cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Angiolymphoid hyperplasia with eosinophilia: An uncommon presentation and novel treatment of a rare disease

Angiolymphoid hyperplasia with eosinophilia (ALHE) is an uncommon benign vascular proliferation characterized by isolated or grouped red-brown papules or nodules, most often located on the head or neck. Treatment of ALHE is difficult, with high recurrence rates reported across a myriad of different interventions. We report an atypical clinical presentation of ALHE that was successfully treated with a novel dual-therapeutic approach consisting of surgical excision followed by treatment with the pulsed dye laser.
Model Comparison Metrics Require Adaptive Correction if Parameters Are Discretized: Proof-of-Concept Applied to Transient Signals in Dynamic PET

Linear parametric neurotransmitter PET (lp-ntPET) is a novel kinetic model that estimates the temporal characteristics of a transient neurotransmitter component in PET data. To preserve computational simplicity in estimation, the parameters of the nonlinear term that describe this transient signal are discretized, and only a limited set of values for each parameter are allowed. Thus, linear estimation can be performed. Linear estimation is implemented using predefined basis functions that incorporate the discretized parameters. The implementation of the model using discretized parameters poses unique challenges for significance testing. Significance testing employs model comparison metrics to determine the significance of the improvement of the fit accomplished by including a basis function, i.e. it determines the presence of a transient signal in the PET data. A false positive occurs when the bases overfit data that do not contain a transient component. The number of parameters in a model, p , is necessary to determine the degrees of freedom in the model. In turn, p is crucial for the calculation of model selection metrics and controlling the false positive rate (FPR). In this work, we first explore the effect of parameter discretization on FPR by fitting simulated null data with varying numbers of bases. We demonstrate the dependence of FPR on number of bases. Then, we propose a correction to the number of parameters in the model, ${p}^{{\textit {eff}}}$ , which adapts to the number of bases used. Implementing model selection with ${p}^{{\textit {eff}}}$ maintains a stable FPR independent of number of bases.
Dynamics of polydisperse hard-spheres under strong confinement

We use molecular simulation to probe the connection between local structure and the unusual re-entrant dynamics observed for polydisperse hard-sphere liquids confined in thin slit pores. The local ...
Older African American adults: understanding the role of the Black Church’s support in the community

Older African Americans’ spirituality is explored to provide an understanding of the African American’s legacy of reliance on the Black church as part of their belief system. This explanation const...
“Without them I couldn't pay for my education, so here I am": Latinx college graduates’ experiences with and perceptions of their student loan debt

The purpose of the current study was to examine the experiences of Latinx students with their student loan debt. Guided by McKinney et al.’s (2015) Student Borrower Behavior and Attitudes model, we framed our study around the following themes: sources of information, rationale for borrowing, and the burden of debt. Findings underscore the importance of financial literacy and provide insight as to how institutions can better support Latinx students in making informed decisions about borrowing loans to pay for and finish college.
Model Optimization for Deep Space Exploration via Simulators and Deep Learning.

Machine learning, and eventually true artificial intelligence techniques, are extremely important advancements in astrophysics and astronomy. We explore the application of deep learning using neural networks in order to automate the detection of astronomical bodies for future exploration missions, such as missions to search for signatures or suitability of life. The ability to acquire images, analyze them, and send back those that are important, as determined by the deep learning algorithm, is critical in bandwidth-limited applications. Our previous foundational work solidified the concept of using simulator images and deep learning in order to detect planets. Optimization of this process is of vital importance, as even a small loss in accuracy might be the difference between capturing and completely missing a possibly-habitable nearby planet. Through computer vision, deep learning, and simulators, we introduce methods that optimize the detection of exoplanets. We show that maximum achieved accuracy can hit above 98% for multiple model architectures, even with a relatively small training set.
Microfoundations of Innovation As Process: Usher’s Cumulative Synthesis Model

Extant literature lacks the microfoundations of innovation as process. To fill this lacuna, we introduce and extend Usher’s cumulative synthesis model comprising of four steps: the perception of an unsatisfactory pattern, the setting of the stage, the primary act of insight, and critical revision and development. We conclude with observations on how innovation can be a part of organizing rather than remain apart from it.
SepINav (Sepsis ICU Navigator): A data-driven software tool for sepsis monitoring and intervention using Bayesian Online Change Point Detection

The alarmingly aggravating incidents of sepsis and septic shock, and associated mortality, morbidity, and annual treatment costs among ICU admissions are an increasing concern SepINav is a medical informatics endeavor that helps ICU practitioners and researchers to monitor and intervene on the existing sepsis patients more efficiently and interactively and conduct retrospective studies to seek rationales to different sepsis scenarios in the ICU Moreover, Bayesian Online Changepoint Detection will help the practitioners understand the structural changes in patients’ vital sign regimes that may harbinger prior to septic shock Besides, several additional features are added to this data-driven software tool to promise efficient monitoring and intervention and address confounding medical interventions in the ICU © 2021 The Author(s)
What a pandemic reveals about learning in health care organizations

