cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Influence of dopant distribution on the plasmonic properties of indium tin oxide nanocrystals.

Doped metal oxide nanocrystals represent an exciting frontier for colloidal synthesis of plasmonic materials, displaying unique optoelectronic properties and showing promise for a variety of applications. However, fundamental questions about the nature of doping in these materials remain. In this article, the strong influence of radial dopant distribution on the optoelectronic properties of colloidal indium tin oxide nanocrystals is reported. Comparing elemental depth-profiling by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) with detailed modeling and simulation of the optical extinction of these nanocrystals using the Drude model for free electrons, a correlation between surface segregation of tin ions and the average activation of dopants is observed. A strong influence of surface segregation of tin on the line shape of the localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) is also reported. Samples with tin segregated near the surface show a symmetric line shape that suggests weak or no damping of the plasmon by ion...
Simultaneous optical coherence tomography and autofluorescence microscopy with a single light source

We have accomplished simultaneous OCT and autofluorescence microscopy with a broadband light source centered at 415 nm. The two imaging modalities are intrinsically registered and. is able to provide OCT imaging and molecular contrasts simultaneously.
Pulmonary liposarcoma in a child with adrenogenital syndrome.

An unusual case of pulmonary embryonal liposarcoma in a 9-year-old child is reported. This appears to be the first recorded instance of a primary pulmonary liposarcoma in the English literature. After pneumonectomy the tumor recurred and caused the death of the patient. The associated history of adrenogenital syndrome with subsequent development of a malignancy in another organ is of interest because of the association of a malformation with a malignancy.
A Steady-State Thermal-Hydraulic Analysis Method for Prismatic High-Temperature Gas-Cooled Reactors

A new methodology for the accurate and efficient determination of steady-state thermal-hydraulic parameters for prismatic high-temperature gas reactors is developed. Whole-core steady-state tempera...
The Comment on the Development of International Environmental Law after Rio Conference in 1992

From the United Nation Conference for Human Environment in 1972 to the United Nation Conference for Environment and Development in 1992 and the United Nation Conference for Sustainable Development in 2012,the international environmental law processed nearly forty years.Especially in 90s,20th,the international environmental law not only extends or enriches the content of ordinary international legal relations,but also emerges the phenomenon of convergence on law and the tendency of fragmentation of law.
Supraglottoplasty outcomes in children with Down syndrome

Abstract Objective Children with Down syndrome have a higher incidence of upper airway obstruction and laryngomalacia. We sought to determine outcomes of supraglottoplasty in this patient population. Methods A retrospective chart review was performed from January 2000 through January 2014. Children (n = 18) at our institution with the diagnosis of Down syndrome who underwent supraglottoplasty were included. We reviewed patient characteristics, preoperative findings, and surgical outcomes (stridor, feeding problems, respiratory distress, weight, sleep apnea, and tracheostomy or feeding tube dependence). Results The average age at surgery was 7.7 months. Operative indications included feeding difficulties (n = 9), noisy breathing or respiratory distress (or both) (n = 16), and sleep-related symptoms (n = 7). Most patients (89%) were extubated successfully on postoperative day 1. There were 2 major complications (CPAP requirement and aspiration pneumonia) and no perioperative deaths. Fifty percent had improved weight (mean = 18 percentile points). Feedback was available from 88% of parents with 100% reporting improvement in respiratory symptoms and 93% reporting improved feeding. Eight patients (44%) subsequently required either adenoidectomy or adenotonsillectomy. Two patients later underwent tracheostomy, 2 subsequently needed a gastrostomy tube and 2 required revision supraglottoplasty. Conclusions The majority of children with Down syndrome and laryngomalacia benefit from supraglottoplasty, with outcomes of improved breathing, feeding, and sleeping. However, approximately half may require additional airway procedures. This procedure is well tolerated and associated with a low risk of complications especially given their high rate of comorbidities.
The truly cured child

The concept of the truly cured child, denoting a child on par with his or her peers in development, maturation, achievement, and aspirations, was introduced in 1977. 'Cure' is the norm in pediatric oncology. However, the cure of a disease and the consequences of that disease are complex concepts. Cure has at least three components: a biological cure, a psychological cure, and a social cure. Biological and psychological cures have been realized, but the social cure is yet to be achieved. The concept of the truly cured child is widely accepted. School reintegration is the primary method by which psychosocial cure is approached. The characteristics of psychosocial cure and the obstacles that hinder uniformly achieving the goal should be recognized so that the truly cured child can be a realistic goal in pediatric oncology.
Volcanoes, Ancient People, and Their Societies

Volcanoes have affected people and our human ancestors for millions of years. Volcanic activity ranges from mild lava flows to colossal explosive eruptions that can even cause climatic downturns for the whole world. Volcanic ejecta can form very fertile soils, and lava flows can provide stones useful for making cutting, scraping, and grinding tools. Volcanoes present hazards and opportunities, and many human societies learned how to cope with the risks while taking advantage of volcanoes. In other cases, the resilience of some societies was exceeded by the magnitude of the eruption, or they had crossed a threshold of sustainability, and they suffered terribly or collapsed.
In Fear of a Greater Germany

