cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Complex decorrelation averaging in optical coherence tomography: a way to reduce the effect of multiple scattering and improve image contrast (Conference Presentation)

The extensive development of frequency-domain optical coherence tomography (OCT) for more than a decade has enabled A-scan rates in the MHz range. Furthermore, frequency-domain OCT gives access to the amplitude and phase of the OCT signal. These characteristics have opened the possibilities of doing different kinds of averaging in order to improve OCT imaging. It is well known that multiple scattering in OCT reduces image contrast and resolution especially at greater depths within the tissue. Here, we demonstrate that complex averaging can decrease the effect of multiple scattering and improve OCT imaging contrast, in addition to increasing the dynamic range due to reducing the noise floor as previously demonstrated. We take advantage of the fact that complex averaging, in contrast to conventional magnitude averaging, is sensitive to phase changes, as one averages the complex-valued Fourier-transformed spectral fringe signals before calculating the magnitude. Any motion that leads to higher phase variance will lead to lower magnitude when performing complex averaging. Also, motion preferentially increases the phase variance of multiply scattered photons when compared to singly scattered photons with each scattering event spreading the phase. This indicates that we may reduce multiple scattering by implementing complex averaging to preferentially reduce the magnitude of the multiply scattered light signal in OCT images. We have performed several experiments on liquid phantoms that give experimental evidence for this hypothesis.
A systematic review of smartphone applications for smoking cessation

Tobacco use is the leading cause of preventable disease and death in the USA. However, limited data exists regarding smoking cessation mobile app quality and intervention effectiveness. Innovative and scalable interventions are needed to further alleviate the public health implications of tobacco addiction. The proliferation of the smartphone and the advent of mobile phone health interventions have made treatment more accessible than ever. The purpose of this review was to examine the relation between published scientific literature and available commercial smartphone health apps for smoking cessation to identify the percentage of scientifically supported apps that were commercially available to consumers and to determine how many of the top commercially available apps for smoking cessation were supported by the published scientific literature. Adhering to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, apps were reviewed in four phases: (1) identified apps from the scientific literature, (2) searched app stores for apps identified in the literature, (3) identified top apps available in leading app stores, and (4) determined which top apps available in stores had scientific support. Seven articles identified six apps with some level of scientific support, three (50%) were available in at least one app store. Conversely, among the top 50 apps suggested by each of the leading app stores, only two (4%) had any scientific support. While half of the scientifically vetted apps remain available to consumers, they are difficult to find among the many apps that are identified through app store searches.
Engineering water-tolerant core/shell upconversion nanoparticles for optical temperature sensing

Luminescence thermometry is a promising approach using upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) with a nanoscale regime in biological tissues. UCNPs are superior to conventional fluorescent markers, benefiting from their autofluorescence suppression and deep imaging in tissues. However, they are still limited by poor water solubility and weak upconversion luminescence intensity, especially at a small particle size. Recently, YVO4:Er+3,Yb+3 nanoparticles have shown high efficiency upconversion (UC) luminescence in water at single-particle level and high contrast imaging in biological models. Typically, a 980-nm laser triggers the UC process in the UCNPs, which overlaps with maximum absorption of water molecules that are dominant in biological samples, resulting in biological tissues overheating and possible damaging. Interestingly, neodymium (Nd+3) possesses a large absorption cross section at the water low absorption band (808 nm), which can overcome overheating issues. In this Letter, we introduce Nd+3 as a new near-infrared absorber and UC sensitizer into YVO4:Er+3,Yb+3 nanoparticles in a core/shell structure to ensure successive energy transfer between the new UC sensitizer (Nd+3) to the upconverting activator (Er+3). Finally, we synthesized water-tolerant YVO4:Er+3,Yb+3@Nd+3 core/shell nanoparticles (average size 20 nm) with strong UC luminescence at a biocompatible excitation wavelength for optical temperature sensing where overheating in water is minimized.
The Orchestra of Reovirus Cell Entry.

Purpose of Review The ability of viruses to infect host cells is dependent on several factors including the availability of cell-surface receptors, antiviral state of cells, and presence of host factors needed for viral replication. Here, we review findings from in vitro and in vivo studies using mammalian orthoreovirus (reovirus) that have identified an intricate group of molecules and mechanisms used by the virus to attach and enter cells.
A genetic association study of carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) and plaque in Mexican Americans and European Americans with rheumatoid arthritis

Abstract Background and aims Little is known about specific genetic determinants of carotid-intima-media thickness (CIMT) and carotid plaque in subjects with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). We have used the Metabochip array to fine map and replicate loci that influence variation in these phenotypes in Mexican Americans (MAs) and European Americans (EAs). Methods CIMT and plaque were measured using ultrasound from 700 MA and 415 EA patients with RA and we conducted association analyses with the Metabochip single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) data using PLINK. Results In MAs, 12 SNPs from 11 chromosomes and 6 SNPs from 6 chromosomes showed suggestive associations (p Conclusions We identified novel associations between CIMT and variants in SLC17A2 and PPCDC genes, and between plaque and variants from COL4A1 and SLCA13 that may pinpoint new candidate risk loci for subclinical atherosclerosis associated with RA.
Endothelin-1 activation in pediatric patients undergoing surgical coarctation of the aorta repair

Endothelin-1 activation in pediatric patients undergoing surgical coarctation of the aorta repair
Persistent Inflammation, Stem Cell-Induced Systemic Anti-Inflammatory Effects, and Need for Repeated Stem Cell Injections: Critical Concepts Influencing Optimal Stem Cell Strategies for Treating Acute Myocardial Infarction and Heart Failure.

