cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A New SOA Data-Provenance Framework

Due to the dynamic nature, such as runtime composition and evaluation, it is critical for an SOA system to consider its data provenance, which concerns security, reliability, and integrity of data as it is routed in the system. In a traditional software system, one can focus on the software itself to determine the security, reliability, and integrity; however, in an SOA system, one also needs to consider the origins and routes of data and their impact, i.e., data provenance. This paper first analyzes the unique natures and characteristics of data provenance in an SOA system. Then it proposes a new framework to classify data provenance and collect data in SOA systems. Finally, this paper uses an example to illustrate these concepts and techniques
Poverty and Sickness in Modern Europe: Narratives of the Sick Poor, 1780–1938. Edited by Andreas Gestrich, Elizabeth Hurren, and Steven King. (New York, NY: Continuum, 2012. Pp. v, 278. $34.95.)

This new study is excellent scholarship and very topical. Unfortunately, these two qualities seem likely to clash. Contemporary policymakers who could profit greatly from reading the book will be i...
Generalized james-stein estimatoes

Let the p-component vector X be normally distributed with mean θ and covariance σ2I where I denotes the identity matrix. Stein's estimator of θ is kown to dominate the usual estimator X for p ≥ 3, We obtain a family of estimators which dominate Stein's estimator for p≥ 3
Do ray cells provide a pathway for radial water movement in the stems of conifer trees

 Premise of the study: The pathway of radial water movement in tree stems presents an unknown with respect to whole-tree hydraulics. Radial profi les have shown substantial axial sap fl ow in deeper layers of sapwood (that may lack direct connection to transpiring leaves), which suggests the existence of a radial pathway for water movement. Rays in tree stems include ray tracheids and/or ray parenchyma cells and may offer such a pathway for radial water transport. This study investigated relationships between radial hydraulic conductivity ( k s-rad ) and ray anatomical and stem morphological characteristics in the stems of three conifer species whose distributions span a natural aridity gradient across the Cascade Mountain range in Oregon, United States.  Methods: The k s-rad was measured with a high-pressure fl ow meter. Ray tracheid and ray parenchyma characteristics and water transport properties were visualized using autofl uorescence or confocal microscopy.  Key results: The k s-rad did not vary predictably with sapwood depth among species and populations. Dye tracer did not infi ltrate ray tracheids, and infi ltration into ray parenchyma was limited. Regression analyses revealed inconsistent relationships between k s-rad and selected anatomical or growth characteristics when ecotypes were analyzed individually and weak relationships between k s-rad and these characteristics when data were pooled by tree species.  Conclusions: The lack of signifi cant relationships between k s-rad and the ray and stem morphologies we studied, combined with the absence of dye tracer in ray tracheid and limited movement of dye into ray parenchyma suggests that rays may not facilitate radial water transport in the three conifer species studied.
Data-Driven Network Resource Allocation for Controlling Spreading Processes

We propose a mathematical framework, based on conic geometric programming, to control a susceptible-infected-susceptible viral spreading process taking place in a directed contact network with unknown contact rates. We assume that we have access to time series data describing the evolution of the spreading process observed by a collection of sensor nodes over a finite time interval. We propose a data-driven robust optimization framework to find the optimal allocation of protection resources (e.g., vaccines and/or antidotes) to eradicate the viral spread at the fastest possible rate. In contrast to current network identification heuristics, in which a single network is identified to explain the observed data, we use available data to define an uncertainty set containing all networks that are coherent with empirical observations. Through Lagrange duality and convexification of the uncertainty set, we are able to relax the robust optimization problem into a conic geometric program, recently proposed by Chandrasekaran and Shah [1] , which allows us to efficiently find the optimal allocation of resources to control the worst-case spread that can take place in the uncertainty set of networks. We illustrate our approach in a transportation network from which we collect partial data about the dynamics of a hypothetical epidemic outbreak over a finite period of time.
Integrating the bright and dark sides of ocb: : A daily investigation of the benefits and costs of helping others

Although the general picture in the organizational citizenship behavior (OCB) literature is that OCB has positive consequences for employees and organizations, an emerging stream of work has begun ...
Electron and Hole Transport Perpendicular to the Planes of a-Si:H/ a-Si, Ge:H Compositional Superlattices

Drift mobilities, drift mobility-lifetime products and minority carrier diffusion lengths perpendicular to the planes of a-Si:H,F/a-Si0.35,Ge0.65:H,F superlattices have been measured over a range of well sublayer widths. The transport data suggest a transition from scattering dominated transport in states at the top of the barriers for short superlattice periods to recombination dominated transport at the bottom of the wells for large periods. The characteristic period for this transition is ∼3 nm.
p-Groups with Elements of Infinite Height

We continue our study of torsion groups concentrating on p-groups (with unspecified prime p) in the general case when the groups contain elements of infinite height. Matters are more subtle here as one has to deal with transfinite heights that are the central concept both in the search for invariants and in the proofs.
Magnetism and Bond Order in Diatomic Molecules Described by Semiclassical Electrons.