Dealing with the effects of nationalism in contemporary German history immediately creates a problem of definition. Of course, there is the textbook definition of nationalism meant to apply to much of the Western world since the French Revolution: a process begun by that revolution, one shared by those of similar geographical origins, language, customs, diets, etc., that harnessed the power of the idea of popular sovereignty into an articulation of the desire for a common political entity.6 In Germany’s case, however, other characteristics have been inextricably linked with the desire for unity. German liberals in the Vormarz era began to view a national political entity as the only means of permanently securing individual freedom.7 German conservatives at the end of the nineteenth century developed a nationalism that exalted Germanness and pointed the political order squarely against “foreigners” within and without Germany, ranging from “international” Catholics and Social Democrats to Poles and other ethnic minorities. This “growing, passionate, xenophobic, vulgarised nationalism” has been cited as one of the many structural problems within Wilhelmine Germany that led it into the First World War.8 In Hitler’s day, a racially based, pseudo-Darwinian nationalism meant conquest of eastern lands and extermination or slavery for the vanquished.9
Fast dissolution of poorly water soluble drugs from fluidized bed coated nanocomposites: Impact of carrier size.

Abstract Formation of core-shell nanocomposites of Fenofibrate and Itraconazole, model poorly water soluble drugs, via fluidized bed (FB) coating of their well-stabilized high drug loaded nanosuspensions is investigated. Specifically, the extent of dissolution enhancement, when fine carrier particles (sub–50 μm) as opposed to the traditional large carrier particles (>300 μm) are used, is examined. This allows testing the hypothesis that greatly increased carrier surface area and more importantly, thinner shell for finer carriers at the same drug loading can significantly increase the dissolution rate when spray-coated nanosuspensions are well-stabilized. Fine sub–50 μm lactose (GranuLac® 200) carrier particles were made fluidizable via dry coating with nano-silica, enabling decreased cohesion, fluidization and subsequent nanosuspension coating. For both drugs, 30% drug loaded suspensions were prepared via wet-stirred media milling using hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose and sodium dodecyl sulfate as stabilizers. The stabilizer concentrations were varied to affect the milled particle size and prepare a stable nanosuspension. The suspensions were FB coated onto hydrophilic nano-silica (M-5P) dry coated sub-50 μm lactose (GranuLac® 200) carrier particles or larger carrier particles of median size >300 μm (PrismaLac®40). The resulting finer composite powders (sub-100 μm) based on GranuLac® 200 were freely flowing, had high bulk density, and had much faster, immediate dissolution of the poorly water-soluble drugs, in particular for Itraconazole. This is attributed to a much higher specific surface area of the carrier and corresponding thinner coating layer for fine carriers as opposed to those for large carrier particles.
Development of Model for Identification of Process Parameters for Wet Decapsulation of Copper–Aluminum Wirebond in PEMs

Decapsulation is a failure analysis technique often used to expose the die and first-level interconnects such as wirebonds by dissolving the surrounding epoxy molding compound (EMC). The wet decapsulation technique, which uses fuming acids, works very well for traditional gold (Au) wirebonds. On the other hand, its latest alternative, copper (Cu) wirebond, reacts with the nitric acid vigorously and undergoes severe corrosion. It is important to develop an acid chemistry that can be used to perform decapsulation of Cu–Al incorporated plastic encapsulated microelectronics (PEMs) without damaging the Cu wires. This paper presents the wet decapsulation technique based on different ratios of the red fuming nitric acid and concentrated sulfuric acid. Quality of post-decap part was examined using reduction in the wire diameter and changes in ball shear strength. Reduction in wire diameter was monitored with the scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and shear strength was measured using a DAGE2400 shear tester. These tests were performed on the PEMs molded with different EMCs, wire diameters, and pad thickness to cover process as well as geometric variability. Artificial neural network with Bayesian regularization-based model has been developed correlating the decapsulation process parameters with the post-decap wire diameter reduction and shear strength of the wirebond. Stepwise regression was used to identify the significant variables that affect the decap process. The influential variables were then used to develop a predictive model for prediction of the percent reduction in wire diameter and change in shear strength separately. Models were then validated with the test data set.
Order in Multiplicity: Aristotle on Text, Context and the Rule of Law

Justice Scalia, among others, has made the question of textual interpretation tantamount to a referendum on whether we are a government that is governed by the 'rule of law' or the 'rule of men'. Interestingly modern reliance on Aristotle, while frequent, also turns out to be selective. This Article examines what Aristotle's theories of interpretation may contribute to a resolution of current problems of statutory interpretation, especially his analysis of different (non-univocal) uses of the same word and conclusion that homonyms are not all random. Associated homonyms allow us to understand related ideas. Recent Aristotelian scholarship permits us to apply Aristotle to the central question of how to interpret a text. Following an explication of Aristotelian methodology, this Article then considers Gregory, an early tax case articulating a non-literal statutory interpretation of 'reorganization' as a paradigm. This methodology could be applied equally to any number of other areas of the law involving issues of statutory interpretation. This Article demonstrates that Aristotle helps us avoid unwarranted assumptions of univocity while providing a positive mechanism for finding order in multiplicity.
Imprinted micelles for chiral recognition in water: shape, depth, and number of recognition sites