[...]many health care providers are facing an environment where learning is essential, but intimidating, and where both formal and informal avenues for gathering information and sharing expertise are impeded. [...]in our own work with health care providers responding to the COVID-19 pandemic, we have seen hospitals creating new roles to facilitate the dissemination, updating, and enforcement of best practices across different units or locations (e.g., the implementation of a “safety officer” to share best practices and monitor usage of personal protective equipment by different care providers). The learning characteristics we see in health care organizations responding to the COVID-19 pandemic—the need to manage fleeting, ever-changing knowledge that resists formalization and documentation but is also difficult to observe or share informally due to outside constraints—are likely representative of the kind of challenges all organizations will increasingly face in the future, and we invite organizational scholars to explore them further in order to build a more robust and nuanced understanding of learning in modern organizations. * Corresponding author.
Green light attenuates blue-light-induced chloroplast avoidance movement in Arabidopsis and Landoltia punctata.

Premise Chloroplast movement to the anticlinal walls in excess light, referred to as chloroplast avoidance movement, is one strategy to prevent high light damage. Chloroplast avoidance movement is mediated by the blue-light photoreceptor phototropin. Since some blue-light effects are reversed by green light, we investigated the effect of green wavelengths on chloroplast avoidance. Methods Chloroplast position was visualized via microscopy and by transmission of red light through the leaves of Arabidopsis thaliana and Landoltia punctata (duckweed). Results Green light reduced blue-light-induced chloroplast avoidance movement but only when green light was presented simultaneously with blue light. Green light alone had no effect on chloroplast position. An action spectrum for green-light attenuation of chloroplast avoidance in duckweed revealed peaks at 510, 550, and 590 nm. Blue-light-induced chloroplast avoidance movement in three Arabidopsis mutants with reduced nonphotochemical quenching, npq1, npq4, and npq7 was not affected by green light. Conclusions The action spectrum does not conform to any known photoreceptor. The lack of a green-light response in the npq mutants of Arabidopsis suggests a possible role for the xanthophyll cycle or a signal from the chloroplast in control of chloroplast avoidance movement.
Nano-optogenetic engineering of CAR T cells for precision immunotherapy with enhanced safety.

Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell-based immunotherapy, approved by the US Food and Drug Administration, has shown curative potential in patients with haematological malignancies. However, owing to the lack of control over the location and duration of the anti-tumour immune response, CAR T cell therapy still faces safety challenges arising from cytokine release syndrome and on-target, off-tumour toxicity. Herein, we present the design of light-switchable CAR (designated LiCAR) T cells that allow real-time phototunable activation of therapeutic T cells to precisely induce tumour cell killing. When coupled with imaging-guided, surgically removable upconversion nanoplates that have enhanced near-infrared-to-blue upconversion luminescence as miniature deep-tissue photon transducers, LiCAR T cells enable both spatial and temporal control over T cell-mediated anti-tumour therapeutic activity in vivo with greatly mitigated side effects. Our nano-optogenetic immunomodulation platform not only provides a unique approach to interrogate CAR-mediated anti-tumour immunity, but also sets the stage for developing precision medicine to deliver personalized anticancer therapy. While chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell-based therapy has been approved for clinical use for certain types of blood cancers, it remains difficult to achieve precise spatiotemporal control of the elicited anti-tumour response. Here, the authors propose light-switchable CAR T cells that can be remotely activated by a nano-optogenetic approach, reducing unwanted side effects.
New insights on faulting and intrusion processes during the June 2007, East Rift Zone eruption of Kīlauea volcano, Hawai'i

Abstract The East Rift Zone (ERZ) of Kīlauea Volcano, Hawai'i, represents one of the most volcanically active regions in the world. The 2007 Father's Day (FD) dike intrusion, eruption, and accompanying slow-slip event (SSE) has been previously modeled using geodetic data to constrain the geometry of the intrusion and the timing and magnitude of the SSE. Here, we perform inversions of three interferometric synthetic aperture radar (InSAR) datasets and a new intensity offset tracking dataset to assess the effect of integrating intensity cross-correlation offsets into inversion problems and explore additional potential models for the intrusion geometry of the FD event based on this additional data. The overall lowest misfit single Okada model for all datasets opens 2.3 m, strikes 73 degrees while dipping sub-vertically at 83 degrees, and extends approximately 2.9 km to the ENE and 2.4 km downdip. The differences are minor between complex en-echelon distributed Okada and decollement model of (Montgomery-Brown et al., 2010) or 3D-MBEM breaching models including multiple surface breaches and free-slipping decollement movement. Finally, we examine the static Coulomb stress changes for the proposed decollement fault created by our preferred model and a representative model of deep rift opening and find that deep rift zones dilation, not shallow ERZ intrusions, are likely modulating slip on the decollement.
The Regulatory Landscape

