cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Effects of aerodynamic modeling on the optimal wing kinematics for hovering MAVs

Abstract The effects of aerodynamic model assumptions on the optimal wing-kinematics for hovering micro-air-vehicles are determined. Specific kinematic functions for the wing motion are specified and the parameters of these functions are considered as the design variables for the optimization problem. Four aerodynamic models having different levels of fidelity that capture various physical aspects of hovering aerodynamics are considered to assess the effects of these different aspects on the optimal wing kinematics. These physical aspects include the leading edge vortex, rotational lift, non-circulatory contributions, and flow unsteadiness. Conventional models for pitching wings are not adequate as they predict considerably high rotational lift and too little power requirements, which makes the optimizer, unrealistically, leans toward almost pure rotational motion with little flapping. In addition, quasi-steady modeling overestimates the generated lift and, as such, leads to a more optimal, but unrealistic, performance. Therefore efficient unsteady modeling is essential in design optimization of flapping-wing micro-air-vehicles.
Does Taxation Lead to Representation

Does their need for greater tax revenue force governments to democratize? Most research on contemporary democratization says little about the effects of taxation. Yet there are good reasons to believe that taxation led to representation in the past: representative government first came about in early modern Europe when monarchs were compelled to relinquish some of their authority to parliamentary institutions, in exchange for the ability to raise new taxes; similarly, the war for independence in the United States began as a rebellion against British taxes. Some scholars argue that a comparable process is occurring today: the need to raise taxes forces authoritarian governments to democratize. These claims have never been carefully tested. In this article, the ‘taxation leads to representation’ argument is explored and tested using pooled time-series cross-national data from 113 countries between 1971 and 1997. One version of the argument appears to be valid, while another does not. These findings are important both for scholars who wish to understand the causes of democracy, and for policy makers who wish to promote it.
Renal prostaglandin E2 biosynthesis: dependence on angiotensin II.

Abstract To study the interaction of the prohypertensive renin-angiotensin axis with the antihypertensive renal prostaglandins, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibition (captopril and teprotide) and angiotensin blockade (Sar 1 -lle 8 -All) were produced in rabbits in vivo and renal slice prostaglandin E 2 was measured in vitro after 30 minutes of incubation in Krebs-Ringer HCO − 3 buffer. In rabbits with angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibition, de novo prostaglandin E 2 synthesis decreased in cortical, outer medullary and papillary slices by 85, 52 and 47 percent, respectively. Similar degrees of inhibition were observed with angiotensin blockade. It is concluded that renal prostaglandin E 2 synthesis is angiotensin II dependent under these conditions. This finding suggests that any increase in the prohypertensive antinatriuretic renin-angiotensin axis may be associated with a secondary increase in renal prostaglandin E 2 which may be acting in an antihypertensive natriuretic compensatory fashion.
Comparative deep transcriptional profiling of four developing oilseeds

Transcriptome analysis based on deep expressed sequence tag (EST) sequencing allows quantitative comparisons of gene expression across multiple species. Using pyrosequencing, we generated over 7 million ESTs from four stages of developing seeds of Ricinus communis, Brassica napus, Euonymus alatus and Tropaeolum majus, which differ in their storage tissue for oil, their ability to photosynthesize and in the structure and content of their triacylglycerols (TAG). The larger number of ESTs in these 16 datasets provided reliable estimates of the expression of acyltransferases and other enzymes expressed at low levels. Analysis of EST levels from these oilseeds revealed both conserved and distinct species-specific expression patterns for genes involved in the synthesis of glycerolipids and their precursors. Independent of the species and tissue type, ESTs for core fatty acid synthesis enzymes maintained a conserved stoichiometry and a strong correlation in temporal profiles throughout seed development. However, ESTs associated with non-plastid enzymes of oil biosynthesis displayed dissimilar temporal patterns indicative of different regulation. The EST levels for several genes potentially involved in accumulation of unusual TAG structures were distinct. Comparison of expression of members from multi-gene families allowed the identification of specific isoforms with conserved function in oil biosynthesis. In all four oilseeds, ESTs for Rubisco were present, suggesting its possible role in carbon metabolism, irrespective of light availability. Together, these data provide a resource for use in comparative and functional genomics of diverse oilseeds. Expression data for more than 350 genes encoding enzymes and proteins involved in lipid metabolism are available at the 'ARALIP' website (http://aralip.plantbiology.msu.edu/).
An area minimizing layout generator for random logic blocks