The past decade has seen the first attempts at quantifying a semiclassical description of electrons in molecules. The challenge in this endeavor is to find potentials for electron interactions that adequately capture quantum effects. As has been the case for density functionals, the challenge is particularly great for the effects that follow from the requirement for wave function antisymmetry. Here we extend our empirical inquiry into effective potentials, from prior work on the monatomic atoms and ions of nonmetals, to diatomic molecules and ions formed by these elements. Newly adjusted and trained for the longer distances relevant to diatomics, pairwise potentials are able to fit the bond orders and magnetic properties of homonuclear species. These potentials are then found to do an excellent job of predicting the magnetism of heteronuclear species. In these molecules the predicted distribution of electrons also correctly reflects increasing ionic character with increasing difference in the electronegat...
Effects of Liquid Supplement Feeder Wheel Width and Turning Capability on Supplement Intake by Beef Heifers

Effects of reducing liquid supplement feeder wheel width and turning capability on ad libitum liquid supplement intake were evaluated. The experiment was conducted in the summer 2000 at two Florida locations: Gainesville and Ona. Four treatments consisted of 1) standard lick wheel (5.1 cm wide) with no turning restriction (S-NR), 2) standard wheel with turning restricted to 330o (S-R), 3) narrowed lick wheel (1.9 cm wide) with no turning restriction (NW-NR), and 4) narrowed lick wheel with turning restricted to 330° (NW-R). Intakes of a 16% CP liquid supplement from these feeders were compared using a 4 x 4 Latin square design with five crossbred beef heifers (350 to 386 kg initial BW) in each of four bahiagrass pastures (Paspalum notatum; 1.6 ha in Gainesville and 1.2 ha in Ona), over four 21-d periods. Heifers assigned to treatments S-NR and N-R during periods 3 and 4 received a sustained release Cr oxide bolus and Yb chloride blended in their liquid supplement (340 ppm Yb). Intake of each animal was determined by measuring Cr and Yb concentrations in feces from three dates in each period and then averaged across days to estimate fecal output and supplement intake for each animal. At Gainesville, average supplement intake for treatments S-NR, S-R, NW-NR, and N-R were 2.67, 2.00, 2.21, and 1.60 kg/d, respectively. The supplement intake for S-R was 25% less (P<0.01) than S-NR; intake for N-NR was 17% less (P<0.02) than S-NR. The supplement intake for NW-R was 40% less (P<0.01) than S-NR. At Ona, supplement consumption for treatments S-NR, S-R, NW-NR, and NW-R were 3.08, 3.03, 3.40, and 2.38 kg/d, respectively. The supplement intake for NW-R was 23% less (P<0.01) than S-NR. There were no differences in supplement intake between S-NR, S-R, and N-NR treatments at Ona. The estimated supplement intake for each animal was determined and CV calculated for each pasture. At Gainesville, the CV for S-NR and NW-R was 26 and 15%, respectively. At Ona, the CV for S-NR and N-R was 23 and 35%, respectively. Reducing lick wheel width to 1.9 cm and restricting its rotation reduced liquid supplement consumption 40% and 23% at Gainesvile and Ona, respectively.
‘Consorted in one Harmonee’: The Faerie Queene , 1590, Books One to Three

In 1590 the first three books of The Faerie Queene were published. It was not only the culmination of its author’s literary life but arguably, more than any other poem of its age, epitomizes the ambitions, failures and contradictions of the Elizabethan political and religious establishment and its poetry. In 1596 the poem was reissued, with some revisions, including a major change made to the ending the poem had been given in 1590, and with three additional books. The contradictions of both the poem and the age are especially evident in the books added in 1596, which will be the topic of the following chapter; in the 1590 Faerie Queene, despite what in retrospect can also be seen as major intellectual contradictions, there is a buoyancy and confidence about the role of poetry (and Spenser’s own career as a poet) within the Elizabethan court, the English state, and within Spenser’s life itself that the second group of three books blur. Like the Shepheardes Calender, which launched Spenser’s career as a poet, the 1590 Faerie Queene is a product of a confidence that art can, without an loss of integrity, become a ‘work of state’, that a poet may pursue his literary vocation as well as being recognized as central to the well-being of the society.
Evolutionary Tuning of Non-parametric Information Conversion Functions for Diagnostics

In aircraft health management applications, there are two types of data available, parametric and non-parametric data. Parametric data, such as sensor measurements from engine or airframe, have traditionally been the primary data source for proactive diagnostic and performance monitoring applications because they allow one to trend even subtle changes over time. Non-parametric data (e.g., error logs and fault messages, that are either of textual nature or binary flags) are more often used for event driven maintenance. Fundamentally, both information sources harbor diagnostic information that, when used together, might improve results for both applications. This paper employs a conversion function to parameterize non-parametric information so that it can be used together with parametric data to enhance the diagnosis of aircraft engine faults. Genetic algorithms are applied for fine-tuning of parameters of the conversion function. Experimental results from real engine data are presented.
Case 40-2016. A 14-Month-Old Girl with Recurrent Vomiting.