The FDA is obligated to protect human subjects and to ensure that data submitted for clinical trials are obtained ethically, scientifically, and without bias. In addition to issuing guidelines for good clinical practice, the FDA conducts compliance oversight of clinical studies in the United States and internationally through an inspection or audit process. A number of factors have led to migration of clinical trials overseas including lengthy recruitment delays, global disease variation, and costs. The FDA has developed a variety of methods to increase the efficiency of the approval process through international outreach, innovative trials, and information technology.
Guiding automated NMR structure determination using a global optimization metric, the NMR DP score

ASDP is an automated NMR NOE assignment program. It uses a distinct bottom-up topology-constrained network anchoring approach for NOE interpretation, with 2D, 3D and/or 4D NOESY peak lists and resonance assignments as input, and generates unambiguous NOE constraints for iterative structure calculations. ASDP is designed to function interactively with various structure determination programs that use distance restraints to generate molecular models. In the CASD–NMR project, ASDP was tested and further developed using blinded NMR data, including resonance assignments, either raw or manually-curated (refined) NOESY peak list data, and in some cases 15N–1H residual dipolar coupling data. In these blinded tests, in which the reference structure was not available until after structures were generated, the fully-automated ASDP program performed very well on all targets using both the raw and refined NOESY peak list data. Improvements of ASDP relative to its predecessor program for automated NOESY peak assignments, AutoStructure, were driven by challenges provided by these CASD–NMR data. These algorithmic improvements include (1) using a global metric of structural accuracy, the discriminating power score, for guiding model selection during the iterative NOE interpretation process, and (2) identifying incorrect NOESY cross peak assignments caused by errors in the NMR resonance assignment list. These improvements provide a more robust automated NOESY analysis program, ASDP, with the unique capability of being utilized with alternative structure generation and refinement programs including CYANA, CNS, and/or Rosetta.
Prescribing Considerations in Fluoroquinolone Therapy

Comparative trials have shown that the new oral fluoroquinolones are as effective as parenteral cephalosporins and other broad-spectrum agents in treating infections of the urinary tract, lower respiratory tract, and skin and skin structure caused by most gram-negative and selected gram-positive pathogens. The agents are also effective in the treatment of prostatitis and osteomyelitis. Sequential parenteral to oral therapy has also proved useful, even in patients who are severely ill and are in intensive care units. This allows patients to be transferred out of intensive care earlier, reduces hospital stay and pharmacy costs, and improves quality of life. Because of the high bioavailability (> 95%) of ofloxacin, oral and parenteral doses are identical.
Platinum-Based Electrocatalysts for Generation of Hydrogen Peroxide in Aqueous Acidic Electrolytes Rotating Ring-Disk Studies

The electrocatalytic activity of selenium-, and sulfur-modified polycrystalline Pt electrodes for O 2 reduction in acid media has been examined using rotating ring-disk electrode techniques. The results obtained indicated that, within a rather narrow range of coverages, both Se-, and S-modified Pt surfaces promote O 2 reduction via a two-electron pathway to yield hydrogen peroxide at close to 100% faradaic efficiency over a wide potential region. Also presented in this work is an experimental procedure for Se-modification of high area, unsupported Pt particles based on fluidized packed bed reactor principles. Such a strategy could be readily scaled up opening new prospects for the development of large scale hydrogen peroxide generation in acid media, including electrochemically based, room temperature, Nafion-based oxygen concentrators.
Mycobacterium bovis bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) induces human CC- and CXC-chemokines in vitro and in vivo.

Both CC- and CXC-chemokines are known to be potent leucocyte activators and chemoattractants and play important roles in inflammatory responses. However, chemokine response to bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) infection remains incompletely defined. In this study, we investigated human CC- [macrophage-derived chemokine (MDC), monocyte chemoattractant protein (MCP)-1, macrophage inflammatory protein (MIP)-1alpha and eosinophil chemoattractant activity (eotaxin)] and CXC-interferon-inducible protein (IP)-10 chemokine production in response to BCG stimulation. BCG efficiently induced all chemokines tested in the urine of four bladder cancer patients undergoing intravesical BCG immunotherapy. The peak urinary chemokine responses occurred generally between the fourth and sixth weekly treatment, except eotaxin, which was less predictable. To evaluate the effect of BCG on induction of chemokines in vitro, urothelial cell lines and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were used. Although BCG induced no or marginal chemokines from urothelial SV-HUC-1, RT4 and T24 cells, BCG-derived cytokines [interleukin (IL)-1beta, interferon (IFN)-gamma and tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha] induced all chemokines tested except eotaxin from these cell lines. BCG also efficiently induced all chemokines tested except eotaxin from PBMCs of both BCG-naive and BCG-vaccinated subjects. MCP-1 and MIP-1alpha emerged at 4-5 h post-BCG exposure (early chemokines); IP-10 elevated at day 1 and peaked at day 2 (intermediate chemokine); and MDC elevated at day 1 and peaked at day 7 (late chemokine). This kinetic pattern was paralleled with that of BCG-induced cytokines [early: TNF-alpha; intermediate: IL-6 and IL-10; and late: IFN-gamma and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF)]. Taken together, these results indicate that BCG directly or indirectly induces human CC- and CXC-chemokine production, which may represent one of the mechanisms by which BCG exerts its anti-tumour activity.
Stress relaxation in human uterine muscle.