Chiral molecular recognition is important to biology, separation, and asymmetric catalysis. Because there is no direct correlation between the chiralities of the host and the guest, it is difficult to design a molecular receptor for a chiral guest in a rational manner. By cross-linking surfactant micelles containing chiral template molecules, we obtained chiral nanoparticle receptors for a number of 4-hydroxyproline derivatives. Molecular imprinting allowed us to transfer the chiral information directly from the guest to host, making the molecular recognition between the two highly predictable. Hydrophobic interactions between the host and the guest contributed strongly to the enantio- and diastereoselective differentiation of these compounds in water, whereas ion-pair interactions, which happened near the surface of the micelle, were less discriminating. The chiral recognition could be modulated by tuning the size and shape of the binding pockets.
Acute Pancreatitis Has a Long-term Deleterious Effect on Physical Health Related Quality of Life

Background & Aims It is not clear how acute pancreatitis (AP) affects health related quality of life (HRQOL). We aimed to determine the long-term independent effect of AP on physical and mental HRQOL. Methods We analyzed data from 91 patients (mean 52 years of age, 54% women) admitted with AP to the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center from 2011 to 2015 who responded to telephone surveys at a median of 14 months after hospital discharge (interquartile range, 12–16 months). Individuals who did not answer the telephone survey were sent a questionnaire by regular mail. Patients answered questions from the 12-Item Short-Form Survey, and answers were used to calculate mental component summary (MCS) and physical component summary (PCS) scores with norm-based scoring (normal ≥50). HRQOL for these subjects was compared with that of age- and sex-matched individuals without pancreatitis (1:2) identified from the North American Pancreatitis Study. We controlled for other covariates using multivariable regression analysis. Results At follow-up, individuals with AP had a significantly lower PCS score (46.2 ± 11.8) than did control subjects (51.1 ± 9.5; P .01), but a similar MCS score. A 4-point reduction of the PCS was attributed to AP after controlling for sociodemographic factors and medical comorbidities. The only pancreatitis-related factor associated with low PCS score was multisystem organ failure. Presence of abdominal pain, analgesic use, disability, and current smoking at the time of follow-up were also associated with lower PCS scores. Etiology of AP, disease severity (by Revised Atlanta classification), use of nutritional support, and performance of pancreatic interventions did not affect HRQOL at follow-up. Conclusions In a 14-month follow-up of patients hospitalized with AP, we found a meaningful, independent, and deleterious effect of AP in the physical HRQOL of these patients, compared to individuals without AP. Further research is needed to determine the duration of this impairment and to evaluate the effects of modifying risk factors.
FDA-Cleared versus Laboratory-Developed Tests: Why Start from Scratch When Kits Are Available?

One of the most common questions facing laboratories when bringing up new clinical tests is deciding which specific assay best suits the needs of the lab, its patients, and its providers. At first glance, assays cleared by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)2 for use in clinical testing would seem to have some obvious advantages: the validation requirements are less onerous than for laboratory-developed tests (LDTs) (1), and much of the legwork, e.g., sensitivity and specificity testing, is done by …
A Ka-band asymmetrical stacked-FET MMIC Doherty power amplifier

We present a stacked-FET monolithic millimeter-wave (mmW) integrated circuit Doherty power amplifier (DPA). The DPA employs a novel asymmetrical stack gate bias to achieve high power and high efficiency at 6-dB power back-off (PBO). The circuit is fabricated in a 0.15-µm enhancement mode (E-mode) Gallium Arsenide (GaAs) process. Experimental results demonstrate output power at 1-dB gain compression (P 1dB ) of 28.2 dBm, peak power added efficiency (PAE) of 37% and PAE at 6-dB PBO of 27% at 28 GHz. Measured small signal gain is 15 dB while the 3-dB bandwidth covers from 25.5 to 29.5 GHz. Using digital predistortion (DPD) with a 20 MHz 64 QAM modulated signal, an adjacent channel power ratio (ACPR) of −46 dBc has been observed.
Antimitogenic effects of the methylation inhibitor zebularine on ovarian carcinoma cell lines