The therapeutic potential of stem cell treatment for patients with either acute myocardial infarction (AMI) or heart failure (HF) began >15 years ago. Many preclinical studies have been published demonstrating stem cell administration improves myocardial function in animal models of AMI and of HF.
Solid, Cystic, and Tubular: Novice Ultrasound Skills Training Using a Versatile, Affordable Practice Model

Objective In spite of the recognized benefits of ultrasound, many physicians have little experience with using ultrasound to perform procedures. Many medical schools and residency programs lack a formal ultrasound training curriculum. We describe an affordable ultrasound training curriculum and versatile, inexpensive practice model. Design Participants underwent a didactic session to teach the theory required to perform ultrasound-guided procedures. Motor skills were taught using a practice model incorporating analogs of common anatomic and pathologic structures into an opacified gelatin substrate. Setting The Marcia and Eugene Applebaum Simulation Learning Institute, Beaumont Hospital, Royal Oak, MI; a private nonprofit tertiary care hospital associated with the OUWB School of Medicine, Rochester, MI. Participants The model was tested in a cohort of 50 medical students and general surgery residents. Results The gelatin model can be constructed for $1.03 per learner. The solid, cystic, and vascular structural analogs were readily identifiable on ultrasound and easily differentiated based on their echotextures. Eighty-four percent of participants successfully aspirated the cystic structure, 88% successfully biopsied a portion of the solid structure, and 76% successfully cannulated the tubular structure. Overall, 82% of participants achieved a passing score for the exercise based on a validated Objective Structured Assessment of Technical Skill instrument. There were no significant differences between the medical students and residents. Conclusion This model can be used to teach basic ultrasound skills such as aspiration, biopsy, and vessel cannulation, providing a foundation for the use of ultrasound in a broad range of clinical procedures, as well as providing practice opportunities for medical students and residents to gain increased ultrasound competency and confidence.
The Role of Playfulness in a Theoretical Framework for a Relationship among Play, Imagination, and Creativity

This chapter presents an evaluation of playfulness (PF) in a theoretical framework for a relationship among play, imagination, and creativity. It illustrates a schematic presentation of the possible relationship between play, imagination, and creativity as first-order elements, and PF, divided into sense of humor, manifest joy, and spontaneity, as second-order elements. PF is looked as the factor common to play, imagination, and creativity. PF, itself, however, may not be a unitary trait, and this can be caused either developmentally or situationally. The chapter explains that the approach used in the examination of the theoretical basis is along the major areas of functioning in the individual, through the cognitive, affective, and social processes. One of the major pointers in understanding the relationship between play, imagination, and creativity on a cognitive basis is the differentiation between exploratory behavior and play.
Should Congress Pass Legislation to Regulate Child-Directed Food Advertising?

In the wake of the Interagency Working Group on Food Marketed to Children's release of proposed principles, the authors examine the issue of advertising as it relates to childhood obesity. Concerned with the current lack of regulation in this area, the authors recommend that manufacturers become more involved in fighting obesity.-Enforce corporate accountability measures for the implementation of internal policies by food manufacturers that advertise to children.-Eliminate food advertising as an ordinary business expense for tax purposes, provide incentives for healthy messages and include "commercial-free time zones."-Utilize the FTC, FDA, CDC and USDA marketing experts' Interagency Working Group Proposal on Food Marketing to Children.-Encourage alternative solutions to regulation, including adult involvement.
Pairwise exemplar clustering

Exemplar-based clustering methods have been extensively shown to be effective in many clustering problems. They adaptively determine the number of clusters and hold the appealing advantage of not requiring the estimation of latent parameters, which is otherwise difficult in case of complicated parametric model and high dimensionality of the data. However, modeling arbitrary underlying distribution of the data is still difficult for existing exemplar-based clustering methods. We present Pairwise Exemplar Clustering (PEC) to alleviate this problem by modeling the underlying cluster distributions more accurately with non-parametric kernel density estimation. Interpreting the clusters as classes from a supervised learning perspective, we search for an optimal partition of the data that balances two quantities: 1 the misclassification rate of the data partition for separating the clusters; 2 the sum of within-cluster dissimilarities for controlling the cluster size. The broadly used kernel form of cut turns out to be a special case of our formulation. Moreover, we optimize the corresponding objective function by a new efficient algorithm for message computation in a pairwise MRF. Experimental results on synthetic and real data demonstrate the effectiveness of our method.
Human Cremation: Commingling and Questioned Identity