We present a new area minimizing layout generator and a new CMOS cell layout style with a regular and compact structure. The new structure, with power lines near the middle, uses less area for individual cells, makes intra- and inter-cell routing problems straightforward, allows easy embedding of feedthroughs in the cell, and enables output pins to occur at any grid location. Using an exact algorithm to generate static CMOS cells with a minimum number of diffusion breaks ensures that the width of the cells is minimized. An exhaustive search among the minimum width cells produces the minimum height cell. Interaction between the global router and the cell generator optimizes the locations of feedthroughs needed for the routing and the pin orderings for all cells. Detail routing merely requires a two or three layer channel router for over-the-cell routing. Our results show that circuits using the new cell layout style achieve significant area savings compared to the use of the existing MSU library and an industrial library of manually laid out compact cells.
Comparison of sarcoidosis phenotypes among affected African-American siblings

Study objective To test the hypothesis that sibling pairs, who share genes and environmental exposures, might have similar phenotypic expressions of sarcoidosis beyond what would be expected by chance alone. Design Multicenter family study with study subjects recruited from 11 clinical centers. Subjects Subjects were African-American sibling pairs with sarcoidosis. Sarcoidosis and organ pattern involvement were defined according to specific criteria. Fifteen different organ systems were evaluated. Results For full-sibling pairs, ocular involvement was found in both siblings more often than expected by chance alone (p Conclusions The phenotypic features and clinical outcomes of sarcoidosis in sibling pairs show minimal concordance, with the possible exception that the presence of ocular or liver involvement in the first sibling with a diagnosis of sarcoidosis makes involvement of these organs more likely in other affected siblings.
Decoupling capacitors for multi-voltage power distribution systems

Multiple power supply voltages are often used in modern high-performance ICs, such as microprocessors, to decrease power consumption without affecting circuit speed. To maintain the impedance of a power distribution system below a specified level, multiple decoupling capacitors are placed at different levels of the power grid hierarchy. The system of decoupling capacitors used in power distribution systems with multiple power supplies is described in this paper. The noise at one power supply can propagate to the other power supply, causing power and signal integrity problems in the overall system. With the introduction of a second power supply, therefore, the interaction between the two power distribution networks should be considered. The dependence of the impedance and magnitude of the voltage transfer function on the parameters of the power distribution system is investigated. An antiresonance phenomenon is intuitively explained in this paper. It is shown that the magnitude of the voltage transfer function is strongly dependent on the parasitic inductance of the decoupling capacitors, decreasing with smaller inductance. Design techniques to cancel and shift antiresonant spikes out of range of the operating frequencies are presented. It is also shown that it is highly desirable to maintain the effective series inductance of the decoupling capacitors as low as possible to decrease the overshoots of the response of the dual-voltage power distribution system over a wide range of operating frequencies. A criterion for an overshoot-free voltage response is presented in this paper. It is noted that the frequency range of the overshoot-free voltage response can be traded off with the magnitude of the response.
Endocytosis Plays a Critical Role in Proteolytic Processing of the Hendra Virus Fusion Protein

The Hendra virus fusion (F) protein is synthesized as a precursor protein, F0, which is proteolytically processed to the mature form, F1+F2. Unlike the case for the majority of paramyxovirus F proteins, the processing event is furin independent, does not require the addition of exogenous proteases, is not affected by reductions in intracellular Ca2+, and is strongly affected by conditions that raise the intracellular pH (C. T. Pager, M. A. Wurth, and R. E. Dutch, J. Virol. 78:9154-9163, 2004). The Hendra virus F protein cytoplasmic tail contains a consensus motif for endocytosis, YXXΦ. To analyze the potential role of endocytosis in the processing and membrane fusion promotion of the Hendra virus F protein, mutation of tyrosine 525 to alanine (Hendra virus F Y525A) or phenylalanine (Hendra virus F Y525F) was performed. The rate of endocytosis of Hendra virus F Y525A was significantly reduced compared to that of the wild-type (wt) F protein, confirming the functional importance of the endocytosis motif. An intermediate level of endocytosis was observed for Hendra virus F Y525F. Surprisingly, dramatic reductions in the rate of proteolytic processing were observed for Hendra virus F Y525A, although initial transport to the cell surface was not affected. The levels of surface expression for both Hendra virus F Y525A and Hendra virus F Y525F were higher than that of the wt protein, and these mutants displayed enhanced syncytium formation. These results suggest that endocytosis is critically important for Hendra virus F protein cleavage, representing a new paradigm for proteolytic processing of paramyxovirus F proteins.
Scaffolding Young Children's Reflections with Student-Created PowerPoint Presentations.