1606 The cytidine analog zebularine has been shown to possess potent antitumor effects in a bladder carcinoma xenograft model. These effects were due to a global inhibition of DNA methylation, as demonstrated by demethylation and reactivation of the tumor suppressor gene p16. In this study, we examined the effects of zebularine (kindly provided by Dr. Victor Marquez, National Cancer Institute) on a panel of ovarian carcinoma cell lines, using cell proliferation (MTT) assays, flow cytometry, and quantitative RT-PCR (qRT-PCR) analysis of expression of various tumor suppressor genes. Zebularine (0.1- 1.0 mM) was strongly antiproliferative (>65% growth inhibition at 1 mM) to the ovarian carcinoma cell lines CP70 and A2780, following 48 hour of treatment, with lesser antimitogenic effects on normal ovarian surface epithelial (nOSE) cells. This growth inhibition was, in part, due to G2/M cell cycle arrest, with a corresponding decrease (50%) in S phase distribution, as determined by flow cytometry. Similar to T24 bladder carcinoma cells, zebularine (48 hr, 0.5 mM) treatment caused a modest increase (4-fold) in expression of p16, in addition to upregulation of the tumor suppressor RASSF1A (10-fold), as measured by qRT-PCR. A dramatic induction of the mismatch repair enzyme-encoding gene hMLH-1 was also observed following a 0.5 mM drug treatment for 48 hr. To investigate zebularine as a potential therapy for treatment of drug resistant ovarian tumors, we also performed cisplatin resensitization studies using drug-resistant CP70 cells. As a consequence of our in vitro findings, that zebularine is a potent antimitogen to ovarian carcinoma cultures, the potential for this drug as an ovarian cancer therapeutic is discussed. (Supported by NCI Grant CA085289)
Improving Outcomes After Myocardial Infarction in the US Population.

In the effort to combat the epidemic of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and to improve the overall health of the US population, the American Heart Association (AHA) has launched specific strategies and goals. The first iteration of these initiatives successfully achieved a commendable reduction in CVD
Regulation of the Responsiveness of Adenylate Cyclase to Catecholamines

Cells possess within the plasma membrane a variety of proteins involved in the reception, transduction and amplification of extra-cellular signals. Neurotransmitters and many hormones serve as intercellular signal molecules that alter target cell function upon interaction with cell surface, structure-specific receptors. Beta adrenergic receptors (BAR) can be included in this class of plasma membrane proteins that mediate transmembrane processes.
Abstract 813: Exercise Attenuates Heart failure in Cardiac Lipoprotein Lipase/CD36 Double Knockout Mice

The adult heart derives 70% of its ATP from fatty acids (FA), many of which are delivered via lipoprotein lipase (LpL) mediated hydrolysis of lipoproteins, followed by diffusion or uptake through FAT/CD36. In heart failure, metabolism shifts towards increased glucose utilization and less FA oxidation. Mechanisms by which exercise improves heart function in heart failure are not fully understood. We hypothesized that exercise mediated improvements in heart function require improved substrate uptake via induction of LpL and CD36. We created 4 groups of mice ( n=9 –10/group ): control, CD36 Knockout ( Cd36 −/− ), cardiac LpL Knockout (hLpL0), and Double Knockout (DKO, hLpL0/ Cd36 −/− ). Heart lipid uptake, measured using radiolabeled human VLDL and mouse chylomicrons, showed a significant reduction in cardiac VLDL-TG uptake in hLpL0 (49±23%), Cd36 −/− (64±17%) and DKO (76±5%; p Cd36 −/− mice, but was not statistically significant. Reduced uptake of chylomicron TG-derived FA however, was only found in DKO. Interestingly, loss of cardiac LpL reduced cardiac VLDL-cholesteryl ester (CE) uptake in hLpL0 (81%) and DKO (73%) (p CD36 −/− mice. Similarly, vitamin A (RE) uptake was reduced in both hLpL0 and DKO mice but not in CD36 −/− . Mice were assigned to sedentary or exercise (swimming) groups at 14 weeks. Cardiac function, assessed by echocardiography, was reduced in sedentary DKO mice (%fractional shortening (%FS) 26.6 vs 37.6 in controls; p Cd36 −/− mice. Surprisingly, exercise training in DKO mice led to an improvement in %FS (33.6; p=0.09) and normalization of heart failure gene expression (p
The Accountable Care Organization for Surgical Care.

Rising health care costs superimposed on uncertainty surrounding the relationship between health care spending and quality have resulted in an urgent need to develop strategies to better align health care payment with value. Such approaches, at least in theory, work to achieve the dual aims of reducing growth in health care spending and improving population health. To date, surgery has not been prioritized in accountable care organizations (ACOs). Nonetheless, it is critically important to begin to consider strategic and impactful mechanisms through which surgery can be seamlessly woven into innovative population health models.
Dynasore protects the ocular surface against damaging oxidative stress.