Abstract Medicolegal issues involving commercially cremated human remains (i.e., cremains) are almost universally related to the commingling of more than one decedent within a single urn. When family members or loved ones find materials in the cremains that, at least to them, do not belong, the identity of the decedent represented by the cremains is called into question. This situation is complicated by the fact that commercial cremation of human remains, as it is currently practiced in North America and most of Western Europe, results in the inevitable commingling of the remains of more than one dead body—if not demonstrably, at least at trace levels. In light of how cremations are performed (a single retort is used for countless cremations), commingling is inevitable and will occur to some degree in every cremation. The extent of commingling is contingent upon several factors, including the specific protocol used by the cremationist and the design of the retort and processor. If this is the case, how can commingling be detected by anthropologists and to what degree is it a problem? Furthermore, if commingling is expected, why has the issue of commingled cremains become an important legal issue? To answer these questions and others, this chapter discusses in greater detail the factors that lead to commingling of cremains and the circumstances and situations in which commingling in cremation becomes a legal issue.
Aortic Access Planning and Procedures

Access to the aortic annulus is often the limiting step in TAVR procedures. Peripheral vascular disease may require transapical, trans-subclavian, transcarotid, transcaval, or direct ascending aortic access. Each method has various technical considerations and risk profiles. Working knowledge in all access points for TAVR will make you a valuable member of the team.
Photon pair generation using a silicon photonic hybrid laser

We report photon pairs and heralded single photons generated at 1310 nm wavelengths using silicon photonics technology, demonstrating that comparable performance could be achieved when a silicon microring resonator was pumped either by a desktop laser instrument or by an electrically injected, room-temperature hybrid silicon laser. Measurements showed that 130 kilo-coincidence-counts per second pair rates could be generated, with coincidences-to-accidentals ratio approximately 100 at about 0.34 mW optical pump power and anti-bunching upon heralding with second-order intensity correlation g(2)(0) = 0.06 at about 0.9 mW optical pump power. These results suggest that hybrid silicon lasers, which are ultra-compact and wafer-scale manufacturable, could be used in place of packaged, stand-alone lasers for generating photon pairs at data communication wavelengths and enable large-scale, cost-effective manufacturing of integrated sources for quantum communications and computing.
Haplotype Characterization of the sd1 Semidwarf Gene in United States Rice.

CORE IDEAS Genomic data from diverse germplasm used for application in targeted breeding germplasm. Six SNPs identified that can characterize all haplotypes present at SD1 locus in diverse rice. Three alleles of the SD1 gene identified in US rice germplasm including two semidwarf alleles. Two SNPs identified and validated that differentiate the SD1 allele present in US germplasm. KASP assays designed for both SNPs for use in high-throughput breeding applications. Plant height is an important target in US rice (Oryza sativa L.) breeding programs and the large effect of the sd1 semidwarf gene makes it a suitable target for marker-assisted selection. Although the deletion underlying the semidwarf allele is known and a gel-based DNA marker is available, this marker is not ideal for applied breeding because of throughput and cost constraints. The objectives of this study were to characterize the haplotype diversity at the SD1 locus within US rice germplasm and develop a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) assay for breeding applications. The International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) SNP-Seek database was used to characterize the haplotype diversity present at the SD1 locus across a set of rice accessions and seven haplotypes were identified. The US rice germplasm was not well represented in the IRRI database, so a set of six SNPs was identified that could differentiate all detected haplotypes. These SNPs were designed into Kompetitive allele specific polymerase chain reaction (KASP) assays and screened across 359 elite US genotypes. Of the seven haplotypes, two were present within the US germplasm, one of which was the semidwarf deletion allele. A third haplotype was observed within the US medium-grain germplasm and demonstrated to be a semidwarf allele derived from the induced mutation in the 'Calrose76'. Two SNPs were identified that distinguish the three SD1 haplotypes present in the US germplasm. These SNPs were validated across the US germplasm and two biparental populations.
Comparison of osteogenic and dentinogenic potentials of mice incisor and molar pulps in vitro.

Abstract Objective In the present study, we compared the in vitro osteogenic and dentinogenic potential of pulp cells from incisors and molars. Design Primary pulp cultures were established from DSPP-Cerulean/DMP1-Cherry and BSP-GFPtpz reporter mouse lines and processed for various assays. Results Our results showed marked differences in dentinogenic and osteogenic potentials of primary cultures from unerupted molars and incisors isolated from 5 to 7 days old pups. While primary cultures from both incisors and molars differentiated into odontoblasts and osteoblasts, cultures from molars differentiated into more DSPP-Cerulean + cells (∼5.5 %) compared to incisor cultures (∼0.7 %) at Day 14 and appear to be more committed to the odontogenic lineage. On the other hand, cultures from incisors show more differentiation into BSP-GFPtpz + cells (∼25 %) compared to molar cultures (∼16 %) and were more committed to the osteogenic lineage. Data were analyzed by Student’s t-test and statistical significance was set at P ≤ 0.05. Conclusion Since in the dental pulp, MSCs are the primary source of progenitors capable of giving rise to osteoblasts and odontoblasts, our results provide evidence for differences in the commitment of MSCs in molars and incisors to the odontogenic and osteogenic lineages, respectively.
Impact on Isoleucine and Valine Supplementation When Decreasing Use of Medical Food in the Nutritional Management of Methylmalonic Acidemia.