A 14-month-old girl presented with a 3-month history of recurrent vomiting, without fever, abdominal pain, or diarrhea. Frontal bossing was present and the fontanelle was full, with mild pulsations. A diagnostic test was performed.
Compositional simulation of hydrocarbon recovery from oil shale reservoirs with diverse initial saturations of fluid phases by various thermal processes

We have studied the hydrocarbon production from oil shale reservoirs filled with diverse initial saturations of fluid phases by implementing numerical simulations of various thermal in-situ upgradi...
God, Time, and Relativity

If, as I have argued, God exists in time and there is some physical time which is the measure of God’s time, as Newton believed, then the question arises as to whether we have some idea of which measured time coincides with God’s metaphysical time, or in other words, what clock time is the true time? The answer to this question will take us from Special into General Relativity, as we seek to gain a cosmic perspective on time.
The Battle for Yellowstone: Morality and the Sacred Roots of Environmental Conflict, by Justin Farrell

A growing number of intractable environmental conflicts involving interest groups with deeply held beliefs are resisting resolution in spite of extensive scientific analysis and legal and bureaucra...
Round Table Discussion on Passive Versus Active Damping

Publisher Summary This chapter describes the round table discussion on passive versus active damping. Active damping may provide greater performance than passive, frequency shaping is possible and weight may be less. The design may be much more dependent on accuracy of models of the structural behavior even for collocated sensor and actuator because of their finite bandwidth. Actuator development and laboratory demonstration is more advanced than for passive damping. The interaction of control engineers with structural analysts needs to be improved by removing artificial organizational boundaries. Unless a working relation develops in which the structural engineer is sensitive to changes which can reduce sensitivity and improve robustness, the control engineer must specify changes, rather than asking what can be done. The current tools of structural analysts are based on lossless models with damping added by noncausal, unphysical means that are poorly related to experimented verification and of little use in suggesting location, type, and size of physical damping devices.
Criteria for Evaluation of Organizational Communication Effectiveness: Review and Synthesis

This paper contains a discussion of 21 potential criteria for assessing the effectiveness of communication in organizations. The criteria are derived from a systematic, computer-based search of the...
Validation of Neutrophil CD64 Blood Biomarkers to Detect Mucosal Inflammation in Pediatric Crohn's Disease.

Background In a pilot study, neutrophil CD64 surface expression was significantly elevated in newly diagnosed, pediatric-onset Crohn's disease. We aimed to test the CD64 biomarkers (neutrophil CD64 surface expression and soluble CD64) as determinates for mucosal inflammation in a larger pediatric Crohn's cohort with the hypotheses that the CD64 biomarkers would reliably detect intestinal inflammation and correlate with endoscopic severity scores. Methods We enrolled patients referred for colonoscopy for either suspected inflammatory bowel disease or with established Crohn's. Neutrophil CD64 index was determined by flow cytometry using a commercial kit (Leuko64, Trillium) and soluble CD64 by ELISA (LifeSpan). Results A total of 209 patients (72 controls, 76 new inflammatory bowel disease patients, and 61 established Crohn's) were enrolled. Both neutrophil CD64 index and soluble CD64 were significantly elevated in new Crohn's compared with controls. The area under the curve (AUC) for neutrophil CD64 index ≥1 was 0.85 (95% confidence interval, 0.77-0.92), 75% sensitive and 89% specific for new Crohn's. Comparatively, soluble CD64 ≥39 ng/mL was 92% sensitive and 85% specific (AUC, 0.93) for new Crohn's. Neutrophil CD64 index, soluble CD64, and fecal calprotectin discriminated endoscopic inactive from moderate and severe activity while soluble CD64 differentiated endoscopic mild from moderate and severe activity. Neutrophil CD64 index (r = 0.46, P < 0.001) and fecal calprotectin (r = 0.55, P < 0.001) correlated well with the Simple Endoscopic Score-Crohn's disease. Spearman correlation between the CD64 index and calprotectin was 0.39 (P < 0.001). Conclusions In a large Crohn's disease cohort, we found that neutrophil CD64 index and soluble CD64 were significantly elevated during active gastrointestinal inflammation.
Social and ecological drivers of reproductive seasonality in geladas

Many nonseasonally breeding mammals demonstrate some degree of synchrony in births, which is generally associated with ecological factors that mediate fecundity. However, disruptive social events, such as alpha male replacements, also have the potential to affect the timing of female reproduction. Here, we examined reproductive seasonality in a wild population of geladas (Theropithecus gelada) living at high altitudes in an afro-alpine ecosystem in Ethiopia. Using 9 years of demographic data (2006-2014), we determined that, while females gave birth year-round, a seasonal peak in births coincided with peak green grass availability (their staple food source). This post-rainy season "ecological peak" in births meant that estimated conceptions for these births occurred when temperatures were at their highest and mean female fecal glucocorticoid concentrations were at their lowest. In addition to this ecological birth peak, we also found a separate birth peak that occurred only for females in groups that had experienced a recent replacement of the dominant male (i.e., a takeover). Because new dominant males cause abortions in pregnant females and kill the infants of lactating females, takeovers effectively "reset" the reproductive cycles of females in the group. This "social birth peak" was distinct from the ecological peak and was associated with higher rates of cycling and conceptions overall and higher glucocorticoid levels immediately following a takeover as compared to females that did not experience a takeover. These data demonstrate that social factors (in this case, male takeovers) can contribute to population-level reproductive seasonality above and beyond group-level reproductive synchrony.
Principals' Use of Rating Scale Categories in Classroom Observations for Teacher Evaluation.