“Vital” dyes such as fluorescein and rose bengal are used clinically to evaluate ocular surface health; however, staining mechanisms remain poorly understood. Recent evidence suggests that sublethal cell damage stimulates fluorescein dye uptake. Since damage can also stimulate reparative plasma membrane remodeling, we hypothesized that dye uptake occurs via endocytic vesicles. Using an oxidative stress model, we show that damage to relatively undifferentiated monolayer cultures of human corneal epithelial cells stimulates uptake of fluorescein and rose bengal dyes and also stimulates endocytosis. Importantly, dye uptake was blocked by co-treatment with three different endocytosis inhibitors. Damage to stratified and differentiated corneal epithelial cell cultures, which are a better model of the ocular surface, also stimulated dye uptake; however, endocytosis was not stimulated in this case, and two of the inhibitors did not block dye uptake. The exception was the inhibitor Dynasore and its more potent analogue Dyngo-4a, small molecules that target dynamin family GTPases, but also have off-target effects on the plasma membrane. Significantly, while Dynasore blocked stress-stimulated dye uptake at the ocular surface of ex vivo mouse eyes when treatment was performed at the same time as eyes were stressed, it had no effect when used after stress was applied and the ocular surface was already damaged. Thus, Dynasore could not be working by inhibiting endocytosis. Employing cytotoxicity and western blotting assays, we demonstrate an alternative mechanism, showing that Dynasore is remarkably protective of cells and their surface glycocalyx, preventing damage due to oxidative stress, and thus precluding dye entry. These unexpected and novel findings provide greater insight into mechanisms of vital dye uptake and emphasize the importance of using a differentiated cell culture model for such studies. They also suggest that Dynasore and analogues might be used therapeutically to protect the ocular surface and to treat ocular surface disease.
General relativity from $p$-adic strings

For an arbitrary prime number $p$, we propose an action for bosonic $p$-adic strings in curved target spacetime, and show that the vacuum Einstein equations of the target are a consequence of worldsheet scaling symmetry of the quantum $p$-adic strings, similar to the ordinary bosonic strings case. It turns out that certain $p$-adic automorphic forms are the plane wave modes of the bosonic fields on $p$-adic strings, and that the regularized normalization of these modes on the $p$-adic worldsheet presents peculiar features which reduce part of the computations to familiar setups in quantum field theory, while also exhibiting some new features that make loop diagrams much simpler. Assuming a certain product relation, we also observe that the adelic spectrum of the bosonic string corresponds to the nontrivial zeros of the Riemann Zeta function.
Limitless Discretion in the Wars on Drugs and Terror

The wars on terror and drugs have been defined, largely, by what they lack: a readily identifiable opponent, a clear end goal, a timeline, and geographical boundaries. Based on that understanding, this Article discusses the increasingly expansive discretion of American authorities to prosecute individuals where the wars on terror and drugs intersect. Through laws such as the Maritime Drug Law Enforcement Act, the ban on providing material support to foreign terrorist organizations, and the narco-terrorism statute, the United States exercises a kind of universal jurisdiction to pursue anyone, anywhere it believes its laws are being violated. Wielding the power of federal criminal prosecution on a global scale is a natural result of characterizing the anti-drug and anti-terror campaigns as “wars,” yet with such power comes essentially limitless police and prosecutorial discretion. However, such a broad jurisdictional scheme risks exporting several of the most unjust and ineffective practices of both the war on terror and the war on drugs, which threaten to impact disproportionately minority communities, based on impermissible factors like race and religion. Specifically, this Article compares the war on drugs to the war on terror, arguing that the paradigm of fighting terror has led to a war model that deeply informs the complexities and shortcomings of the war on drugs. The phenomenon is one we should not ignore or downplay, as the vast discretion enjoyed by law enforcement and prosecutors to charge individuals with no ties to the United States represents an expansion of the reach of American laws that needs to be understood and more thoroughly debated. As a matter of public policy and constitutional interpretation, courts should be wary of broad assertions of discretion to fight wars of dubious provenance. While the United States, as a sovereign nation, can pursue its interests in stopping trafficking in narcotics and political violence against its own citizens, those interests must be defined more narrowly, lest the country transform into a sort of world police force without an international mandate.
Utilizing courageous dialogue to support minority and disadvantaged background nursing students.

Abstract Background Nursing students from historically underrepresented ethnic minorities and disadvantaged background (HUREM-DB) groups often face barriers such as a lack of consistent financial resources, fewer professional role models, bias, and micro-inequities. Utilizing a multifaceted approach for support can be crucial to enhancing student success. Purpose of the project MENTORS2 mitigates some of the challenges for HUREM-DB nursing students with educational, cultural, social, and financial resources. Courageous dialogue (CD) was one required activity of MENTORS2 and included topics such as stress management, time management, and honors project preparation. Implementation of the project Courageous dialogue sessions were conducted with 56 HUREM-DB undergraduate nursing students enrolled in a baccalaureate program. The number of evaluations submitted for a session averaged 17 (range 7–36). Courageous dialogue sessions allowed students to express views in a safe environment with opportunities for peer support, role modeling, open discussion, and problem solving. Project outcomes Student evaluations reflected an appreciation of the opportunity to share experiences and learn new skills, knowledge, and approaches to aid their success in nursing school and perhaps their entry into the profession of nursing. Conclusion Courageous dialogue can be an important part of a comprehensive strategy to support HUREM-DB nursing students academically, socially, and professionally.
MC4.2 - Investigating the Limits of Semicoductor Laser Based Optical Frequency Combs (Invited)

