The pathogenic variants detected by the test and their frequencies also vary across groups and over time as variants are newly discovered or reclassified, which requires today's residual carrier risks to be continually updated. Even when a residual carrier risk is derived using accurate data obtained in a particular group, it may not apply to many individuals in that group because of misattributed ancestry or unsuspected admixture. Missing or inaccurate data, the challenge of determining meaningful ancestry-specific risks and applying them appropriately, and a lack of evidence they impact management, suggest that patients be counseled that although carrier screening may miss a small fraction of carriers, residual risks with contemporary carrier screening are well below the risk posed by invasive prenatal diagnosis, even if one member of the couple is a carrier, and that efforts to provide precise residual carrier risks are unnecessary.
Physician burnout in the Eastern Mediterranean region: influence of gender and related factors - Systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background While recent reviews highlight high burnout prevalence among physicians in the World Health Organization's (WHO) Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMR), there has been a limited exploration into the role of gender and related factors in this problem. Methods We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of studies on the prevalence of physician burnout and its relationship to gender, physician specialties, and age in the WHO's EMR based on the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews. We searched PubMed, Embase, PsycINFO, Google Scholar, and Al Manhal databases and synthesized the findings from the included studies. Results Among the 78 studies included, data was available from 16/22 (72.7%) countries and territories in the EMR covering a total of 16 016 physicians. The pooled prevalence of overall burnout among physicians in the region was estimated to be 24.5%. Among the sub-components of burnout, we estimated a high pooled prevalence of 44.26% for emotional exhaustion followed by 37.83% for depersonalization and 36.57% for low personal achievement. There was a statistically significant difference in the prevalence across the countries in the EMR and among the sub-categories of specialist medical practitioners. There was no statistically significant difference across the two genders at a regionally aggregated level. Conclusions The levels of physician burnout including the three sub-components in EMR are high by any standards. Based on our review of available studies, it is difficult to ascertain gender differences with certainty in burnout levels among physicians in the EMR nations. There is a need for better quality studies in this area.
Combined Chromatography and FT-IR Spectrometry of Coal Extracts

The material extracted from coals varies greatly not only with the rank and origin of the coal, but also with the solvent used for the extraction. Nevertheless, all coal extracts have certain features in common: they are very complex mixtures, composed largely of molecules of low volatility with a wide range of polarities and chemical functionalities. Most experiments that have been used to date for the characterization of coal extracts have involved spectroscopic measurements of the entire extract, for example, by infrared(1) or nuclear magnetic resonance(2,3) spectrometry. Chromatographic separations have rarely been attempted without a preliminary separation, e.g., by size exclusion chromatography, in view of the fact that the extracts are so complex that the chromatographic separation must be of very high resolution before one could hope to resolve individual molecules present in the extract. Many instrumental methods are available for the separation of complex mixtures, including gas chromatography (GC), high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), and supercritical fluid chromatography (SFC). Although it is not an instrumental separation technique and is not generally regarded as having a high resolution, thin-layer chromatography (TLC) is also very appropriate for the separation of coal extracts.
An Approach to the Anatomical Correlation of Species through the Foundational Model of Anatomy

The increasing need for extrapolating information from one species to another has been highlighted by contemporary research in bioinformatics, genomics, proteomics, and animal models of human disease, as well as other fields. We propose an approach to correlating the anatomy of Homo sapiens with selected species, using the Foundational Model of Anatomy (FMA) as a framework, and graph matching as a method, for determining similarities and differences in the nodes and relationships (edges) defined by the attributed graph of the FMA. We illustrate our approach by comparing anatomical structures of mouse and human that present prototypical mapping problems.
The Mechanism of Water Proton Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Relaxation in the Presence of Mammalian and Aplysia Metmyoglobin Fluoride