Abstract This study investigated young children's reflections about their learning experiences through Student-Created PowerPoint Presentations (SCPP). The study was conducted in a K/1 classroom in a university-affiliated school while the children completed a project titled “Who Measures What in Our Neighborhood?” The participants were 14 children (five girls and nine boys) and the teaching assistant, who facilitated the SCPP. Qualitative methods were used in the inquiry. The main data sources were videos of the SCPP sessions, interviews with the teaching assistant, and the children's SCPP presentations. Microanalysis was applied to the videos and presentations. The results indicated that SCPP effectively supported and facilitated young children's reflections. The levels and patterns of reflection were not related to gender but were closely related to age. SCPP provided the context for reflection in a communicative form, venues for different learning needs, a means for evaluating students' learning, and a...
Esophageal Disease as a Cause of Anterior Thoracic Pain

The occurrence of anterior thoracic pain in an individual past middle age is always a matter of alarm to the patient and of grave concern to the patient’s attending physician. This is due to the fact that pain situated about the precordial region is associated in the minds of the laity and the medical profession with serious cardiac or pulmonary disease. That the esophagus may be responsible for the pain is seldom considered, and as a consequence the patient with anterior thoracic pain due to esophageal disease is often forced to undergo a long period of unnecessary invalidism before the true nature of the illness is recognized. Because of the nature of the nerve supply of the esophagus, pain originating in the esophagus may have a bizarre distribution. The esophagus receives its nerve supply primarily from the vagus nerve and the sympathetic trunks. Visceral afferent impulses are carried to the central nervous system by way of the visceral rami of the sympathetic trunk. Sensation may be referred to the same or other somatic segments (fig. 1). Visceral afferent pain impulses may also be transmitted by way of the vagus nerve. Whether or not the phrenic nerve supplies the lower end of the esophagus has not been definitely established. It does, however, supply the central portion of the diaphragm through which the esophageal hiatus passes. Any disorder of the lower end of the esophagus that involves the esophageal hiatus will irritate afferent visceral pain endings of the phrenic nerve. The phrenic nerve, arising from the third to the fifth cervical roots, allows pain to be referred to the peripheral distribution of these roots. These roots supply the outer aspect of the appropriate shoulder and arm. It is obvious, then, that pain due to esophageal disturbance or disease may be referred to a considerable part of the thorax and neighboring structures.
Secondary Beam Monitors for the NuMI Facility at FNAL

The Neutrinos at the Main Injector (NuMI) facility is a conventional neutrino beam which produces muon neutrinos by focusing a beam of mesons into a long evacuated decay volume. We have built four arrays of ionization chambers to monitor the position and intensity of the hadron and muon beams associated with neutrino production at locations downstream of the decay volume. This article describes the chambers’ construction, calibration, and commissioning in the beam.
Effect of hemorrhage on medial collateral ligament healing in a mouse model.

BackgroundMedial collateral ligament injuries heal by a scar response.Hypothesisincreased hemorrhage at the site of medial collateral ligament injury improves healing.Study DesignControlled laboratory study.MethodsNinety-six mice were divided into two groups. Group 1 mice underwent knee medial collateral ligament transection with the opposite knee as a sham-operated control and group 2 animals additionally had 0.25 ml of tail cut blood pipetted to the medial collateral ligament transection site and sham-operated opposite knee. Ligament specimens were harvested at 3, 7, 21, and 28 days.ResultsImmunohistochemical analysis demonstrated peak macrophage counts at day 7 in all transected specimens. Macrophage counts were higher in group 2 than in group 1 at all time points, with a statistically significant increase of macrophages noted at day 7. In situ hybridization demonstrated increased collagen gene expression, with peaks at 7 and 28 days after transection. Group 2 animals showed increased gene expression a...
The epidemiology of stroke in Pakistan: past, present, and future

Stroke is a major public health problem in developing countries of South Asia. In this paper, we review the epidemiology of stroke in Pakistan. Most of the available data are based on hospital-centred case series addressing established stroke risk factors, stroke-related mortality and disability, functional status, and case fatality rates. There are limited population-based data regarding the prevalence of established stroke risk factors in the general population, and no epidemiologic studies have been conducted to specifically identify potential stroke risk factors unique to the region. The limited data that are available from Pakistan indicate that stroke epidemiology differs between Pakistan and Western populations - in Pakistan first stroke occurs at a younger age, particularly among women, and there is a higher proportion of haemorrhagic strokes. Besides the established stroke risk factors (e.g. hypertension, smoking, and diabetes) some potentially unique stroke risk factors related to life style and dietary habits such as huqqa smoking, use of dalda and desi ghee, and orally consumed forms of tobacco, may exist in Pakistan, and warrant further investigation. The shortage of trained stroke epidemiologists is a major limiting factor to the conduct of epidemiological stroke studies in Pakistan. Epidemiologic data are essential to guide health policy development aimed at decreasing the mortality and morbidity from stroke in Pakistan. To facilitate this process, medical professionals in Pakistan could participate in the World Health Organization's STEPwise approach to stroke surveillance, which provides a framework for data collection and comparison between and within populations.
On the implications of low spatial correlation of tectonic and climate variables in the western European Alps

[Vernon et al. (2009][1]; p. 859 in this issue of Geology ) address the issue of tectonic versus climatic influences on vertical displacement in the western European Alps by applying spatial correlation methods to diverse data sets that may serve as proxies for various forcings. Indications of time-
Modeling stem diameter increment in individual Pinus occidentalis Sw. trees in La Sierra, Dominican Republic.