We investigate the limits of the output characteristics of semiconductor laser diode based optical frequency combs. We utilize novel cavity engineering approaches, along with novel gain media, to identify the physical parameters the affect the total number of combs, comb linewidth and potential for self-stabilization.
Length scale dependent elasticity in random three-dimensional fiber networks

Abstract The mechanics of fibrous materials are complicated by complex deformation mechanisms that result from the discrete fibrous structure. Though it is known that fibrous materials deform primarily by rotating and bending of fibers, the implications of rotating and bending on the mechanics of the network are not fully clear. Previous studies have investigated some effects of the fiber rotation and bending, observing fibers to rotate into directions of maximum principal stress, resulting in strain stiffening, and fibers under compression to buckle, resulting in compression softening. Nonlinear constitutive models have recently been developed to account for these deformation mechanisms, but the classical constitutive models that account for only stress and strain cannot fully account for fiber rotations and bending. Here, we interpret the mechanics of fibrous materials through micropolar elasticity, also called Cosserat elasticity, which differs from classical elasticity in that it accounts for local moments caused by rotation of points within a material. The resulting equations can be written in terms of characteristic lengths that cause stress to depend on both strain and the length scale of the material. We simulated three-dimensional networks of fibers and observed a strong effect of length scale on the stiffness of networks in bending with a more mild effect in torsion. The length-scale dependence of stiffness is consistent with micropolar elasticity and can be described in terms of characteristic lengths of the material. Factors affecting the characteristic length were investigated by altering the fiber density, alignment, and bending stiffness. Although density was found to have no effect on characteristic length, increased fiber alignment led to a decrease in characteristic length, and increased fiber bending stiffness led to an increase in characteristic length. These findings suggest that the characteristic length is increased by factors that increase bending moments supported by the fibers. Although our parameter study manipulated the magnitude of characteristic length, no combination of parameters gave a characteristic length of zero, indicating that the mechanics of fibrous materials depend on length scale.
Miscarriage Occurrence and Prevention Efforts by Disability Status and Type in the United States.

Background: Very little is known about early pregnancy loss in women with disabilities. To address this gap, we analyzed nationally representative data on miscarriage and receipt of care focused on...
Modeling of Thermal Runaway Propagation in a Pouch Cell Stack

Characterizing propagation of a thermal runaway hazard in cell arrays and modules is critical to understanding fire hazards in energy storage systems. In this paper, the thermal runaway propagation of a pouch cell array has been examined by developing a 1D finite difference model. The results are compared with experimental data. First, the thermal runaway reactions found in the literature are reviewed. Using the insight of the literature review and premixed flame propagation theory, a global first order Arrhenius type reaction is characterized. While applying the multiple kinetic reactions, an “onset temperature” of the combustion reactions has been determined by performing an induction time analysis on ethylene. The propagation speeds are predicted with a 1D finite difference model by using both multi-reaction kinetics and one step reduced-order kinetics. These results are in a good agreement with experiments for both 10 Ah and 5 Ah cell arrays.
Magnetic resonance force microscopy and the solid state quantum computer

A Quantum Computer (QC) is a device that utilizes the principles of Quantum Mechanics to perform computations. Such a machine would be capable of accomplishing tasks not achievable by means of any conventional digital computer, for instance factoring large numbers. Currently it appears that the QC architecture based on an array of spin quantum bits (qubits) embedded in a solid-state matrix is one of the most promising approaches to fabrication of a scalable QC. However, the fabrication and operation of a Solid State Quantum Computer (SSQC) presents very formidable challenges; primary amongst these are: (1) the characterization and control of the fabrication process of the device during its construction and (2) the readout of the computational result. Magnetic Resonance Force Microscopy (MRFM) - a novel scanning probe technique based on mechanical detection of magnetic resonance - provides an attractive means of addressing these requirements. The sensitivity of the MRFM significantly exceeds that of conventional magnetic resonance measurement methods, and it has the potential for single electron spin detection. Moreover, the MRFM is capable of true 3D subsurface imaging. These features will make MRFM an invaluable tool for the implementation of a spin-based QC. Here we present the general principles of MRFM operation, the current status of its development and indicate future directions for its improvement.
8 Cooperative Learning and Achievement: Theory and Research

Cooperative learning has been extensively researched and extensively applied in schools throughout the world, in all subjects and grade levels. Under certain well-defined conditions, where small groups of students work together to help one another learn academic content and are evaluated based on the individual learning of all members, cooperative learning has increased student achievement. This chapter explores the evidence bases for four theoretical perspectives on the effects of cooperative learning. These are theories emphasizing motivational effects of cooperative learning, which emphasize group goals and individual accountability; social cohesion theories, which emphasize supportive relationships among group members; cognitive theories, which emphasize learning by teaching and opportunities for elaboration; and developmental theories, which emphasize cognitive conflict. Although evidence most strongly supports the motivational perspective, the chapter proposes an integration of the four theories. Keywords: cooperative learning; cooperation; academic achievement; motivation; Piaget; Vygotksy; group activities
The influence of context: comparing high school students’ socioscientific reasoning by socioscientific topic

Scientific literacy reflects an understanding of science as it relates to use of science in real-world contexts. Socioscientific issues (SSIs) are real-world problems that are complex in their ackn...
Transnational Mobility and Gender in Las acacias (2011) by Pablo Giorgelli

Las acacias (Pablo Giorgelli, 2011) is a transnational film in respect of its sources of funding, international reception and performance at film festivals. Further, its plot revolves around the consequences of transnationalism. Although it has not been analysed in recent works on Latin American road movies, its reliance on the road movie genre facilitates the representation of transnational mobility. Combining insights from film and mobility studies, this paper examines the stability–mobility dichotomy deployed in Las acacias, with particular attention to gender issues.
Oncogenic splicing regulated by phase separation.