Abstract The passive stress relaxation behavior of human uterine muscle was investigated. Specimens were stretched at four elongation rates to a nominal peak tension of 5 Gm. per square millimeter and allowed to relax. The stress relaxation behavior was described by the parameters,S d /S o and time, where S d was the decay in stress after a certain period of relaxation, t, and S o was the initial peak stress which occurred at the time elongation was stopped or at t=0. The stress relaxation behavior, described by curves ofS d /S o versus time (time plotted on a log scale), exhibited four characteristic stages. The position of theS d /S o versus time curve was proportional to approximately13/R, where R was the elongation rate in millimeters per minute. Also investigated were the effects of glycerination, temperature changes, site of the specimen in the uterus, aging, pregnancy, trypsin, and pronase on the stress relaxation behavior. From these experiments it was concluded that stress relaxation is the result of a physical process in the tissue and the mechanism responsible was located primarily in the connective tissue framework. Aging did not cause a significant change in the normal stress relaxation behavior. Pregnancy slowed down the rate of stress relaxation about 5 per cent. This type of mechanical, passive characteristic of uterine muscle was discussed in relationship to its functional importance in pregnancy.
Corrections to current distributions on curved reflectors

The specific problems of diffraction by a half plane, and by a circular strip with a line source at its center of curvature are considered. It is shown how the geometrical optics current can be corrected by the addition of an equivalent line current at each edge. In each case the "line current" is determined by the incident field at the edge. The field of the line current is non-isotropic, its directional gain is determined. The line currents do not greatly affect the total pattern indicating that the main character of the diffraction can be obtained from the geometrical optics currents. Experimental results for a circular reflector with a line source at its center are given.
Variability and information in a neural code of the cat lateral geniculate nucleus.

A central theme in neural coding concerns the role of response variability and noise in determining the information transmission of neurons. This issue was investigated in single cells of the later...
Differences in the induction of CD8+ T cell responses by subpopulations of dendritic cells from afferent lymph are related to IL‐1α secretion

The major subset of dendritic cells (DC) from bovine afferent lymph expresses the SIRP alpha MyD-1 antigen, but not CD11a or the antigen recognized by mAb CC81, and potently stimulates CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphocyte proliferation. The minor subpopulation, that is CD11a+ CC81+ MyD-1-, effectively stimulates CD4+ but not CD8+ T lymphocyte proliferation. CD11a+ CC81+ MyD-1- DC did not induce anergy or death or secrete an inhibitory factor. However, supernatant from cultures of CD8+ T cells with CD11a- CC81- MyD-1+ DC significantly enhanced proliferation of CD8+ T cells in response to CD11a+ CC81+ MyD-1- DC, an effect that was blocked by interleukin (IL)-1alpha, but not IL-1beta, specific mAb. The proliferation of CD8+ T cells with CD11a+ CC81+ MyD-1- DC was also enhanced by adding IL-1alpha. IL-1beta slightly enhanced proliferation, whereas IL-2, IL-6, IL-12, and IL-15 had no effect. We conclude that the failure to stimulate CD8+ T cell proliferation results from the lack of IL-1alpha synthesis by this population, which may have important consequences in vivo.
On the Rank of Picard Groups of Modular Varieties Attached to Orthogonal Groups

We derive lower bounds for the rank of Picard groups of modular varieties associated with natural congruence subgroups of the orthogonal group of an even lattice of signature (2, l). As an example we consider the Siegel modular group of genus 2. The analytic part of this paper also leads to certain class number identities.
Predictors of organ donation behavior among Hispanic Americans.

Context—Hispanic Americans have a substantial need for organ transplants and are underrepresented among organ donors, yet little is known about predictors of organ donation outcomes in this population.Objective—To assess factors that may function as significant predictors of organ donation behavior among Hispanic Americans.Design—A random-digit-dial computer-assisted telephone-interview survey.Setting—Pima and Maricopa counties in Arizona.Participants—1200 Hispanic Americans.Main Outcome Measures—Family discussion of organ donation and willingness to be an organ donor.Results—Significant predictors of family discussion of organ donation include knowing someone willing to be an organ donor and disagreeing that carrying a donor card results in inadequate medical care. Willingness to be a donor is also predictive of family discussion. Significant predictors of willingness to be an organ donor are knowing someone willing to be an organ donor, being female, and disagreeing that thoughts about donation leads to...
Consistency of the least-squares-estimators for linear stochastic difference equations