One of the most common and important tree characteristics used in forest management decision-making is tree diameter-at-breast height (DBH). This paper presents results on an evaluation of two growth functions developed to model stem diameter increases in individual Pinus occidentalis Sw. trees in La Sierra, Dominican Republic. The first model was developed in order to predict future DBH (FDM) at different intervals of time and the other for predicting growth, that is, periodic annual diameter increment (PADIM). Each model employed two statistical techniques for fitting model parameters: stepwise ordinary least squares (OLS) regression, and mixed models. The two statistical approaches varied in how they accounted for the repeated measurements on individual trees over time, affecting standard error estimates and statistical inference of model parameters. Each approach was evaluated based on six goodnessof-fit statistics, using both calibration and validation data sets. The objectives were 1) to determine the best model for predicting future tree DBH; 2) to determine the best model for predicting periodic annual diameter increment, both models using tree size, age, site index and different indices of competitive status; and 3) compare which of these two modeling approaches predicts better the future DBH. OLS provided a better fit for both of the growth functions, especially in regards to bias. Both models showed advantages and disadvantages when they were used to predict growth and future diameter. For the prediction of future diameter with FDM, accuracy of predictions were within one centimeter for a five-year projection interval. The PADIM presented negligible bias in estimating future diameter, although there was a small increase in bias as time of prediction increased. As expected, each model was the best in estimating the response variable it was developed for.. However, a closer examination of the distribution of errors showed a slight advantage of the FDM against the PADIM. Based on this, it is proposed that the FDM model is used to estimate future diameter and periodic diameter increment (growth) of P. occidentalis.
Lakes and Forests as Determinants of Downstream Nutrient Concentrations in Small Mountain Watersheds

ABSTRACT Lakes are dynamic processors of nutrients and may hold an active role in modifying the water chemistry of stream systems. In this study, we examine the influence of lakes and an important terrestrial component—forest cover—on the nutrient levels of stream water in 11 Rocky Mountain (Idaho) watersheds. Water samples were collected from the inflow and outflow of lakes with varying amounts of upstream lakes and forested area during spring runoff and summer base flow. During base flow, mean total nitrogen concentrations at the inflow of final lakes were significantly related to relative upstream lake area, increasing from 34 to 103 µg N L−1 as upstream lake cover in the watersheds increased from 0% to 4%. Forest cover was not significantly correlated with total nitrogen concentrations exported from the watersheds. However, similar to other studies, inflow nitrate concentrations were negatively correlated with relative forest cover. At the scale of individual lakes, dissolved organic carbon and dissol...
Pollinator limitation, autogamy and minimal inbreeding depression in insect-pollinated plants on a boreal island

We studied the pollination biology of 18 common insect-pollinated plant species on Kent Island, a boreal island in the Bay of Fundy, New Brunswick, Canada. Under natural conditions, fruit set was relatively high in most of the species studied [although it was very low (<1%) in Maianthemum canadense]. Hand-pollination increased fruit set in five of seven species examined (71%), indicating that fruit set may commonly be limited by the availability or behavior of pollinators on Kent Island. Twelve of 17 species examined (71%) were capable of substantial autonomous self-pollination (autogamy in the absence of pollinators), although fruit set averaged higher in open-pollinated flowers (65.7%) than in flowers from which insects were experimentally excluded (49.6%). The number of seeds per fruit was also less in autonomously self-pollinated flowers in two species (Rhododendron canadense and Ledum groenlandicum). In at least one species (Iris versicolor), rates of autonomous selfing were higher on Kent Island than on the mainland. Stamen-excision experiments in I. versicolor demonstrated that fruit set required pollen transfer in the absence of pollinators (i.e., agamospermy did not occur). In hand-pollination experiments, five of six species (83%) (R. canadense, L. groenlandicum, Smilacina trifolia, S. stellata and I. versicolor) showed no evidence of inbreeding depression in terms of percent fruit set, fruit size or number of seeds per fruit. Overall, our results demonstrate that for many insect-pollinated plant species on Kent Island, pollinators are likely to be limiting, autogamy is common and inbreeding depression is negligible. Although pollinator limitation and autogamy regularly occur in mainland habitats as well, a review of the literature suggests that they may be more common on islands such as Kent Island. If such island-mainland differences are general, they may arise because genotypes and species capable of self-fertilization are more likely than obligate outcrossers to colonize and become established in isolated habitats.
Prevention of restenosis after percutaneous coronary interventions: the medical approach.