Teacher evaluation systems commonly rely on observation of teaching practice (OTP) by school principals. However, the value of OTP as evidence of teacher effectiveness depends on its psychometric q...
Chapter 3: Intolerance

We evaluate the phenomena that we directly or indirectly encounter in the external world through the lens of our values. Values represent our perception of what is good for us. But what is good or useful for us depends on the role we have been given by certain external environmental factors, whether natural or social. This is so-called objective utility, because we are always influenced by external factors. We do not choose this role ourselves; it is assigned to us from the outside. Because we only come into contact with the outside world indirectly through our consciousness, we perceive our role as independent, and we process the influence of the outside world through our perceptions and conscious selves in accordance with our understanding of it. We function based on our own understanding of our role and our own judgment about the external influences, which is just another expression of how we define our role. We judge for ourselves what is useful for us and what is not. This necessarily results in a difference between objective and subjective utility, which in different situations may be more or less synchronized. If we define values as our perception of what is good for us, then values can also be objective and subjective. We generally operate based on subjective values. The more our personal values correspond with the objective values of the outside world, the more our personal role will fit in with events in that world. The more people in our world act in accordance with our subjective values, the closer these subjective values will be connected to the objective world. But this cannot always be the case because we are dealing with subjective values. The alignment of subjective and objective values determines objective utility, and therefore whether our actions are reasonable in a given context. It will also affect the psychological state we call happiness, which is basically our perception of whether our own conditions and actions are in alignment with the objective conditions of the world.
Leaf litter decomposition in an ephemeral karst lake (Chaney Lake, Kentucky, U.S.A.)

Litter decomposition in temporary aquatic environments has not been experimentally studied as much as it has in perennial systems. However, litter is likely a critical resource for organisms inhabiting ephemeral aquatic habitats. In this study, we used litterbags under different conditions of submergence and water physical and chemical properties/characteristics to study mass and nutrient losses of terrestrial materials in an ephemeral karst lake in south-central Kentucky (USA). In the first experiment, which was designed to compare decomposition rates in submerged and dry sites, total mass and carbon declined more rapidly in the litter at fully submerged sites than in dry sites. In the second experiment, which was designed to compare decomposition rates in two different submerged environments, total mass and carbon showed similar decomposition trends between the two submerged areas with different seasonal temperature patterns. Nitrogen patterns were variable but in general nitrogen levels increased in the litter in both experiments over a period of several months. These results are similar to those found in some perennially inundated systems and indicate that litter decomposition dynamics in this temporary lake can be greatly affected by lake hydrology. Year-to-year variations in hydrology may thus have strong impacts on nutrient and energy release within this system, which may affect the organisms within this karst lake and in other areas of the karst ecosystem that are ecologically connected to it.
Design description of the fusion engineering device

During 1981, the Fusion Engineering Design Center developed a baseline design for the Fusion Engineering Device (FED) called for in the U.S. Magnetic Fusion Energy Engineering Act of 1980. The device has a major radius of 5.0 m with a plasma minor radius of 1.3 m elongated by 1.6. Capability is provided for operating the toroidal field (TF) coils up to 10 T, but the bulk of the operations are designed for 8 T. At 8-T conditions, the fusion power is about 180 MW (neutron wall loading about 0.4 MW/ m/sup 2/) and a plasma Q of about 5 is expected. At 10-T conditions, which are expected to be limited to about10% of the total operations, the fusion power is about450 MW ( about1.0 MW/m/sup 2/) and ignition is expected. Maintenance and cost were the key considerations in developing the design. The plasma chamber is assembled by inserting ten shield sectors into a spool support structure. Ten TF coils (7.4- X 10.9-m bore) are employed and produce a 3.6-T field (8 T) or 4.6-T field (10 T) on axis.
Role of MIP-2 in neutrophil migration and tissue injury in the herpes simplex virus-1-infected cornea.