There is increasing appreciation that many proteins self-aggregate in cells to form functional subcompartments, some of which exist as a separate liquid phase. A study now identifies the biophysical properties of AKAP95 protein condensates as critical for supporting cancer cell proliferation and RNA splicing.
Examining Incidents of Sexual Misconduct Reported to Title IX Coordinators: Results from New York’s Institutions of Higher Education

A paucity of studies has examined incidents of sexual misconduct reported to Title IX coordinators at institutions of higher education (IHEs) or examined differences across types of IHEs. We used 2...
Shallow neural networks trained to detect collisions recover features of visual loom-selective neurons

Animals have evolved sophisticated visual circuits to solve a vital inference problem: detecting whether or not a visual signal corresponds to an object on a collision course. Such events are detected by specific circuits sensitive to visual looming, or objects increasing in size. Various computational models have been developed for these circuits, but how the collision-detection inference problem itself shapes the computational structures of these circuits remains unknown. Here, inspired by the distinctive structures of LPLC2 neurons in the visual system of Drosophila, we build an anatomically-constrained shallow neural network model and train it to identify visual signals that correspond to impending collisions. Surprisingly, the optimization arrives at two distinct, opposing solutions, only one of which matches the actual dendritic weighting of LPLC2 neurons. The LPLC2-like solutions are favored when a population of units is trained on the task, but not when units are trained in isolation. The trained model reproduces experimentally observed LPLC2 neuron responses for many stimuli, and reproduces canonical tuning of loom sensitive neurons, even though the model are never trained on neural data. These results show that LPLC2 neuron properties and tuning are predicted by optimizing an anatomically-constrained neural network to detect impending collisions.
Speech-Language Pathologists' Ratings of Speech Accuracy in Children With Speech Sound Disorders.

Purpose: Forming accurate and consistent speech judgments can be challenging when working with children with speech sound disorders who produce a large number and varied types of error patterns. Ra...
PENAL INSTITUTIONS Prisons and Pardons/Paroles Reform

The new legislation establishes alternatives to incarceration which may be considered by the sentencing judge, increases reporting responsibilities of probationers, modifies procedures for jail construction, increases fines to fund jail construction, establishes bond forfeiture procedures, and institutes a program which allows judges to release prisoners on their own recognizance or on bail prior to incarceration.
Regulation in Response to Host-Derived Signaling Molecules

To survive in their environment, bacteria must sense the conditions in which they live and adapt accordingly. The best way to acquire this information is to sense various molecules produced by the host. This interaction, along with the host sensing bacterium-derived molecules, has been termed interkingdom signaling. Hormones, the principal signaling molecules in multicellular organisms, are present in every environment where bacteria interact with the host. Catecholamines are a family of three neuroendocrine hormones that are produced from the amino acid tyrosine. Opioids are neurotransmitters that play multiple roles in host responses such as stress, tissue damage, and regulation of the immune system. Natriuretic peptides are a class of peptide hormones involved in the osmoregulation of blood. The major signaling molecules used by the immune system are cytokines, which makes them a prime target for being eavesdropped on by bacteria. The immune system produces many other molecules aside from cytokines. Among these are cationic antimicrobial peptides (CAMPs). These peptides have a wide array of diversity but share a positive charge and amphipathic regions that allow them to interact with and disrupt the negatively charged bacterial membrane. Gram-positive bacteria also must face the wide array of antimicrobial peptides produced by the host. The ability to sense and respond to host signals has been identified in most major pathogens. The prevalence of this ability suggests that interkingdom signaling may be extremely common and that many more systems will be uncovered in the future.
Acute intraoperative neurogenic myocardial stunning during intracranial endoscopic fenestration and shunt revision in a pediatric patient

Neurogenic stunned myocardium (NSM) is syndrome of myocardial dysfunction following an acute neurological insult. We report a case of NSM that occurred intraoperatively in a pediatric patient undergoing endoscopic fenestration and shunt revision. Accidental outflow occlusion of irrigation fluid and ventricular distension resulted in an acute increase in heart rate and arterial blood pressure. Subsequently, the patient developed stunned myocardium with global myocardial hypokinesia and pulmonary edema. She was promptly treated intraoperatively then admitted to the pediatric intensive care unit with resolution of her symptoms within 12 h. She was later discharged to home on the fourth postoperative day. In the current endoscopic era, this report highlights the possibility of intraoperative NSM and neurogenic pulmonary edema in the pediatric population. Early detection and treatment with a team approach help to achieve optimal control of this life-threatening condition and improve the outcome.
TU-G-BRA-07: Characterization of Tumor Proliferation During Successive Cycles of Anti-Angiogenic Therapy Using [F-18]FLT PET/CT