Restenosis following successful percutaneous coronary revascularization continues to represent a major problem limiting the clinical efficacy of this procedure. The underlying mechanisms of restenosis are comprised of a combination of effects from vessel recoil, negative vascular remodeling, thrombus formation and neointimal hyperplasia. Indeed, there are important interactions among all of these mechanisms. For example, neointimal hyperplasia is stimulated by growth factors, which are released by local thrombi and the injured arterial segment itself, and act to enhance the expression of other growth-regulating proteins, in particular “second messengers”, proto-oncogenes and other cell cycle controlling proteins. This results in an inflammatory and myofibroproliferative response, which may worsen vessel narrowing caused by recoil and result in the formation of a clinically significant restenotic lesion. A multitude of pharmacologic trials have been conducted in an attempt to prevent restenosis, but most have demonstrated little benefit. Studies in smaller numbers of patients have suggested a potential benefit for several classes of agents, including: 1) the antiproliferatives, angiopeptin, trapidil and tranilast; 2) selective elimination or alteration of proliferating cells; 3) enhancement of natural growth inhibitors; and 4) signal transduction blockade or inhibition of the gene expression for various growth-stimulating proteins. Finally, there have been advances in related areas, including development of antithrombotic catheters, novel polymers, and more efficient methods for transferring genes into the vessel wall. All of these offer the possibility of delivering agents (drugs, genes, or antisense oligonucleotides) locally at the site of intervention in a way that may optimize antiproliferative effects while minimizing systemic effects – ultimately leading to a more specific inhibition of the restenosis process.
The microbiome and critical illness.

Summary The central role of the microbiome in critical illness is supported by a half century of experimental and clinical study. The physiological effects of critical illness and the clinical interventions of intensive care substantially alter the microbiome. In turn, the microbiome predicts patients' susceptibility to disease, and manipulation of the microbiome has prevented or modulated critical illness in animal models and clinical trials. This Review surveys the microbial ecology of critically ill patients, presents the facts and unanswered questions surrounding gut-derived sepsis, and explores the radically altered ecosystem of the injured alveolus. The revolution in culture-independent microbiology has provided the tools needed to target the microbiome rationally for the prevention and treatment of critical illness, holding great promise to improve the acute and chronic outcomes of the critically ill.
Reactive Molecular Dynamics Simulation of Graphene-Based Nanomaterials Produced by Confined Heating of Polymer

The graphene-based nanomaterial has great potential as catalyst and supercapacitors. In this paper we study the pyrolysis of polymers in a nanosecond time scale with the reactive molecular dynamics (MD) simulations using ReaxFF potential. It is found that the confined heating will produce graphene-like nanostructures out of two kinds of polymers: polyimide and polyether ether ketone. The peak pressure achieves above 3GPa with a processing temperature of 3000K. It indicates that the local high temperature and pressure can convert polymer to graphene-based nanomaterials without metal catalyst, which may enable large scale production of high performance electrical devices and microreactors with laser scribing method.Copyright © 2016 by ASME
Biodegradation of emulsified Mc252 oil in coastal salt marshes

On 05/22/10, emulsified form of MC 252oil was collected from Belle Pass near Port Fourchon in Lafourche Parish, LA and used for biodegradation studies. The objectives of this study were to determin...
Zoom in on Life: Using Biological Processes to Teach the Public about Nanotechnology

Through a partnership between the NSF-funded Material Research Science and Engineering Center, Center for Nanoscale Science, at Penn State University and Philadelphia’s science museum The Franklin Institute the “Nano-Bio: Zoom in on Life!” program has been produced and distributed to 20 science and children museums in the United States and one science museum in Canada. Distributed shows include the materials needed to perform the demonstration, supplies for a year and additional information including educational materials and a training video. This cart based program includes interactive demonstrations that highlight processes in the human body that occur at the nanoscale and how scientists are exploring natural processes to develop new nanotechnology and nanomaterials. This show is the second in a series of collaborations to create programs for the informal science education world. A development team including Penn State University faculty, postdoctoral fellows, graduate students and Franklin Institute staff worked over two years to develop the show. Instrumental in the development were graduate students who were part of a jointly run Penn State-Franklin Institute NSF-funded Internships in Public Science Education (IPSE) program. These science education graduate students helped create, test, and enhance the demonstrations for the Zoom in on Life program.
Abstract A82: Regulation and role of NF-KB in pancreatic cancer.