Assumptions are given for the strong consistency in the stable case and weak consistency in the instable case of the Least-Square-Estimator of the unknown system-parameters of a inhomogeneous linear stochastic difference equation system with constant coefficients.
Prenatal Tracheal Obstruction Due to Double Aortic Arch: A Potential Mimic of Congenital High Airway Obstruction Syndrome

WEB This is a Web exclusive article. ouble aortic arch is a relatively common congenital anomaly of the aortic arch system resulting from failed regression of the fourth pharyngeal arch arteries. Symptoms develop postnatally due to compression of the trachea and esophagus, which are encircled by the left and right aortic arches. The classic history is noisy breathing during the first few weeks of life, and the diagnosis is usually confirmed by postnatal echocardiography or MRI. Prenatal diagnosis is rare [1, 2], and double aortic arch has not been previously described as a cause of prenatal tracheal obstruction, to our knowledge. Congenital high airway obstruction syndrome (CHAOS) is a recognized cause of prenatal central airway obstruction due to intrinsic atresia or stenosis of the larynx or upper trachea. CHAOS causes pulmonary overdistention due to retained bronchial secretions. Increased intrathoracic pressure with impaired venous return is believed to account for the associated development of fetal hydrops. The resulting constellation of large echogenic lungs with flattening or inversion of the diaphragm, dilated fluid-filled airways below the level of obstruction, and fetal hydrops or ascites is considered characteristic of CHAOS on prenatal sonography. Untreated CHAOS inevitably leads to fetal demise or stillbirth [3–5]. We present a case of double aortic arch that caused prenatal central airway obstruction and that mimicked CHAOS on fetal echocardiography and MRI.
A negatively charged pore in the mitochondrial membrane as a site for cytochrome c function.

Received December 26, 1961 Inhibition of reduced cytochrome c oxidase by protamine and other cationic proteins has been demonstrated by Smith and Conrad (1956) and Person and Fine (1961). Minnaert and Smith (1961) have also observed protamine inhibition of succinic cytochrome c reductase. We have found that the closed succinoxidase system of beef heart mitochondria, in which the cytochrome c is held in a lipid bound form, is only partially inhibited by protamine, whereas inhibition of cytochrome c oxidase and succinic cytochrome c reductase is essentially complete. Thus, the addition of protamine to mitochondria which are in the partially open form, in that they can interact with external cytochrome c, converts the mitochondria into a closed system. This system is capable of carrying out the oxidation of succinate by means of endogenous cytochrome c, but incapable of oxidation or reduction of external cytochrome c.
A tribute to George F. Sheldon's vision, versatility, and leadership by example.

Abstract To honor Dr. Sheldon’s service to the Department of Surgery, the School of Medicine, and the University and to recognize his national and international leadership in the surgical discipline, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill hosted a Festschrift in his honor on April 20, 2002, in conjunction with the 50th Anniversary of the UNC School of Medicine.
Cryptosporidium parvum: effect of multi-drug reversing agents on the expression and function of ATP-binding cassette transporters

Abstract In the present study, the gene expression of three multidrug resistance (MDR) and resistance-associated protein (MRP) transport proteins or efflux pumps was characterized and the phenotypic evidence for such pumps was demonstrated in cultured Madin–Darby canine kidney (MDCK) cells. A gradient for the fluorescent probe calcein was established between parasite and host cell suggestive of a parasite extrusion pump at the parasite–host interface. This gradient was decreased in a glucose-free medium containing 2-deoxyglucose or 3-O-methylglucose, by probenecid, and by the isoflavonoid, narigenin, suggesting that the calcein extrusion was energy-dependent and involved an MRP-like pump. While neither MDR or MRP inhibiters significantly affected transcript levels of any of the ABC transporters, transcript levels of the Cryptosporidium parvum ABC protein (CpABC1), an MRP transporter, were consistently expressed 4 logs higher than either CpABC3 or CpABC2, suggesting a prominent role in the intracellular stages of the parasite.
Nanoscale Friction Switches: Friction Modulation of Monomolecular Assemblies Using External Electric Fields

This paper presents experimental investigations to actively modulate the nanoscale friction properties of a self-assembled monolayer (SAM) assembly using an external electric field that drives conformational changes in the SAM. Such "friction switches" have widespread implications in interfacial energy control in micro/nanoscale devices. Friction response of a low-density mercaptocarboxylic acid SAM is evaluated using an atomic force microscope (AFM) in the presence of a DC bias applied between the sample and the AFM probe under a nitrogen (dry) environment. The low density allows reorientation of individual SAM molecules to accommodate the attractive force between the -COOH terminal group and a positively biased surface. This enables the surface to present a hydrophilic group or a hydrophobic backbone to the contacting AFM probe depending upon the direction of the field (bias). Synthesis and deposition of the low-density SAM (LD-SAM) is reported. Results from AFM experiments show an increased friction response (up to 300%) of the LD-SAM system in the presence of a positive bias compared to the friction response in the presence of a negative bias. The difference in the friction response is attributed to the change in the structural and crystalline order of the film in addition to the interfacial surface chemistry and composition presented upon application of the bias.
Use of surface-enhanced Raman scattering as a prognostic indicator of acute kidney transplant rejection