Background: Methylmalonic acidemia (MMA) is an autosomal recessive disorder treated with precursor-free medical food while limiting natural protein. This retrospective chart review was to determine if there was a relationship between medical food, valine (VAL) and/or isoleucine (ILE) supplementation, total protein intake, and plasma amino acid profiles. Methods: A chart review, of patients aged 31 days or older with MMA treated with dietary intervention and supplementation of VAL and/or ILE and followed at the Children’s Hospital Colorado Inherited Metabolic Diseases Clinic. Dietary prescriptions and plasma amino acid concentrations were obtained at multiple time points. Results: Baseline mean total protein intake for five patients was 198% of Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) with 107% natural protein and 91% medical food. Following intervention, total protein intake (p = 0.0357), protein from medical food (p = 0.0142), and leucine (LEU) from medical food (p = 0.0276) were lower, with no significant change in natural protein intake (p = 0.2036). At baseline, 80% of patients received VAL supplementation and 100% received ILE supplementation. After intervention, only one of the cohort remained on supplementation. There was no statistically significant difference in plasma propiogenic amino acid concentrations. Conclusions: Decreased intake of LEU from medical food allowed for discontinuation of amino acid supplementation, while meeting the RDA for protein.
τ-SIMPLE algorithm for the closure problem in homogenization of Stokes flows

Abstract Estimation of the permeability tensor is crucial for many natural and industrial porous media applications. Homogenization provides a rigorous framework to calculate effective parameters from pore-scale images of a representative unit cell of the porous medium by solving a boundary value problem, also known as closure problem, subject to global constraints. However, the latter are hard to satisfy for arbitrarily complex geometries. We have developed a novel computational algorithm to calculate rigorously the permeability tensor. The approach, here referred to as τ-SIMPLE, is based on introducing an artificial time scale τ to satisfy the global constraint within the SIMPLE iteration. We show that the proposed algorithm has high accuracy for both two-dimensional and three-dimensional periodically arranged geometries.
The Potential Impacts of the Made in China 2025 Roadmap on the Integrated Circuit Industries in the U.S., EU and Japan

The purpose of this working paper is to estimate the potential impact of the Made in China 2025 Green Paper on Technological Innovation in Key Areas: Technology Roadmap (2017) on integrated circuit (IC) producers in the United States (US), the European Union (EU), and Japan. We attempt to clearly fill in the gaps of projection and consumption data in the scenario presented by the 2017 Roadmap and using the Green Paper’s definition of consumption and production. In the first part of the analysis, we assume that the market growth, market share, and projections presented in the Green Paper as the baselines and compare them with other industry data. In part 2, we estimate integrated circuit (IC) production market shares for the U.S., EU, and Japan in both China and globally based on the assumptions made in part 1. In part 3, we estimate IC consumption shares in the US, EU, and Japan. We find that the goals imply a significant decrease in the competitiveness of the integrated circuit industries in the U.S., EU, and Japan, though this conclusion must take into account that the assumptions and logic of the Green Paper do not accurately reflect industry dynamics. Finally, we offer suggestions for future analysis.
A primer for managing cardiac transplant patients in the emergency department setting.

Abstract Background Cardiac transplant is an effective long-term management option for several severe cardiac diseases. These cardiac transplant patients may present to the emergency department with a range of issues involving the cardiac transplantation, including complications due to their transplant as well as altered presentations of disease resulting from their transplant. Objective This narrative review provides a focused guide to the evaluation and management of patients with cardiac transplantation and its complications. Discussion Cardiac transplant is an effective therapy for end-stage heart failure. A transplanted heart varies both anatomically and physiologically from a native heart. Several significant complications may occur. Graft failure, rejection, and infection are common causes of morbidity and mortality within the first year of transplant. As these patients are on significant immunosuppressive medication regimens, they are at risk of infection, but inadequate immunosuppression increases the risk of acute rejection. A variety of dysrhythmias such as atrial fibrillation and ventricular dysrhythmias may occur. These patients are also at risk of acute coronary syndrome, cardiac allograft vasculopathy, and medication adverse events. Importantly, patients with acute coronary syndrome can have an altered presentation with the so-called “painless” myocardial infarction. Consultation with the transplant physician is recommended, if available, for these patients to assist in evaluation and management. Conclusions An understanding of the presentations and various complications that may affect patients with cardiac transplant will assist emergency clinicians in the care of these patients.
The Eastern Catholic Churches and the Furtherance of Catholic-Orthodox Unity: Three Possible Paths