Increased levels of NF-kappaB are hallmarks of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) and both, classical and alternative NF-kappaB activation pathways have been implicated. The resistance to common chemotherapeutics in pancreatic cancer and PDAC cell lines is tightly linked to increased NF-kappaB activity. NF-kappaB is an inducible transcription factor which, dependent on the stimulus, is regulated by a variety of kinase regulated signaling cascades. Purpose of our 2008 Pancreatic Cancer Action Network-AACR Career Development Award was to perform kinome-wide RNAi screens to identify kinases that are regulating the high basal levels of NF-kappaB in PDAC. Identified kinases were then analyzed for their contribution to the resistance of pancreatic cancer cells to conventional chemotherapeutics. Current focus in the laboratory is on the serine/ threonine kinase protein kinase D (PKD), of which we have shown that it regulates NFkappaB. We are interested in the contribution of PKD to development and progression of PDAC. Citation Format: Peter Storz. Regulation and role of NF-KB in pancreatic cancer. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference on Pancreatic Cancer: Progress and Challenges; Jun 18-21, 2012; Lake Tahoe, NV. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2012;72(12 Suppl):Abstract nr A82.
A Distributed Agent for Computational Pool

Games with continuous state and action spaces present unique challenges from an artificial intelligence (AI) viewpoint. Billiards , or pool, is one such domain that has been the focus of several research efforts aimed at designing AI agents to play successfully. Due to the continuous nature of the actions, it is natural to believe that the more time an agent has to investigate actions, the better it will perform. This paper gives a thorough description of a successful agent with a novel distributed architecture, designed for being able to grant further time for shot simulation and analysis through the utilization of many CPUs. A brief analysis of the distributed component of the agent is presented, as well as how much the extra time thus obtained contributed to its success, especially when compared to its other novel components. The described agent, CueCard , won the Computer Olympiad computational pool tournament held in 2008.
The Future of Myeloma Therapy: One Size Does Not Fit All.

Lonial and Nooka, in the article that accompanies this commentary, convincingly argue that there are many different subsets ofmyeloma,with different biologic drivers and patient-based characteristics that influence therapeutic efficacy. Although it has becomewell established to obtain both initial genetics and genomic and mutational information over time, the assessment of patient-specific characteristics is important for helping to define the intensity of therapy and to determine patient outcome. The careful assessment of both the underlying disease biology and the overall status of the patient can therefore assist in optimizing the type of therapy as well as informing its duration, with the goal of improving the long-term outcome of patient.
Steady Flow Analysis of Bulb Turbine

In order to get the internal flow characteristics and provide the reference stable operation of bulb turbine, this paper, based on the basic theory of computational fluid dynamics, using the commercial software CFX to simulate the three-dimensional flow field in full flow passage of the hydropower station bulb turbine internal steady flow, studies the characteristics of bulb turbine internal flow under different working conditions. The calculation results indicate internal flow changes significantly under different operation conditions of bulb turbine. Compared with high head working condition, there are also big differences among the flow stagnation point on guide vane,pressure distribution on the front and back surface of the runner blade, and inlet pressure of the draft tube under lower water head working condition. It also has a great impact on the overall efficiency of the runner. The result provides daily operation advice and optimized design for bulb turbine.
The evolution of the American test for the admissibility of scientific evidence

Most legal systems, including the British, have adopted a flexible, liberal standard for admitting scientific evidence. Although these systems consider the novelty of a scientific theory as a factor in evaluating the reliability of the scientific evidence, they do not follow a rigid rule excluding scientific testimony based on new theories and techniques. In the United States, however, most jurisdictions follow a rule automatically rejecting testimony based on novel scientific techniques. Reformers have severely criticized that rule, and the American courts now seem to be moving towards the British position on the admissibility of scientific evidence.
Synthesis and Biological Evaluation of Kibdelone C and Its Simplified Derivatives

Poylcyclic tetrahydroxanthones comprise a large class of cytototoxic natural products. No mechanism of action has been described for any member of the family. We report the synthesis of kibdelone C and several simplified analogs. Both enantiomers of kibdeleone C show low nanomolar cytotoxicity toward multiple human cancer cell lines. Moreover, several simplified derivatives with improved chemical stability display higher activity than the natural product itself. In vitro studies rule out interaction with DNA or inhibition of topoisomerase, both of which are common modes of action for polycyclic aromatic compounds. However, celluar studies reveal that kibdelone C and its simplified derivatives disrupt the actin cytoseketon without directly binding actin or affecting its polymerization in vitro.
Effect of Business Intelligence and Analytics on Business Performance

This article examines the relationship between extent of business intelligence and analytics (BI&A) implementation and business performance. Also, it analyzes the moderating role of technology in this relationship. The data for our model is collected from secondary data sources for 116 public companies in United States. The data is analyzed using structural equation modeling techniques. Our findings show positive relationship between extent of BI&A implementation and business performance. Furthermore, our results show that type of BI&A has significant moderating impact on the BI&A implementation and performance relationship.
“Just a Gigolo”: Differences in Advertisements of Male-for-Female and Male-for-Male Online Escorts

Our knowledge of men who offer sexual services exclusively to women via the Internet and how they differ from male-for-male escorts is quite limited. Escort advertisements are likely to reflect dif...
PEGylated poly(ester amide) elastomer scaffolds for soft tissue engineering