We report an early, noninvasive and rapid prognostic method of predicting potential acute kidney dysfunction using surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS). Our analysis was performed on urine samples collected prospectively from 58 kidney transplant patients using a He-Ne laser (632.8 nm) as the excitation source. All abnormal kidney function episodes (three acute rejections and two acute kidney failures that were eventually diagnosed independently by clinical biopsy) consistently exhibited unique SERS spectral features in just one day following the transplant surgery. These results suggested that SERS analysis provides an early and more specific indication to kidney function than the clinically used biomarker, serum creatinine (sCr).
Tropical cyclones in the North American Regional Reanalysis: An assessment of spatial biases in location, intensity, and structure

Long-term reanalysis data sets, such as the North American Regional Reanalysis (NARR) and Climate Forecast System Reanalysis (CFSR), are data-rich resources for weather and climate research. However, investigations into tropical cyclone (TC) structures are lacking. This study examines position, intensity, and structure of U.S. landfalling TCs in these data sets during 1998–2012. TC positions are determined using three dynamic and thermodynamic parameters. In NARR, positions are problematic near the domain boundary but show statistically significant improvements compared with CFSR in regions over the U.S. and near its coastlines. TC intensity is universally underestimated in both data sets, yet the pressure-wind relationship is reasonably maintained. NARR and CFSR intensities are highly correlated (r = 0.93), suggesting that these data sets are limited in a similar fashion in their generation of intensity and that advanced data assimilation techniques are unable to overcome the shortcomings of low resolutions. To investigate TC structure, a 10-storm composite is constructed using the most intense model TCs at peak intensity. Both models develop robust warm cores (T′ ~ 6–7 K), but the radius of maximum winds (>100 km) is too broad compared with storms in nature. Secondary circulation features in NARR are more realistic, particularly the shallow inflow layer, vertical motion in the inner core, and confined outflow in the upper troposphere. Results indicate that, over the U.S. and near its coastline, NARR positions and structure are competitive with or slightly improved upon CFSR. Away from the domain boundary, NARR is a suitable resource for evaluating TC positions and certain aspects of the secondary circulation.
A Volunteer's Guide to Working with the Homeless

This guide should prepare volunteers to more effectively cope with the challenges presented by the homeless. It provides an overall picture of what it means to be homeless, guidelines for relating ...
Management of Anterior and Posterior Proliferative Vitreoretinopathy XLV Edward Jackson Memorial Lecture

Proliferative vitreoretinopathy is a composite of anterior and posterior proliferation producing multidirectional tractional forces and resultant complex management problems. In a series of 98 consecutive cases of nondiabetic, nontraumatic proliferative vitreoretinopathy, anterior proliferation caused retinal detachment in 58 patients. Relaxation of circumferential traction created by anterior proliferation in the vitreous base and its contiguous surfaces is achieved by multiple radial incisions in the vitreous base. Forward displacement of the vitreous base and associated anterior retina is eliminated by incision of the displaced anterior and posterior hyaloid surfaces. The subsequent release of posterior traction and determination of residual traction by sequential fluid-air exchange before final tamponade with longer acting gas or silicone oil is described. Total retinal reattachment was achieved in 23 of 33 eyes (70%) with only posterior proliferation compared to 27 of 47 eyes (57%) with significant anterior proliferation. Retinal attachment posterior to the scleral buckle was achieved in 27 of 33 eyes (82%) and 37 of 47 eyes (79%), respectively. Although the success rate was less in eyes with anterior proliferation, the retinal reattachment rates in the two groups approached comparability as experience and understanding of the clinical significance increased.
Digital Control of Bevatron External-Proton-Beam Transport Magnets

A computer-based digitally-structured, data acquisition and control system has been developed for on-line programmed control of external beam transport magnets at the Bevatron. The control algorithm achieves flexibility to accommodate all possible modes of Bevatron operation by separating the operating cycle of the accelerator into several zones. This method allows independent processing of Bevatron field within each zone, and the introduction of zone-related time-variable functions in each of the magnet currents. Evolution of the hardware is discussed and use of small computers is considered for each well-defined project, over a time-shared single large computer. The technique utilized to provide time-sharing of peripheral hardware between small computers is described. Pertinent details of methods used to reject noise in transmission of both analog and digital data are examined. Communication between digital systems and the human operator is discussed in terms of minimizing the number of operator responses required to establish a series of functions to be performed by the system.
Effect of percentage of dietary forage neutral detergent fiber and source of starch on performance of lactating Jersey cows