Although the Eastern Catholic Churches are seen by many today as obstacles to full communion between the Catholic and Orthodox Churches, history offers at least three possible ways for them to serve the cause of unity and become true bridgebuilders between East and West. First, the Eastern Catholic Churches could remain part of the Catholic Communion, but at the same time increasingly become “the Orthodox voice” within it. This, for example, was the role of both Melkite Patriarch Gregory II Youssef at Vatican I and Patriarch Maximus IV at Vatican II. Second, the Eastern Churches could continue to explore the possibility of a dual communion with both Rome and Constantinople, a state of affairs that appears to have existed in the Kyivan Church for several years prior to Brest. Third, the Eastern Catholic Churches could return to those Orthodox churches from which they originally sprang, serving within Orthodoxy as an antidote to the anti-Catholicism that currently poisons relations between East and West.
The Anthropocene: A Special Issue

This special issue of the Annals of the American Association of Geographers is devoted to the Anthropocene, the period of unprecedented human impacts on Earth’s environmental systems. The articles ...
A Qualitative Exploration of Jezebel Stereotype Endorsement and Sexual Behaviors Among Black College Women

Researchers suggest that the Jezebel stereotype exerts a significant influence on Black women’s sexual decision making. The current qualitative study drew upon narrative data from individual, semis...
Managing capacity for virtual and office appointments in chronic care

Patients living with a chronic disease often require regular appointments and treatments. Due to the constraints on the availability of office appointments and the capacity of physicians, access to chronic care can be limited; consequently, patients may fail to receive the recommended care suggested by clinical guidelines. Virtual appointments can provide a cost-effective alternative to traditional office appointments for managing chronic conditions. Advances in information technology infrastructure, communication, and connected medical devices are enabling providers to evaluate, diagnose, and treat patients remotely. In this study, we build a capacity allocation model to study the use of virtual appointments in a chronic care setting. We consider a cohort of patients receiving chronic care and model the flow of the patients between office and virtual appointments using an open migration network. We formulate the planning of capacity needed for office and virtual appointments with a newsvendor model to maximize long-run average earnings. We consider differences in treatment and diagnosis effectiveness for office and virtual appointments. We derive optimal capacity allocation policies and implement numerical experiments. With the model developed, capacity decisions for office and virtual appointments can be made more systematically with the consideration of patient disease progressions.
Adaptive Surface Electromyography Normalization for Long-Duration Recordings

Long-duration surface electromyography (sEMG) recordings are not considered in recent consensus on the appropriate methods for sEMG normalization. Here we find that sEMG data normalized by the gold standard, maximum voluntary contraction, fails to appropriately represent the amplitude recorded from walking bouts over an 18-hour period, suggesting that normalization reference values may not remain valid over long periods. To address this limitation, we present a new adaptive method for sEMG normalization that leverages data collected during typical daily activities. We explore several candidate daily activities for performing this normalization, and assess their ability to resolve expected sEMG amplitude changes with stride time and activity intensity. Normalization to walking, and particularly to a self-selected comfortable speed, yields the best results.
The Impact of Microprocessor Knees on the Cognitive Burden of Ambulation, Patient Safety, Healthcare Economics, and Prosthetic Mobility

The purpose of this paper is to highlight significant publications from the last 5 years relative to the impact of microprocessor knees (MPKs) on such considerations as the cognitive loads experienced during prosthetic ambulation, patient safety and the mitigation of fall risk, healthcare economic models, and prosthetic mobility. Recent publications have linked the use of an MPK with a reduction in the self-reported cognitive demands of ambulation, a substantially reduced risk of injurious falls among individuals with dysvascular amputation etiology, and enhanced prosthetic mobility in both community and limited community ambulators. Reduced fall risk and enhanced quality of life have culminated in substantial impacts of MPKs on healthcare economic models. There is a growing recognition of the potential value of MPKs among prosthesis users confined to limited community ambulation. The evidence in support of MPKs has continued to mature in recent years.
In-Process Ultrasonic Thickness Metrology Applied to Steel Parts of Rotation

Accurate in-situ measurement of part dimensions during fabrication is of much interest to the manufacturing industry for process automation [1]. This work addresses one such application, with a specific goal to make precise on-line thickness measurements on thin metal parts of rotation: hemispherical shells 100 to 200 mm in diameter. Current manufacturing practice prevents monitoring the thickness before final inspection is performed at a separate metrology station. With the shells held in place by a vacuum chuck in a turning center, part access is restricted to one side for in-process monitoring, suggesting the ultrasonic technique for the measurement.
A novel trench gate LDMOS

In this paper a novel trench gate lateral double diffused MOSFET (TG-LDMOS) device will be discussed and compared to the conventional LDMOS structure. Currently, the LDMOS devices are the preferred technology for base station amplifiers and in Power MOSFET switching applications. The Synopsys TCAD simulation results will shows an improvement in the breakdown capability, capacitance and gate charge reduction, and improved transfer curve characteristics as compared with a conventional LDMOS structure.
Topics in Bifurcation Theory