PURPOSE. Neutrophils are the most prominent cell type to migrate initially into the herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-l)-infected murine cornea. The role the C-X-C chemokines macrophage inflammatory protein (MIP>2 and KC play in promoting this response was investigated. METHODS. MIP-2 and KC were quantitated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Neutralization of endogenous MIP-2 and KC was achieved by subconjunctival inoculation of the appropriate antibody. Infected corneas were examined immunohistochemically for infiltrating leukocytes and assayed for myeloperoxidase activity using the dye o-dianisidine. Depletion of neutrophils and natural killer cells was accomplished by intraperitoneal administration of RB6-8C5 and asialo GM1 antibodies. RESULTS. Herpes simplex virus type 1, when introduced intracorneally, stimulated the production of MIP-2 and KC, with peak synthesis occurring 48 hours after infection. Dose-response studies showed that exogenous MIP-2 was three to four times more potent than KC in attracting neutrophils as assessed by myeloperoxidase assay and immunohistochemical staining. Subconjunctival administration of neutralizing antibody to MIP-2 resulted in a sharp decrease in neutrophil infiltration and significantly reduced corneal opacity scores. In contrast, in vivo treatment with neutralizing antibody to KC did not suppress ocular inflammation. Additional studies indicated that MIP-2 and KC could be made by corneal epithelial cells and that production was promoted by interleukin GL)-1- In vivo depletion of neutrophils sharply reduced MIP-2 levels but did not affect KC levels. CONCLUSIONS. Collectively, the results suggest that MIP-2 is the major chemokine that attracts neutrophils into the HSV-1 infected cornea, where the cells directly or indirectly cause tissue injury. Resident corneal cells and inflammatory cells contribute to MIP-2 synthesis, whereas KC production seems to be confined largely to corneal cells. (Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 1998;39:1854 -1862)
Distances on Spaces of High-Dimensional Linear Stochastic Processes: A Survey

In this paper we study the geometrization of certain spaces of stochastic processes. Our main motivation comes from the problem of pattern recognition in high-dimensional time-series data (e.g., video sequence classification and clustering). In the first part of the paper, we provide a rather extensive review of some existing approaches to defining distances on spaces of stochastic processes. The majority of these distances are, in one way or another, based on comparing power spectral densities of the processes. In the second part, we focus on the space of processes generated by (stochastic) linear dynamical systems (LDSs) of fixed size and order, for which we recently introduced a class of group action induced distances called the alignment distances. This space is a natural choice in some pattern recognition applications and is also of great interest in control theory, where it is often convenient to represent LDSs in state-space form. In this case the space (more precisely manifold) of LDSs can be considered as the base space of a principal fiber bundle comprised of state-space realizations. This is due to a Lie group action symmetry present in the state-space representation of LDSs. The basic idea behind the alignment distance is to compare two LDSs by first aligning a pair of their realizations along the respective fibers. Upon a standardization (or bundle reduction) step this alignment process can be expressed as a minimization problem over orthogonal matrices, which can be solved efficiently. The alignment distance differs from most existing distances in that it is a structural or generative distance, since in some sense it compares how two processes are generated. We also briefly discuss averaging LDSs using the alignment distance via minimizing a sum of the squares of distances (namely, the so-called Frechet mean).
Nonintegrable Perturbations of Two Vortex Dynamics

The governing equations of motion of two point vortices in an ideal fluid in the plane has a Hamiltonian formulation that is completely integrable, so the dynamics are regular in the sense that one has quasiperiodic solutions confined to invariant two-dimensional tori accompanied by periodic orbits. Moreover, it is well known that the same is true of the dynamics of two point vortices in an ideal fluid in a standard half-plane (with a straight line boundary). It is natural to ask if this is also the case for half-planes whose boundaries are perturbations of a straight line. We prove here that there are such Hamiltonian perturbations of two vortex dynamics in the half-plane that generate chaotic — and a fortiori nonintegrable — dynamics, thereby answering an open question of rather long standing. Our proof, like most demonstrations of this kind, is based on Melnikov’s method.
Orexins and Control of Feeding by Learned Cues

Abstract Feeding behavior is essential for survival and is physiologically controlled through processes associated with energy and nutrient needs. In addition, environmental signals can drive appetite and eating through hedonic and cognitive processes in the absence of hunger. Cognitive cues, such as food-associated cues are powerful appetite stimulants. These cues are abundant in our environment and their stimulatory effects, together with easily accessible and affordable palatable foods, make us vulnerable to overeating. Deciphering the neural mechanisms underlying this cognitive motivation to eat is crucial for potential therapeutic interventions for those who suffer from insatiable appetites. This chapter provides an overview of the role of the neuropeptide orexin/hypocretin in the control of feeding by learned cues. The orexin system is an integral part of the feeding neural network and is critical for cue-mediated food seeking and consumption. Its dysregulation maybe be an important cause of vulnerability to enhanced cognitive motivation to eat.
Increased frequency of enzyme replacement therapy in a Fabry disease cohort