Five Jersey cows were used in a 5 × 5 Latin square design to determine the effects of decreasing dietary forage neutral detergent fiber (NDF) and different sources of dietary starch on performance and nutrient digestibilities. The control diet was balanced to consist of 21% forage NDF and 43% nonfiber carbohydrates. Four other diets were balanced to contain 35% nonfiber carbohydrates and either 16 or 11% forage NDF; diets were arranged in a 2 × 2 factorial design with either corn or corn and wheat as the sources of starch. Dry matter intake decreased linearly as forage NDF decreased; however, most of the decrease occurred when forage NDF was reduced from 16 to 11%. Milk production, yield of 4% fat-corrected milk, and percentages of milk fat and protein were similar among diets. Digestibility of NDF and acid detergent fiber increased as forage NDF decreased, but fiber digestibilities decreased with the addition of wheat to the diets. Starch digestibility was similar among diets. Source and amount of starch may be equally important or more important than the percentage of forage NDF for maintaining nutrient digestibilities of the total tract. Forage NDF in the diets of high producing cows can be reduced to 16% when sources and concentrations of starch are adequately balanced.
Ultrastructure of individual neurons isolated from avian retina: occurrence of microtubule loops in dendrites.

Abstract To investigate the cytoskeletal organization of neurons differentiating in vivo, we developed a procedure for isolating single arborized chick retina neurons, using papain and EGTA, and examining their structure in whole mounts. Ultrastructure of neurite tips and many regions along the neurite could be examined in detail in these preparations. Twenty to 25 nm linear elements which made tight 180 degree turns and returned to the original neurite were commonly observed in both detergent-extracted and intact whole mounts. The looped structures were identified as microtubules using antibodies to chick brain tubulin. Microtubule loops were prevalent in neurites at all ages examined, embryonic day 7–10 days post-hatch (E7—P10), but loops increased in frequency from being present in 24% of E7 neurites to 64% of E16 neurites. Often several neurites from the same cell contained microtubule loops, implying that at least some neurites with microtubule loops were dendrites.
Functionalized polyphosphazenes: Polymers with pendent tertiary trialkylamino groups

Attempts have been made to synthesize polyphosphazenes with pendent tertiary amino side units via macromolecular substitution. Incorporation of −OCH2CH2N(CH3)2, −OCH2CH2OCH2CH2N(CH3)2, and −NHCH2CH2N(CH3)2 groups was studied. Polymers in which all the side groups consisted of one type of aliphatic tertiary amino-containing unit and species that also contained 2,2,2-trifluoroethoxy or phenoxy groups as cosubstituents were examined. Related phosphazene cyclic trimers were also prepared as small molecule model systems to examine synthetic variables, characterization techniques, and hydrolytic behavior. Those phosphazenes in which the tertiary amino-containing side groups are linked to the skeleton through an aliphatic oxygen−phosphorus bond are sensitive to hydrolysis induced by the basicity of the terminal amino group. However, species in which the tertiary amino-containing units are linked to the backbone through an alkyl nitrogen−phosphorus bond are stable to water and are candidate materials for use in a...
Monte Carlo simulation of scanning electron microscope signals for lithographic metrology

Two computer codes for simulating the backscattered, transmitted, and secondary-electron signals from targets in a scanning electron microscope are described. The first code, MONSEL-II, has a model target consisting of three parallel lines on a three-layer substrate, while the second, MONSEL-III, has a model target consisting of a two-by-two array of finite lines on a three-layer substrate. Elastic electron scattering is determined by published fits to the Mott cross section. Both plasmon-generated electrons and ionized valence electrons are included in the secondary production. An adjustable quantity, called the residual energy loss rate, is added to the formula of Joy and Luo to obtain the measured secondary yield. The codes show the effects of signal enhancement due to edge transmission, known as blooming, as well as signal reduction due to neighboring lines, known as the “black-hole” effect.
Genetic Variability of Enzymes of Alcohol Metabolism in Human Beings

Alcohol is eliminated from the body almost entirely by hepatic metabolism, first to acetaldehyde, then to acetate, and finally to carbon dioxide and water. The time course of elimination is best described by Michaelis-Menten kinetics, and rates of elimination following standard doses of ethanol vary among subjects as much as three-fold. Studies comparing rates of elimination in identical and fraternal twins have shown that about half of the variability is attributable to genetic factors. The principal enzymes responsible for ethanol metabolism are alcohol dehydrogenase and aldehyde dehydrogenase. The reaction catalyzed by alcohol dehydrogenase is the rate-limiting step of the pathway. Human livers contain multiple isoenzymes of alcohol dehydrogenase, which are dimeric molecules arising from the association of two subunits encoded by five different structural genes. Genetic polymorphism at two of these gene loci has been described, and all known homo- and heterodimeric forms of the isoenzymes have now been isolated and characterized. Notably, some of them differ quite strikingly in reactivity toward ethanol. Thus a basis for the genetic variability in alcohol metabolic rate can be found in the kinetic properties of the alcohol dehydrogenase isoenzymes. The efficient oxidation of acetaldehyde by hepatic aldehyde dehydrogenase is essential for ethanol oxidation to continue over time, because the equilibrium of the alcohol dehydrogenase reaction favors the conversion of acetaldehyde to ethanol. Acetaldehyde is a very toxic substance the removal of which makes possible the consumption of large quantities of ethanol frequently imbibed by alcoholics. There are also multiple molecular forms of aldehyde dehydrogenase in liver, and the mitochondrial form is the one principally responsible for acetaldehyde oxidation.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Electron transport in a−Si:H,F/a−Si,Ge:H,F superlattices