In this lecture we consider the effects of symmetry on bifurcation problems. Even a simple reflectional symmetry can have important consequences. For example, recall the two problems with the elastic from Lectures 1 and 2 which exhibited pitchfork bifurcations. Why should the pitchfork ever be seen? After all, we saw in the last lecture that a bifurcation diagram which contains either a bifurcation point (i.e., a solution of (2.12)) or and the pitchfork has both. How does it happen that a natural mathematical description of these problems predicts this apparently very unstable phenomenon, a pitchfork? The answer lies in the fact that both these problems possessed a nontrivial reflectional symmetry: u → -u for the compression problem of Lecture 1, u(s) → u (π - s) for the shallow arch of Lecture 2. It turns out that the pitchfork is persistent within the class of functions admitting a nontrivial action of the group Z2. (This fact indicates some of the problems of generalizing Theorem 2.2 to cases where a symmetry group acts.) See Golubitsky and Schaeffer [1979b] for a proof of persistence; here we do not pursue it further.
EXTRACTION AND PRELIMINARY CHARACTERIZATION OF A HEPATOTOXIC SUBSTANCE FROM CULTURES OF PENICILLIUM RUBRUM

Wilson, Benjamin J. (David Lipscomb College, Nashville, Tenn.) and Christina H. Wilson. Extraction and preliminary characterization of a hepatotoxic substance from cultures of Penicillium rubrum. J. Bacteriol. 84:283–290. 1962.—A toxic acidic substance was extracted from cultures of Penicillium rubrum P-13 grown on corn-sucrose medium. Administration to mice, guinea pigs, rabbits, and dogs produced hepatotoxic and hemorrhagic syndromes. These findings were similar to those previously reported in which livestock were fed feedstuff infected with pure cultures of the fungus. Preliminary studies were made of the physical and chemical properties of the toxic material.
Centering behavior using peripheral vision

The ability to control egomotion using low resolution peripheral vision is crucial for enabling a small high resolution fovea to attend to features that require detailed examination. The robot described demonstrates the ability to use low resolution motion vision over large fields of view to steer between obstacles. The system uses the maximum flow observed in left and right peripheral visual fields to indicate obstacle proximity. Each peripheral field constitutes one-third of a wide-angle lens. The left and right proximates are compared to steer through the gap. Negative feedback control of steering is able to tolerate inaccuracies in the signal estimation. This interpretation of the flows is based on the assumption that the camera is translating along the gaze vector. This condition is maintained under egomotion by active gaze stabilization. Head rotation is countered by eye rotation, and gaze is returned to the heading by rapid camera movements when necessary. >
The Juxtaposition of Color and Villainy in Gotham City

Color is frequently used during the comic book creation process as a way to assist readers in identifying the roles of objects and people within the story, especially in superhero comics. Despite traditional color schemes that feature brightly clad superheroes and dark villains, the various Batman-related comic book series do not adhere to them. The following analysis seeks to provide an explanation for the reversal of color schemes by delving past appearance alone and discovering how motivations, self-perceptions, and self-acceptance can influence costume choice.
Concurrent rotator-cuff tear and brachial plexus palsy associated with anterior dislocation of the shoulder. A report of two cases.

Concurrent rotator-cuff tear and brachial plexus palsy associated with anterior dislocation of the shoulder. A report of two cases. D Gonzalez;R Lopez; The Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery
Fecal DDA as a biomarker of DDT exposure in chickens

Despite the largely theoretical risks for human morbidity from exposure to DDT (p, p′-dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane), the reality that it is inexpensive and highly effective in reducing morbidity and mortality from malaria vectors has encouraged its continued use. Here we present data indicating that domestic fowl are potentially excellent sentinel species for detecting possible human exposures to DDT. In addition to measuring residues of DDT in chicken blood or eggs, a potential alternate analyte indicative of recent DDT exposure is the definitive metabolic product DDA (2,2-bis(4-chlorophenyl)acetic acid) in feces.
The composition and superconducting properties of AuPb films

Abstract Superconducting AuPb films were prepared by evaporation of Au first, Pb first and co-evaporation. X-ray diffraction showed the formation of three compounds, and in no case was a single phase film formed. Complete compound formation took about 2 days at room temperature, and only 2–3 h at 100 C. Transition temperature decreased with increasing Au content, but at a different rate for the three formation methods. The layered films exhibited maximum resistance and transition width and minimum critical current ( T c −0·1 K) at 25 at.% Au while the co-evaporated films had these maxima and minima at 33 1 3 at. % Au.
A new family of functional biodegradable arginine-based polyester urea urethanes: Synthesis, chracterization and biodegradation