Fabry disease is a lysosomal storage disease caused by deficiency of the enzyme, alpha-galactosidase. Enzyme replacement therapy (ERT) in Fabry disease has been FDA-approved since April 2003. The standard dosing strategy of agalsidase beta is 1 mg/kg every two weeks. A subset of individuals treated with ERT for 9-12 years, described a cyclical pattern of feeling well after their biweekly dose followed by a variety of worsening symptoms 2-4 days before their next scheduled dose. The range of symptoms reported include worsened diarrhea, acroparesthesias, abdominal pain, fatigue, cardiac findings, and a lack of mental clarity or “fogginess.” We trialed a period of more frequent dosing in which infusions were administered every 10 days with improvement in the symptomatology and improved perceived quality of life. We will present the collected data, including laboratory measurements, cardiology evaluations, and quality of life surveys during this period of increased frequency of dosing, which is ongoing.
The impact of standard accelerated stability conditions on antibody higher order structure as assessed by mass spectrometry

ABSTRACTProtein therapeutic higher order structure (HOS) is a quality attribute that can be assessed to help predict shelf life. To model product shelf-life values, possible sample-dependent pathwa...
Tomography of Carbon Nanotube Materials

Abstract In recent decades, nanotechnology has flourished. In addition to developments in basic research, there are myriad practical applications under active development. In many of these applications, the nanoscale morphology is critical; for example, nanoparticle size and shape play a role in sensing and electrochemistry. However, conventional imaging is often unable to completely capture this morphology; planar microscopy can miss important structural features, and traditional sample preparation techniques can alter or annihilate the very structure the research is attempting to capture. Nanoscale computed tomography can resolve these issues. Computed tomography is a family of imaging techniques that collect images of a sample from a multitude of angles and then use mathematical reconstruction to convert that information into a 3D representation of the sample. This object can then be analyzed to provide useful morphology information, information like the shape and size of particles and pores or the network characteristics of fiber bundles. Here, we review origins and evolution of computed tomography into its current form and apply computed tomography to characterize some carbon nanotube-based materials and devices.
Synthesis of perfectly sulfonated sodium polystyrene sulfonate over a wide molar mass range via reversible-deactivation radical polymerization

An aqueous reversible‐deactivation radical polymerization (RDRP) approach is used to synthesize sodium polystyrene sulfonate directly from functionalized monomers to give uniformly and completely sulfonated materials. Reproducible gram scale syntheses are achieved under simple one pot reaction conditions at ambient temperatures, and full monomer conversions are achieved within approximately 3 h. Reaction variables such as pH, sodium chloride concentration, and methanol cosolvent have a significant effect on the molecular weights (Mₙ ≈ 20,000–400,000 g·mol⁻¹) obtained by gel permeation chromatography coupled multiangle light scattering. Observed dispersities were reasonably narrow: Ð ≈ 1.05–1.3. A parametric optimization, rather than direct variation of the monomer to initiator ratio, resulted in some of the highest molecular weight polymers by an RDRP approach. Linear progression between Mₙ and monomer conversion occurs at a neutral reaction pH, which results in narrow polymer molecular weight distributions, along with high end‐group fidelity as demonstrated with chain extension reactions. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2019, 57, 1527–1537
A computationally efficient hybrid model for simulating the additive manufacturing process of metals

Abstract Additive manufacturing (AM) suffers from residual stress formation and part distortion. One way to improve AM is to use optimal process parameters that yield residual stress distribution that is less detrimental. A finite element analysis (FEA) based model can be used as a design tool to determine optimal process parameters. Being a design tool, such a model should not only predict the residual stress formation and part distortion accurately but should be capable of performing the simulation in a reasonable time as well. However, the traditional FEA models are either accurate but computationally very expensive as in the case of process-based models that captures the evolution of the temperature and stress/strain field or very fast but often inaccurate as in the case of inherent strain based (IST) based models which comprise a series of quasi-static stress-analyses. In this study, we demonstrate that a model that is both accurate and computationally less expensive can be developed by adopting a hybrid approach in which the spatial and temporal resolution of the field solutions over different regions of the part are selectively controlled depending on the expected levels of stress gradients in these regions. The new model, called Additive FEA Hybrid (AFEA-H) model, uses a previously reported Additive FEA (AFEA) framework [1] to combine a process-based model that has a high spatial and temporal resolution with an IST based model that has a low resolution. Numerical simulations performed for a few example problems demonstrate that the AFEA-H method can enhance the computational efficiency substantially without compromising solution accuracy.
Establishing Expectations: Exploring Session Limits in University Counseling Centers

ABSTRACTUniversity counseling centers (UCCs) are tasked with delivering effective mental health interventions amidst increasing enrollment and declining resources. A growing number of UCCs have imp...
MobileCopy: Improving Data Availability and File Search Efficiency in Delay Tolerant Networks against Correlated Node Failure

So far, there is no file replication method that tries to reduce data loss in correlated node failures, which however are common in Disruption Tolerant Networks (DTNs). In this paper, we propose a distributed file replication method (called MobileCopy) in DTNs, which aims to achieve low probability of totally losing a file at the expense of having a high number of impacted files in an individual large-scale correlated node failure. MobileCopy is designed for community-based file sharing systems. It has two main components: i) data loss resistant and popularity aware file replication, and ii) distributed hash table (DHT)-based file replica indexing. MobileCopy considers file popularity to determine the number of replicas of a file in each community. Through limiting the possible combination of candidate replica holders, MobileCopy greatly reduces the probability of node failures that will lead to data loss, i.e., losing all replicas of a file. Moreover, MobileCopy enables nodes to efficiently store and fetch the placement information of file replicas through competition based file replication and considering node mobility throughput among communities. Extensive trace-driven experiments demonstrate the effectiveness of MobileCopy against correlated node failures compared with previous methods.
Impact of a student pharmacist-directed pilot intervention on influenza vaccination documentation and administration rates in older adults receiving parenteral anticancer therapy.