Abstract A mechanism of proton exchange leading to water proton relaxation is proposed for horse heart metmyoglobin fluoride which is mediated by H2O molecules and involves the distal histidine. The mechanism is based on a comparison of water proton NMR relaxation (T1-1 (H)) in the presence of horse and Aplysia metmyoglobin fluoride; Aplysia metmyoglobin fluoride was chosen for comparison because it lacks the distal histidine. Proton relaxation for horse heart metmyoglobin fluoride has been observed over a pH range of 5.0 to 11.5 in H2O and 95% D2O solutions while simultaneously monitoring the optical absorbance at 542 nm. For horse heart metmyoglobin fluoride, proton relaxation shows three pK values, at pH 6.2, 8, and one at a higher pH, which varies with the fluoride ion concentration due to the equilibrium metmyoglobin fluoride + OH- ⇋ MbOH + F-. Optical spectroscopy shows two pK values, one at pH 6.2 and one above 9. The latter pK has a large deuterium isotope effect in the optical spectrum, but none for proton relaxation. Theorell and Ehrenberg ((1951) Acta Chem. Scand. 5, 823) reported changes in the magnetic susceptibility of metmyoglobin fluoride with pK values of 6.3 and 8.11; however, the magnetic susceptibility increases when T1-1 (H) decreases and vice versa. We therefore conclude that the proton-iron distance changes twice during the titration.
A new adaptive control approach to control DC servomotors

An adaptive approach, using a PD (proportional-derivative) controller, to control the speed of DC servomotors is proposed. The terms of the difference equation that describe the actual closed-loop system of a DC servomotor are equated to the corresponding terms in the difference equation of the ideal model of the system. This technique does not introduce any nonlinearities into the system which might result in instability and it does not require a weighting factor to control the rate of the adaptation. Parameters that will achieve desired system performance are deduced. >
Problems with Earthquake Insurance in Japan

This paper discusses the significant complexities of providing insurance for natural disasters.
Die molekulare Struktur biologischer Membranen

Zur Untersuchung der molekularen Struktur biologischer Membranen sind zwei prinzipiell verschiedene Wege eingeschlagen worden. Zunachst hat man versucht, durch physikalisch-chemische Messungen auf indirektem Weg Informationen uber die Dicke und den Aufbau der Zellmembran zu bekommen. Das Bild, das man sich auf Grund dieser experimentellen Befunde von der Struktur der Zellmembran machen konnte, wird durch das Danielli-Modell wiedergegeben. Spater ist es durch die Entwicklung der Elektronen-mikroskopie moglich geworden, die Feinstruktur der Zellbegrenzungen direkt sichtbar zu machen. Dabei zeigte sich eine bemerkenswerte strukturelle Einheitlichkeit an den Oberflachen verschiedenartiger Zellen und Zellorganellen. Diese Beobachtungen fuhrten zur Postulierung der „unit-membrane”, die in den wesentlichen Punkten dem Modell von Danielli entspricht. Die in neuerer Zeit vorgeschlagenen Alternativen zum Danielli-Modell („subunit”-Modelle) werden diskutiert.
ON THE EQUIVALENCE OF SOME INDICES OF SIMILARITY: IMPLICATION FOR BINARY PRESENCE/ABSENCE DATA

Summary Cohen’s kappa, a special case of the weighted kappa, is a chance-corrected index used extensively to quantify inter-rater agreement in validation and reliability studies. In this paper, it is shown that in inter-rater agreement for 2 × 2 tables, for two raters having the same number of opposite ratings, the weighted kappa, Cohen’s kappa, Peirce, Yule, Maxwell and Pilliner and Fleiss indices are identical. This implies that the weights in the weighted kappa are less important under such assumptions. Equivalently, it is shown that for two partitions of the same data set, resulting from two clustering algorithms having the same number of clusters with equal cluster sizes, these similarity indices are identical. Hence, an important characterisation is formulated relating equal numbers of clusters with the same cluster sizes to the presence/absence of a trait in a reliability study. Two numerical examples that exemplify the implication of this relationship are presented.
Reversible palmitoylation of the protein-tyrosine kinase p56lck