Abstract A new family of biodegradable functional cationic l -Arginine ( l -Arg) poly (ester urea urethane) (Arg-PEUU) polymers was synthesized by the solution polycondensation of three monomers: l -Arg hydrochloride alkylene diester (Arg- x -Cl), hexamethylene diisocyanate (HDI) and glycerol α-monoallyl ether (GAE). Chemical structures of Arg- x -Cl and the Arg-PEUU polymers were characterized by H NMR, FTIR, and carbon/nitrogen elemental analysis. The molecular weight of Arg-PEUU ranged from 23,900 to 29,400 kg/mol. The glass transition temperature ( T g ) of Arg-PEUU ranged from −20.8 °C to 4.2 °C, depending on the feed ratio of the 3 monomers. The water contact angle of Arg-PEUU ranged from 26.7 ± 4.3° to 61.3 ± 5.2°. The Arg-PEUU had no cytotoxicity toward porcine aortic valve smooth muscle cells at low concentrations (0.1–0.2 mg/mL). Arg-PEUUs can be photo-crosslinked into elastic gels with compressive modulus ranged from 54.2 ± 9.1 to 120.7 ± 5.4 KPa. The biodegradation data (weight loss) of the Arg-PEUU in a lipase media suggested that the crosslinking density as well as the Arg- x -Cl contents in the functional Arg-PEUU had a profound impact on the biodegradation rate.
The type III effector repertoire of Pseudomonas syringae pv. syringae B728a and its role in survival and disease on host and non‐host plants

The bacterial plant pathogen Pseudomonas syringae injects a large repertoire of effector proteins into plant cells using a type III secretion apparatus. Effectors can trigger or suppress defences in a host-dependent fashion. Host defences are often accompanied by programmed cell death, while interference with defences is sometimes associated with cell death suppression. We previously predicted the effector repertoire of the sequenced bean pathogen P. syringae pv. syringae (Psy) B728a using bioinformatics. Here we show that PsyB728a is also pathogenic on the model plant species Nicotiana benthamiana (tobacco). We confirm our effector predictions and clone the nearly complete PsyB728a effector repertoire. We find effectors to have different cell death-modulating activities and distinct roles during the infection of the susceptible bean and tobacco hosts. Unexpectedly, we do not find a strict correlation between cell death-eliciting and defence-eliciting activity and between cell death-suppressing activity and defence-interfering activity. Furthermore, we find several effectors with quantitative avirulence activities on their susceptible hosts, but with growth-promoting effects on Arabidopsis thaliana, a species on which PsyB728a does not cause disease. We conclude that P. syringae strains may have evolved large effector repertoires to extend their host ranges or increase their survival on various unrelated plant species.
The Role of Work and Cultural Values in Occupational Choice, Satisfaction, and Success: A Theoretical Statement

Theorists have all but ignored the career development of ethnic and cultural minorities. The purpose of this article is to rectify this oversight by presenting a values-based theory of occupational choice, satisfaction, and success. Values were chosen as the cornerstone of the theory because work values have been identified as critical variables in the career development process (e.g., N. A. Fouad, 1995; D. E. Super & B. Sverko, 1995). Cultural values also play an important role in the occupational choice-making process (e.g., F. A. Ibrahim, H. Ohnishi, & R. P. Wilson, 1994). Although they are the primary factors in choosing and advancing in an occupation, a number of other variables interact with values.
What Makes Characters’ Bad Behaviors Acceptable? The Effects of Character Motivation and Outcome on Perceptions, Character Liking, and Moral Disengagement

Many characters in entertainment content behave in morally questionable ways at least some of the time. However, the negative effects of those behaviors on individuals’ judgments of the character may be diminished in some instances. This study examined the effects of character motivation and outcome in a written narrative on character perceptions and moral disengagement. The findings of a 2 (motivation: altruistic, selfish) × 2 (outcome: positive, negative) experiment (N = 123) revealed that both motivation and outcome affect perceptions of the character's positive and negative attributes, character liking, and moral disengagement. Specifically, altruistic motivations and positive outcomes led to more favorable perceptions of a character's attributes, greater character liking, and more justification of the character's actions. Furthermore, moral disengagement mediated the effects of motivation and outcome on perceptions of characters' positive and negative attributes, and in turn positive attributes media...
Electrical Properties of Zeolitic Catalysts

The zeolites belong to the category of high surface area ceramics. Their exceptional catalytic properties and performance as solid electrolytes are linked with the composition pore geometry, the distribution of T-atoms, and the nature and mobility of the adsorbed phases. Parallel conductivity and dielectric relaxation studies, carried out mostly during the last three decades of growing scientific interest on zeolites, are utilised in the investigation of the necessary conditions for optimal catalytic activity and conductive behaviour. Their ionic conductivity and a number of dielectric relaxation phenomena, are strongly affected by the presence of various molecular and ionic species. The thermodynamic quantities related to the above processes show a marked dependence on the kind (size and charge), density (absolute number and relative partition in coordination site groups) and mobility of the current carriers since these parameters determine the strength of the electrostatic interactions. Moreover, the conduction mechanisms show dependence upon the three-dimensional matrix (channels' size and interconnection), which influences the cation jumping rate, as well as miscellaneous processes related to the conditions of material preparation and measurement (structure-directing templates, thermal treatments, vapour adsorption at controlled pressures with molecules of variable dimensions and polarisability, irradiation, clustering processes, etc).
In vitro percutaneous absorption of the fragrance ingredient musk xylol