71Background: Annual influenza vaccination is recommended for individuals 6 months and older. Older adults are at high-risk of developing influenza and complications associated with the virus. Howe...
Altered resting brain connectivity in persistent cancer related fatigue.

There is an estimated 3 million women in the US living as breast cancer survivors and persistent cancer related fatigue (PCRF) disrupts the lives of an estimated 30% of these women. PCRF is associated with decreased quality of life, decreased sleep quality, impaired cognition and depression. The mechanisms of cancer related fatigue are not well understood; however, preliminary findings indicate dysfunctional activity in the brain as a potential factor. Here we investigate the relationship between PCRF on intrinsic resting state connectivity in this population. Twenty-three age matched breast cancer survivors (15 fatigued and 8 non-fatigued) who completed all cancer-related treatments at least 12 weeks prior to the study, were recruited to undergo functional connectivity magnetic resonance imaging (fcMRI). Intrinsic resting state networks were examined with both seed based and independent component analysis methods. Comparisons of brain connectivity patterns between groups as well as correlations with self-reported fatigue symptoms were performed. Fatigued patients displayed greater left inferior parietal lobule to superior frontal gyrus connectivity as compared to non-fatigued patients (P < 0.05 FDR corrected). This enhanced connectivity was associated with increased physical fatigue (P = 0.04, r = 0.52) and poor sleep quality (P = 0.04, r = 0.52) in the fatigued group. In contrast greater connectivity in the non-fatigued group was found between the right precuneus to the periaqueductal gray as well as the left IPL to subgenual cortex (P < 0.05 FDR corrected). Mental fatigue scores were associated with greater default mode network (DMN) connectivity to the superior frontal gyrus (P = 0.05 FDR corrected) among fatigued subjects (r = 0.82) and less connectivity in the non-fatigued group (r = −0.88). These findings indicate that there is enhanced intrinsic DMN connectivity to the frontal gyrus in breast cancer survivors with persistent fatigue. As the DMN is a network involved in self-referential thinking we speculate that enhanced connectivity between the DMN and the frontal gyrus may be related to mental fatigue and poor sleep quality. In contrast, enhanced connectivity between the DMN and regions in the subgenual cingulate and brainstem may serve a protective function in the non-fatigued group.
Great variability in donor heart acceptance practices across the United States

Disparities in organ acceptance practices exacerbate donor heart nonuse and lead to increased waiting times and mortality for heart transplant candidates. We studied disparities in donor heart acceptance among US transplant centers and their relations to posttransplant outcomes. Candidate, potential transplant recipient match run, and deceased donor data were obtained from the United Network for Organ Sharing. We analyzed donor, candidate, and transplant center characteristics with respect to organ acceptance, offer acceptance, number of offers before acceptance (organ sequence number), and association with posttransplant mortality. A total of 693 420 donor heart offers made between April 2007 and December 2015 were included. We identified great variability in donor heart acceptance practices among US heart transplant centers. We identified donor and recipient characteristics that were strongly associated with heart organ and offer acceptance, and organ sequence number, and identified inconsistencies among centers with respect to how these characteristics influenced acceptance decisions. Finally, we identified characteristics that were highly predictive of donor heart nonuse and were not associated with increased recipient mortality, which may guide future efforts aimed at increasing use of available hearts for transplantation.
TightRope Versus Biocomposite Interference Screw for Fixation in Allograft ACL Reconstruction: Prospective Evaluation of Osseous Integration and Patient Outcomes.

Background Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction is a commonly performed procedure with many options regarding graft choice and graft fixation. The purpose of this study was to compare suspensory and aperture fixation in terms of femoral osseous integration of the bone block after ACL reconstruction with an Achilles tendon allograft. Methods After institutional review board approval and patient consent were obtained, 37 patients underwent ACL reconstruction with an Achilles tendon allograft. The patients were randomized according to the graft femoral fixation technique, which was with either a suspensory device (Arthrex TightRope) or aperture fixation by a biocomposite interference screw (Arthrex BioComposite Interference Screw or DePuy Mitek MILAGRO Interference Screw). Tibial fixation, performed with a biocomposite screw and knotless anchor, was identical in all patients. All patients underwent a computed tomography (CT) scan at 6 months to evaluate bone block incorporation of the femoral graft within the femoral tunnel, which was the study's primary outcome. Secondary outcome measures included a postoperative visual analogue scale (VAS) pain score, range-of-motion measures, and International Knee Documentation Committee scores. Demographic data were collected. Results Thirty-three patients (89%) completed the study's 6-month follow-up, at which time the femoral ossification score was significantly greater in the aperture fixation group (p = 0.025). There was no substantial difference between the 2 groups with regard to any other outcome measure. Conclusions Performing Achilles tendon allograft ACL reconstruction with femoral aperture fixation results in greater femoral bone block incorporation at 6 months postoperatively compared with what is seen after suspensory fixation. Level of evidence Therapeutic Level I. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.
Persistently warmer temperatures lead to life history changes in bluegill sunfish (Lepomis macrochirus)