The myristoylated protein-tyrosine kinase, p56lck, is expressed predominantly in T cells where it is believed to play a role in T cell activation. We observed a 56-kDa protein that became metabolically labeled in intact T lymphoid cells that were incubated with either [3H]myristate or [3H]palmitate. This protein was identified as p56lck based on its specific immunoprecipitation with polyclonal antisera to p56lck, by induction of a shift in its electrophoretic mobility following treatment of cells with 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate and by co-chromatography with p56lck on protamine-agarose. Characterization of the two acylation events revealed that, in contrast to the p56lck-associated radioactivity from [3H]myristate-labeled cells, the p56lck-associated radioactivity from [3H]palmitate-labeled cells was susceptible to cleavage by neutral hydroxylamine and was not blocked by inhibitors of protein synthesis. Pulse-chase analyses revealed that the labeling of p56lck with [3H]palmitate, but not [3H]myristate, was reversible. The presence of covalently attached palmitate on p56lck from [3H]palmitate-labeled cells was verified by thin-layer chromatography following acid hydrolysis of the acylated protein. 2-Hydroxymyristate, which is metabolically activated to form a potent inhibitor of protein myristoylation, specifically inhibited the acylation of p56lck with [3H]myristate without affecting its labeling with [3H]palmitate. These studies indicate that p56lck is both a cotranslationally myristoylated and post-translationally palmitoylated protein.
Chronic Pancreatitis, Type 3c Diabetes, and Pancreatic Cancer Risk

About half of all patients with chronic pancreatitis (CP) develop diabetes mellitus (DM) due to the loss of islet cell mass, not just beta cells as in Type 1 DM (T1DM), or due to insulin resistance, as in Type 2 DM (T2DM). Patients with DM from loss of islets due to pancreatic disease or resection are diagnosed with pancreatogenic or Type 3c DM (T3cDM). Patients with T3cDM also lose counter-regulatory hormones, such as glucagon and pancreatic polypeptide, and experience maldigestion associated with pancreatic exocrine insufficiency. Patients with T3cDM are therefore more susceptible to hypoglycemia and a mismatch (asynchrony) between food ingestion and nutrient absorption. At the same time, the use of incretin therapy is likely useless, since maldigestion leads to the release of higher levels of hind gut hormones, including GLP1. Thus, T3cDM caused by CP or destruction of the islets involves a special class of potential risks and comorbidity that may be overlooked if the CP has not been diagnosed. Further, because CP is also associated with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, better classification of patients with DM is needed to determine if PDAC is associated with DM or with undetected CP that gave rise to T3cDM that was previously misclassified as T1DM to T2DM. Image: Cathedral of Learning at University of Pittsburgh. Pittsburgh, PA, USA. (Author: Kevin Albright, Wikimedia Commons )
A Review of Mesospheric Dynamics and Chemistry

Advances made in understanding the chemistry and dynamics of the atmosphere in the approximate altitude range of 50 to 90 km are addressed. Attention is given to mesospheric structure and seasonal variations, gravity waves and gravity wave saturation, the effects of gravity waves on thermal, momentum and constituent fluxes, and the effect of gravity waves on airglow emissions. A review of research on tides and planetary waves and their effects on the mesosphere are presented as well as discussions on ozone hydroxyl, water vapor, and noctilucent cloud research. 217 refs.
Reactive Paracortical Hyperplasia

Reactive—or diffuse—paracortical hyperplasia (RPH) is characterized by expansion of the paracortical areas of the lymph node. The paracortical/interfollicular zone is rich in T-cells associated with interdigitating dendritic cells and histiocytes. The paracortical zone can undergo expansion in response to inflammatory and immune reactions that trigger a T-cell response. Possible etiologies of RPH include infectious agents, vaccine administration, immunodysregulatory diseases, and therapeutic drugs. The most common viruses that cause RPH include herpes simplex virus (HSV), Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), and cytomegalovirus (CMV). In a subset of patients with RPH, no etiology is apparent.