Purpose: Studies have shown cessation of anti-angiogenic treatment during the first cycle of therapy resulted in rebound of tumor proliferation (flare). This study characterized proliferation dynamics during the first and third cycle of anti-angiogenic treatment using [F-18]FLT PET. Methods: Thirteen patients with various solid cancers were treated with Axitinib (Pfizer, Inc) at a dose of 5mg orally, twice daily, on contiguous three-week cycles with intermittent dosing (two-weeks-on/one-week-off). All patients received three FLT PET/CT scans during cycle 1 (C1): at baseline (C1D0), peak Axitinib concentration (C1D14), and the end of washout (C1D21). Ten patients received up to an additional three scans at corresponding time points during cycle 3 (C3). Lesions were identified by a nuclear medicine physician and manually contoured. Tumor burden was quantified using standard SUV metrics. Correlations between imaging metrics across C1 and C3 were calculated using the Spearman correlation. Results: At C1 peak drug concentration 11/13 patients had decreases in SUVtotal, with median decrease of 50% (change from C1D0 to C1D14). At C3 peak drug concentration 7/7 patients had decreases in SUVtotal, with median decrease of 20% (C3D0 to C3D14). Proliferative flare during C1 washout (>20% increase from C1D14 to C1D21) occurred in 9/13 patients, with median SUVtotal increase of 190%. Flare was also seen in C3 for 5/5 patients, with median SUVtotal increase of 70% (change from C3D14 to C3D21). Correlations were found between changes in imaging metrics across C1 and C3, notably the change in SUVtotal from C1D0 to C1D21 and the change in SUVtotal from C1D0 to C3D0 (ρ = 0.80). Conclusion: Measurements of SUVtotal showed that both patient response to treatment and flare were evident in both cycles of treatment. Correlation between changes in SUVtotal across C1 and C3 suggest early time points could be used to characterize patient response in later cycles. Research funded in part by Pfizer.
The Enzymes of the Galactose Operon in Escherichia coli IV. THE FREQUENCIES OF TRANSLATION OF THE TERMINAL CISTRONS IN THE OPERON

Abstract The frequencies of translation of the structural genes for uridine diphosphogalactose 4-epimerase and for galactokinase have been determined in wild type Escherichia coli and found to be equivalent under a variety of conditions. As these structural genes are the terminal cistrons in the galactose operon, it is concluded that polarity is not an inherent characteristic of this operon. The addition of amino acids to the growth medium doubles the growth rate, and hence the sum of all translation frequencies in the cell, but causes little, if any, change in the translation frequency of the galactose operon. This surprising result indicates that the galactose operon belongs to a subset of units of transcription the translation frequency of which is relatively insensitive to changes in the intracellular concentration of amino acids and ribosomes, and suggests that this translation frequency is strictly controlled by the transcription frequency. The model of Morse, Baker, and Yanofsky (Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci. U. S. A., 60, 1428 (1968)), in which each messenger RNA is translated once by a limited cluster of ribosomes following immediately behind the grow point for transcription, allows such a strict control. Test of this model against the existing data on the translation of the galactose operon indicates a remarkably good fit.
Measurement of phase and frequency variations in radio-frequency signals

A method to measure time-varying phase and frequency of radio-frequency signals using the Morlet transform is presented. The theoretical analysis and simulation results show that the method is suitable for detecting phase jitter, phase discontinuities, and frequency contents in telecommunication signals.
Neuroprotection for parkinson's disease

Levodopa is the most effective drug available for the treatment of Parkinson's disease (PD). As a precursor of dopamine, levodopa causes an increase in brain dopamine, which is depleted in PD. However, long-term levodopa therapy is associated with complications such as dyskinesias, motor fluctuations, and mental status changes. The treatment of these side effects is a major challenge for the clinician.
Histidine-Mediated Control of Tryptophan Biosynthetic Enzymes in Neurospora crassa

The formation of the five tryptophan biosynthetic enzymes of Neurospora crassa was shown to be derepressed in histidine-starved cells. This histidine-mediated derepression was not due to a lowered intracellular concentration of tryptophan in these cells. Furthermore, histidine-mediated derepression of tryptophan enzymes was found to be coordinate and not subject to reversal by tryptophan of either exogenous or biosynthetic origin. The synthesis of tryptophan enzymes also was found to be coordinate in cells which were not histidine-starved. Although histidine is clearly involved in regulating the synthesis of tryptophan enzymes, it did not prevent either tryptophan-mediated derepression of tryptophan enzymes or indole-3-glycerol phosphate-mediated derepression of tryptophan synthetase.