The percutaneous absorption of the fragrance fixative musk xylol was measured in vitro in human and hairless guinea pig skin. For comparison, musk xylol was applied to skin in an oil-in-water emulsion or the volatile solvent, methanol. After 24 hr, total absorption of musk xylol in hairless guinea pig skin was 55% from the emulsion vehicle and 45% from the methanol vehicle. With human skin, permeation of musk xylol from both vehicles decreased to 22% of the applied dose. When human studies were continued for an additional 6 days after skin surface washing, only 6% of the applied dose remained in skin. The data suggest that most of the absorbed musk xylol in skin at 24 hr will be systemically absorbed in vivo within 1 wk. Throughout the 24-hr absorption study, absorbed musk xylol was not metabolized. A permeability constant for musk xylol permeation through hairless guinea pig skin was determined by a modified procedure for the lipophilic compound. At each time point, some diffusion cells were terminated so that skin and receptor fluid levels could be determined. Under steady-state absorption the permeability constant was 6.86 x 10(-5) cm/hr. The amount of musk xylol penetrating skin from three types of cosmetic products was also calculated on the basis of actual conditions of use. Products that are applied to large areas of the body and remain on the skin for long periods will result in the greatest absorption of musk xylol.
Nonmagnetic Phase of a Dilute Transition Series Alloy

We construct a nonmagnetic singlet ground state and the magnetic excited states of an isolated S=1/2 impurity atom in a metal, using holes below the Fermi level and electrons above it. The error in the variational energies is O(1%). The size of magnetic eigenstates is very large where the energy is a minimum, while the nonmagnetic ground is always compact with ξ=O(1) inter-atomic distance. This relates to the disappearance or re-appearance of magnetic moments and their RKKY-type interactions with slight shifts in the Fermi level.
Glomerular atrial natriuretic factor receptors in primary glomerulopathies: studies on human renal biopsies.

Human renal biopsies are currently used to provide information about morphologic changes, chronicity of disease, patterns of inflammation, and immunoglobulin deposition. This practice has provided only limited insight into functional aberrations and has failed to provide information necessary for disease classification based on pathophysiology. To expand the potential of the renal biopsy in this regard and to determine whether differences in glomerular atrial natriuretic factor (ANF) binding exist in different forms of primary renal disease, quantitative autoradiography and 125 l-human ANF (1-28) were used to determine the location and pharmacological characteristics of ANF binding sites in the normal human kidney. Specific ANF binding was highest in the glomeruli, but lower levels of specific binding were localized to the inner medulla and the interlobular arteries. ANF binding sites in the human kidney were found to be highly stable and similar in both location and pharmacology to those observed in experimental animals. As determined by saturation experiments, the equilibrium dissociation constants for glomeruli, inner medulla, and interlobular arteries were almost identical at 4.0 × 10 -11 mol/L. Competitive binding inhibition studies with unlabeled human ANF (1-28) demonstrated highly specific binding shared by the glomerulus, inner medulla, and interlobular artery, with apparent half-maximal inhibition concentrations of 9.2 × 10 -10 mol/L, 8.0 × -10 mol/L, and 8.2 × 10 -10 mol/L, respectively. Quantitation of specific binding of ANF to glomeruli in needle biopsy specimens of three primary glomerulopathies, ie, minimal-change disease, membranous nephropathy, and focal glomerulosclerosis, showed no differences among the groups. This study demonstrates the feasibility of studying receptor physiology on biopsy specimens of the human kidney and should allow renal diseases, particularly of glomerular origin, to be characterized according to differences in hormone binding and hormone responsiveness. The absence of significant differences in glomerular ANF binding in the primary glomerulopathies studied is consistent with other studies that have failed to delineate important pathophysiological differences in renal function and volume homeostasis in these disease states.
Assessment of teratogenic risk design and status of the North American antiepileptic drug registry

The North American Antiepileptic Drug (AED) Registry is a study of pregnancy outcomes following AED exposure. The study is being conducted by the Genetics and Teratology Unit of the Massachusetts General Hospital. Women with or without epilepsy taking AEDs during pregnancy are eligible to enroll. Major malformations and the birth status of the infant are determined for each pregnancy. Analysis will be stratified by enrolment prior to prenatal screening at 16–18 weeks gestation (prospective) and after the prenatal testing has identified a fetal abnormality (retrospective). Women who have had prenatal screening and no fetal abnormality found are classified as prospective, but tabulated separately. Inclusion and exclusion criteria have been established to use in deciding which outcomes are major malformations. As of 19 April 2000, 1737 women have been enrolled (62.8% prospective) and data on 1077 infants are available. The Scientific Advisory Committee has established criteria for when the findings are appropriate for release. The first data release is expected in 2001. GENERAL DISCUSSION