Abstract The electron transport in a - Si : H,F a - Si,Ge : H,F multilayers is analyzed. We use the dark conductivity activation energy E a,d , its preexponential factor σ 0 , and the photo conductivity activation energy E a,ph and its exponent γ to highlight the asymmetry between transport parallel and perpendicular to the layers. The carrier confinement in the wells translates to small, quantitative differences with respect to bulk alloys for parallel transport, but to qualitatively new transport mechanisms for perpendicular transport.
Mechanics of disordered solids. III. Fracture properties.

Brittle fracture of disordered media are studied using Monte Carlo simulations in both two and three dimensions (3D). Elastic and superelastic percolation networks with central and bond-bending forces are used as models of disordered media. We find that the distribution of fracture strength in a solid with broadly distributed microscopic heterogeneities, and in randomly reinforced materials, is adequately described by the classical Weibull distribution, rather than the recently proposed Gumbel distribution. System-size dependence of the external stress F for fracture is also studied. We find that, contrary to recent claims, for a d-dimensional system of size L, F is given by F\ensuremath{\sim}${\mathit{L}}^{\mathit{d}\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}1}$/(lnL${)}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{\psi}}}$, where 0\ensuremath{\le}\ensuremath{\psi}\ensuremath{\le}0.5. The fractal dimension of the cracks is found to be about 1.7 in 2D, close to that of fracture surfaces of natural rocks at small scales. The scaling of the fracture stress ${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\sigma}}}_{\mathit{f}}$ near the percolation threshold ${\mathit{p}}_{\mathit{c}}$ is found to obey, ${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\sigma}}}_{\mathit{f}}$\ensuremath{\sim}(p-${\mathit{p}}_{\mathit{c}}$${)}_{\mathit{f}}^{\mathit{T}}$, where p is the fraction of intact springs (or the damage level$)--- and, ${\mathit{T}}_{\mathit{f}}$\ensuremath{\simeq}2.42 in 2D and ${\mathit{T}}_{\mathit{f}}$\ensuremath{\simeq}2.64 in 3D. The 2D result is in agreement with the experimental estimate of ${\mathit{T}}_{\mathit{f}}$ for fracture of thin perforated metal foils. These values are also close to the lower bound, ${\mathit{T}}_{\mathit{f}}$\ensuremath{\ge}f-\ensuremath{\nu}${\mathit{d}}_{\mathrm{min}}$, where f is the critical exponent of the elastic moduli of the system, \ensuremath{\nu} the correlation-length exponent of percolation, and ${\mathit{d}}_{\mathrm{min}}$ the fractal dimension of the shortest paths on a percolation cluster. Finally, we study the similarities and differences between fractured and percolation networks.
Level of UV-B radiation influences the effects of glyphosate-based herbicide on the spotted salamander

Glyphosate-based herbicides are the number one pesticide in the United States and are used commonly around the world. Understanding the affects of glyphosate-based herbicides on non-target wildlife, for example amphibians, is critical for evaluation of regulations pertaining to the use of such herbicides. Additionally, it is important to understand how variation in biotic and abiotic environmental conditions, such as UV-B light regime, could potentially affect how glyphosate-based herbicides interact with non-target species. This study used artificial pond mesocosms to identify the effects of generic glyphosate-based herbicide (GLY-4 Plus) on mortality, cellular immune response, body size, and morphological plasticity of larvae of the spotted salamander (Ambystoma maculatum) under conditions that reflect moderate (UV(M)) and low (UV(L)) UV-B light regimes. Survival within a given UV-B level was unaffected by herbicide presence or absence. However, when herbicide was present, survival varied between UV-B levels with higher survival in UV(M) conditions. Herbicide presence in the UV(M) treatments also decreased body size and reduced cellular immune response. In the UV(L) treatments, the presence of herbicide increased body size and affected tail morphology. Finally, in the absence of herbicide, body size and cellular immune response were higher in UV(M) treatments compared to UV(L) treatments. Thus, the effects of herbicide on salamander fitness were dependent on UV-B level. As anthropogenic habitat modifications continue to alter landscapes that contain amphibian breeding ponds, salamanders may increasingly find themselves in locations with reduced canopy cover and increased levels of UV light. Our findings suggest that the probability of surviving exposure to the glyphosate-based herbicide used in this study may be elevated in more open canopy ponds, but the effects on other components of fitness may be varied and unexpected.