Biodegradable synthetic elastomers with tunable mechanical and physicochemical properties remain attractive materials for soft tissue engineering. We have recently synthesized novel poly(1,3-diamino-2-hydroxypropane-co-glycerol sebacate)-co-poly(ethylene glycol) (APS-co-PEG) biodegradable elastomers. This class of PEGylated elastomers has widely tunable mechanical and degradation properties compared wtih currently available biodegradable elastomers. To further investigate the biological application of this class of elastomers, we fabricated hybrid APS-co-PEG/polycaprolactone (PCL) porous scaffolds by electrospinning. The fiber morphology, chemical composition, mechanical properties, degradability, and cytocompatibility of hybrid APS-co-PEG/PCL electrospun scaffolds were characterized. These scaffolds exhibited a wide range of mechanical properties and similar cytocompatibility to PCL scaffolds. Importantly, PEGylation inhibited platelet adhesion on all APS-co-PEG/PCL electrospun scaffolds when compared with PCL and APS/PCL scaffolds, suggesting a potential role in mitigating thrombogenicity in vivo. Additionally, APS-25PEG/PCL scaffolds were found to be mechanically analogous to human heart valve leaflet and supported attachment of human aortic valve cells. These results reveal that hybrid APS-co-PEG/PCL scaffolds may serve as promising constructs for soft tissue engineering, especially heart valve tissue engineering. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The Development of a Measurement Tool Evaluating Knowledge Related to Sensory Processing among Graduate Occupational Therapy Students: A Process Description

With an increased demand arising from stake holders to provide more complex clinical experiences and to have students better prepared for clinical rotations, educators need to develop instructional tasks and measures to teach and assess clinical reasoning. The purpose of this article is to highlight a clinical simulation measure revolving around the A SECRET reasoning approach, which is also generalizable to other conditions and interventions. Preliminary findings of 1st year Master of Occupational Therapy students (n = 8) who took part in a pilot of the A SECRET case scenario reported positive, yet not strong, attitudes toward the A SECRET assessment and the sensory processing related content delivered in an online format as a part of a larger study. Overall the student perceptions and the processes of the measure development suggest an inherent value of using the proposed type of simulated case scenarios in assisting occupational therapy students in their program's first year with the development of clinical reasoning.
Decentralized adaptive compliance control of robot manipulators

Abstract This paper presents two decentralized adaptive schemes for controlling the end-effector compliance of robot manipulators. The first scheme is developed using an adaptive impedance control approach for torque-controlled manipulators, while the second strategy is an adaptive admittance controller for position-controlled manipulators. The proposed controllers are very general and computationally efficient since they do not require knowledge of the manipulator dynamic model or parameter values of the manipulator or the environment. It is shown that the control strategies are globally stable in the presence of bounded disturbances, and that in the absence of disturbances the ultimate bound on the size of the system errors can be made arbitrarily small. The capabilities of the proposed control schemes are illustrated though laboratory experiments with a Robotics Research Corporation seven degree-of-freedom (DOF) manipulator.
Contesting normal: The DSM-5 and psychiatric subjectivation

This is a pre-print of an article published in BioSocieties. The definitive publisher-authenticated version Sweet, P. L. and Decoteau, C. L. Contesting normal: The DSM-5 and psychiatric subjectivation. Biosocieties. 2018. 13(1): 103-122. 10.1057/s41292-017-0056-1 is available online at: 10.1057/s41292-017-0056-1.
Crotalus atrox Venom Exposed to Carbon Monoxide Has Decreased Fibrinogenolytic Activity In Vivo in Rabbits.

Envenomation by haemotoxic enzymes remains a significant source of human morbidity and mortality worldwide, with administration of long-acting or multiple doses of antivenom first-line therapy. However, coagulopathy can still occur and recur. Of interest, it has been recently demonstrated that direct, isolated exposure of snake venom enzymes with fibrinogenolytic activity to carbon monoxide (CO) abrogates venom-mediated loss of coagulation in human plasma. These observations of CO inhibition of venom fibrinogenolytic activity were subsequently repeated in rabbit whole blood. This study sought to translate these findings in an in vivo rabbit model of envenomation with fibrinogenolytic Crotalus atrox venom. Sedated rabbits were intravenously administered C. atrox venom (400 μg/kg) pre-exposed to 0 or 1000 μM carbon monoxide-releasing molecule-2 (CORM-2) in vitro. Arterial whole-blood samples demonstrated that compared to pre-envenomation values, the CORM-2-naive venom significantly prolonged the onset of coagulation, decreased the velocity of clot growth and decreased clot strength as determined by thromboelastography an hour after venom injection. In contrast, CORM-2 pre-exposure prevented or attenuated C. atrox venom effects on coagulation kinetics. Future studies to determine whether rabbits injected with such venom subcutaneously/intramuscularly can have consequent coagulopathy abrogated by injection of carbon monoxide-releasing molecules into the ‘bite site’ are justified.
Biomechanical evaluation of exoskeleton use on loading of the lumbar spine.