Life history strategies shape many aspects of species’ ecological importance and population demographics. For ectotherms, life history strategies are highly dependent on temperature, among other environmental conditions. With projected increases in global temperatures, understanding the success of organisms under warmer conditions is critical. Due to the difficulty of establishing long-term heating studies on whole lake systems, there is little empirical evidence addressing the potential changes in life history strategies of fish in situ in response to future climate warming predictions. Here, we study early growth rates, size-at-maturation, maximum adult size, and lifespan of bluegill sunfish in three lakes in Illinois from 2013 to 2017 that experience above-ambient temperatures year-round due to artificial heating by electrical power plant cooling systems and compare these to populations in three nearby ambient lakes. Temperature changes in the heated lakes are within the range of temperature increases predicted by the year 2100. We find evidence that life history strategies and population demographics are substantially affected by warmer environments. Heated populations showed 22% faster first-year growth, 23% shorter lifespans, greater rates of maturation at small body sizes, and over a 4-fold reduction in the relative number of individuals that reach large sizes. Changes in life history strategies, including lifespan and maximum sizes, will be evident across many fish species under warmer conditions in the future and further research should aim to address how these changes will affect trophic interactions.
Development of an artificial placenta for support of premature infants: narrative review of the history, recent milestones, and future innovation

Over 50 years ago, visionary researchers began work on an extracorporeal artificial placenta to support premature infants. Despite rudimentary technology and incomplete understanding of fetal physiology, these pioneering scientists laid the foundation for future work. The research was episodic, as medical advances improved outcomes of premature infants and extracorporeal life support (ECLS) was introduced for the treatment of term and near-term infants with respiratory or cardiac failure. Despite ongoing medical advances, extremely premature infants continue to suffer a disproportionate burden of mortality and morbidity due to organ immaturity and unintended iatrogenic consequences of medical treatment. With advancing technology and innovative approaches, there has been a resurgence of interest in developing an artificial placenta to further diminish the mortality and morbidity of prematurity. Two related but distinct platforms have emerged to support premature infants by recreating fetal physiology: a system based on arteriovenous (AV) ECLS and one based on veno-venous (VV) ECLS. The AV-ECLS approach utilizes only the umbilical vessels for cannulation. It requires immediate transition of the infant at the time of birth to a fluid-filled artificial womb to prevent umbilical vessel spasm and avoid gas ventilation. In contradistinction, the VV-ECLS approach utilizes the umbilical vein and the internal jugular vein. It would be applied after birth to infants failing maximal medical therapy or preemptively if risk stratified for high mortality and morbidity. Animal studies are promising, demonstrating prolonged support and ongoing organ development in both systems. The milestones for clinical translation are currently being evaluated.
Characterisation of the serum cytokine profile in feline atopic skin syndrome.

Background Feline atopic skin syndrome (FASS) is a pruritic and inflammatory skin disease commonly encountered in cats. Three previous reports evaluated cytokine immune activation in cats diagnosed with feline allergic dermatitis. However, no significant upregulations were observed in allergic cats compared to healthy controls. Hypothesis/objective To evaluate differences in the serum cytokine profile of cats diagnosed with FASS compared to healthy cats, and correlate serum markers with the extent of FASS skin disease using clinical scoring systems. Animals Thirteen client-owned FASS cats and 12 healthy control cats. Methods and materials Thirteen cytokine and chemokines from the serum of FASS cats and healthy controls were analysed using a commercially available feline-specific multiplex assay. Results Patients with FASS had a significant increase in serum concentrations of interferon-gamma (IFN-γ), interleukin (IL)-2, IL-13 and IL-18. In addition, cytokine/chemokines involved in inflammation and chemotaxis [IL-8, C-C Motif Chemokine Ligand (CCL)5, CCL2 and CXCL12], as well as growth factors, stem cell factor and Fms-related tyrosine kinase 3 ligand (Flt3L), also were significantly elevated. A significant positive correlation (r = 0.64) between the serum levels of Flt3L and Scoring Feline Allergic Dermatitis (SCORFAD) score was observed. Conclusions These results demonstrate the activation of a broad array of immune secretory cytokines in the serum of cats with FASS, which are largely associated with a mixed Th1 and Th2 inflammatory response along with specific growth factors. Further larger-sample studies are needed to assess the modulation of serum biomarkers in FASS by pharmacological/therapeutic interventions.