The objective of this study was to investigate biomechanical loading to the low back as a result of wearing an exoskeletal intervention designed to assist in occupational work. Twelve subjects simulated the use of two powered hand tools with and without the use of a Steadicam vest with an articulation tool support arm in a laboratory environment. Dependent measures of peak and mean muscle forces in ten trunk muscles and peak and mean spinal loads were examined utilizing a dynamic electromyography-assisted spine model. The exoskeletal device increased both peak and mean muscle forces in the torso extensor muscles (p < 0.001). Peak and mean compressive spinal loads were also increased up to 52.5% and 56.8%, respectively, for the exoskeleton condition relative to the control condition (p < 0.001). The results of this study highlight the need to design exoskeletal interventions while anticipating how mechanical loads might be shifted or transferred with their use.
Using Co-Design to Examine How Children Conceptualize Intelligent Interfaces

Prior work has shown that intelligent user interfaces (IUIs) that use modalities such as speech, gesture, and writing pose challenges for children due to their developing cognitive and motor skills. Research has focused on improving recognition and accuracy by accommodating children's specific interaction behaviors. Understanding children's expectations of IUIs is also important to decrease the impact of recognition errors that occur. To understand children's conceptual model of IUIs, we completed four consecutive participatory design sessions on designing IUIs with an emphasis on error detection and correction. We found that, while children think of interactive systems in terms of both user input and behavior and system output and behavior, they also propose ideas that require advanced system intelligence, e.g., context and conversation. Our work contributes new understanding of how children conceptualize IUIs and new methods for error detection and correction, and will inform the design of future IUIs for children to improve their experience.
Temporal Evolution of Green Stormwater Infrastructure Strategies in Three US Cities

Over the last several decades, interest in green stormwater infrastructure (GSI) has rapidly increased, particularly given its potential to provide stormwater management in conjunction with other ecosystem services and co-benefits such as urban heat island mitigation or habitat provision. Here we explore the implementation of GSI in three US cities – Baltimore (Maryland), Phoenix (Arizona), and Portland (Oregon). We examine the trends in GSI construction over several decades, highlighting changes in implementation rates and GSI types with concurrent regulatory and economic changes. Additionally, we discuss the implications of these GSI portfolios for ecosystem service delivery in urban areas. Results indicate that Portland’s quantity of GSI is approximately ten times greater than the quantity of GSI in Phoenix or Baltimore. However, Baltimore has the most diverse portfolio of GSI types. In Phoenix, regional stormwater policies focused on flood control have led to retention basins being the dominant GSI type for decades. In contrast, Portland and Baltimore both have had substantial changes in their GSI portfolios over time, with transitions from detention or retention basins and underground facilities towards filters, infiltration facilities, and swales. These changes favor increased water quality function as well as provision of other ecosystem services. Additionally, we find evidence that each city followed a different GSI implementation pathway, with Portland’s combined sewer overflow program influencing initial development of GSI, while state legislation and regional water quality pressures played a major role in Baltimore’s GSI development. By studying the evolution of GSI in these different cities, we can see the variability in stormwater management trajectories and how they manifest in different suites of benefits. We hope that continued research of GSI implementation and performance will identify opportunities for future improvement of these infrastructures.
Determining the impact of sarcopenia on postoperative complications after ventral hernia repair.

Summary Background Postoperative complication following ventral hernia repair (VHR) is a major clinical and financial burden. Preoperative risk assessment is necessary to minimize adverse outcomes following VHR. This study examines the ability of an independent parameter to predict postoperative morbidity following VHR. Methods A retrospective analysis of 58 patients who underwent VHR by component separation between January 2009 and December 2013 was performed. Preoperative abdominal CT scans were analyzed to assess sarcopenia. Sarcopenia was determined using the Hounsfield unit average calculation (HUAC), a measure of psoas muscle size and density. Sarcopenia was defined as an HUAC score of less than 19.6 HU calculated using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis and the Youden index. Multivariate analysis was performed to analyze the association of sarcopenia and postoperative complications. Results Preoperative sarcopenia was associated with an increased risk for postoperative complications (odds ratio [OR] = 5.3; p = 0.04). Preexisting gastrointestinal conditions such as ulcerative colitis or colon cancer were associated with an increased risk for postoperative complications (OR = 5.7; p = 0.05). A significantly higher rate of hernia recurrence (33.3% vs. 10.8% [p = 0.04]) and renal failure (19% vs. 2.7% [p = 0.03]) was noted in patients with sarcopenia when compared to patients without sarcopenia. Conclusions Sarcopenia is an independent risk factor for postoperative complications in patients who underwent VHR. Assessment of sarcopenia using the HUAC score provides an opportunity for the adjustment of perioperative care plans to minimize postoperative complication rates.