cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Thermomechanical fatigue cracking in fiber reinforced metal-matrix composites

A theoretical model is developed for thermomechanical fatigue cracking in fiber reinforced metal-matrix composites. Interfacial debonding is assumed to occur readily, allowing fibers to slide relative to the matrix resisted by a uniform shear stress. The fibers therefore bridge any matrix crack which develops. The crack bridging traction law is obtained, including the effect of thermal expansion mismatch between the fiber and the matrix and a temperature dependence of the frictional shear stress. Any combination of thermal and mechanical cycling is considered as long as the slip zone along the fiber increases in length monotonically during each increment of cycling. However, for clarity, the results are presented in terms of in-phase and out-of-phase cycling of the thermal and mechanical loads at the same frequency. For each case, the stress distributions in the bridging zone as well as the stress intensity factors at the crack tip are computed for relevant regimes of the thermal and mechanical loading conditions. Predictions are made of the matrix fatigue crack growth under combined thermal and mechanical loading conditions. It is found that when the thermal expansion coefficient of the fiber is less than that of the matrix, a significant increase in the crack growth rate results in out-of-phase thermomechanical fatigue. On the other hand, there is decreased tendency for fibers to fail in this case. For in-phase thermomechanical fatigue, the crack growth rate is reduced but the stress in the fiber is larger than that due to mechanical loading alone, resulting in an increased tendency for fiber failure. The implications for life prediction for fiber reinforced metal-matrix composites are discussed.
WDM Silicon Modulators Based on Micro-ring Resonators

We demonstrate experimentally cascaded silicon micro-ring modulators for WDM interconnection systems. We show clean eye-diagrams when each of the four micro-ring modulators coupled to a single waveguide is modulated at 4 Gbit/s
The Legal Liminality Of Battered Women Who Kill Their Abusers

A 45-year-old Southern California woman is behind bars today because she was convicted of killing her abusive husband, entering prison in 1985 to serve a 15 years-to-life, first-degree, murder sentence. She says that during an 11-year, off-and-on relationship that led to marriage in 1982, her husband repeatedly beat her, broke her ribs and jaw, kicked and stabbed her. She left him numerous times, had obtained a restraining order and contacted a battered women's shelter. Yet, as is common in battering relationships, she often reconciled with her mate. Shortly after another reunion, she was beaten for the last time. After her husband fell asleep, she shattered his skull with an empty wine bottle and stabbed him. She testified at her trial that she had been abused, but no expert witness on battered woman syndrome was called. Her attorney in 1984 thought that it could have hurt her case by suggesting a reason for the killing. Now in prison, she has appealed for clemency from the governor and is backed by a coalition of more than 150 attorneys and advocates who helped prepare clemency petitions.
Quarter-wave VHF microstrip antenna characterized in anechoic chamber

A quarter-wave microstrip antenna for VHF communication systems has been fabricated and tested. The antenna is physically small, with a metallic ground plane. The antenna gain is +0.6 dBi, and the maximum H-plane cross-polarization levels are 10 dB below the maximum E-plane co-polarization levels. Measurements are performed in an anechoic antenna range designed for higher frequency testing (≫1.5 GHz). The feasibility and limitations of performing VHF antenna tests under these conditions are presented.
NITRIC OXIDE-ENHANCED MOLECULAR IMAGING OF ATHEROMA USING VASCULAR CELLULAR ADHESION MOLECULE 1-TARGETED ECHOGENIC IMMUNOLIPOSOMES

The aim of this study was to determine whether pre-treatment with nitric oxide-loaded echogenic liposomes (NO-ELIP) plus ultrasound can improve highlighting by molecularly targeted (anti-vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 [VCAM-1]) ELIP of atheroma components. Atherosclerotic animals were treated with anti-VCAM-1-ELIP or immunoglobulin (IgG)-ELIP. Each group was selected at random to receive pre-treatment with standard ELIP plus ultrasound, NO-ELIP without ultrasound and NO-ELIP plus ultrasound. Intravascular ultrasound highlighting data for the same arterial segments were collected before and after treatment. Pre-treatment with NO-ELIP plus ultrasound resulted in a significant increase in acoustic enhancement by anti-VCAM-1-ELIP (21.3 ± 1.5% for gray-scale value, 53.9 ± 3.1% for radiofrequency data; p < 0.001 vs. IgG-ELIP, p < 0.05 vs. pre-treatment with standard ELIP plus ultrasound or NO-ELIP without ultrasound). NO-ELIP plus ultrasound can improve highlighting of atheroma by anti-VCAM-1 ELIP. This NO pre-treatment strategy may be useful in optimizing contrast agent delivery to the vascular wall for both diagnostic and therapeutic applications.
Poster abstract: BioLogger: A wireless physiological monitoring and logging system

This paper presents the design and development of BioLogger, a wireless physiological signal monitoring and logging system. BioLogger can simultaneously acquire multiple types of physiological signals and display their waveforms on a computer. Furthermore energy saving is integrated to the both hardware and software design intended to prolong the time period of the on-body sensor node. Last, a simple scheduler is implemented to make sure the emergency message would not be missed.
Asymmetric relationship between grasses and forbs: results from a field experiment under nutrient limitation

We compared the role of grasses and forbs in managed grassland under nutrient-poor conditions via the experimental removal of one of these two species groups and an evaluation of the removal effects over a 5-year chronosequence (beginning 4 years after removal start), focusing on above-ground biomass and community composition. There was evidence for the complementarity of grasses and forbs, as shown by better relative performance of both groups in the mixture, measured as the proportional deviation of their above-ground biomass from that predicted using single-group plots. Relative performance of forbs was better than that of grasses and did not change significantly throughout the experiment. Relative performance of grasses decreased, reaching a minimum value of 0·03, but then increased to 0·71, in parallel with increasing legume proportion in the above-ground biomass (from 0·9 to 5·1%). The botanical composition of the grass group did not respond to forb removal. Among the forbs, subordinate species sensitive to light competition became more abundant after removal of grasses; the forb species richness increased on average by 1·6 species per plot. Our results show that the composition and diversity of the forb group is affected by the presence of grasses, and the presence of forbs in a grassland community assures higher temporal stability in above-ground production. Under increasing depletion of soil nutrients, the grasses derive substantial benefits from the presence of legume species and possibly also from the other forb species. The study supports the need for realistic, long-term experiments to better understand plant community dynamics.
A Usability Study on Elder Adults Utilizing Social Networking Sites

There are a growing number of elder adults using computers and the internet, however their social media presence still remains low compared to younger counterparts. What are the reasons hindering them from utilizing social media? What challenges do elder adults face when using these types of sites? Are they able to successfully utilize the site as intended? Does computer experience play a role in the usability of these sites? Can improvements be made to current social media sites to improve usability and accessibility for elders? This paper reports the preliminary findings to the questions above based on a usability study involving twenty-two elders with none to advanced computer experience. Results from this study show that previous experience with computers and the design of the sites affect the usability and accessibility for the elderly. Social networking sites are difficult for elders to use because of computer illiteracy, lack of knowledge of Web 2.0 concepts, and format, navigation, and layout issues. Future suggestions include redesigning social networking sites by abiding by known website guidelines and other suggestions found in this study.
Sustained sub-laminar drag in a fully developed channel flow

It is shown, by direct numerical simulations, that the skin-friction drag in a fully developed channel can be sustained below that corresponding to the laminar profile when the flow is subjected to surface blowing and suction in the form of an upstream travelling wave. A key mechanism that induces the sub-laminar drag is the creation of positive (negative) Reynolds shear stress in the wall region, where normally negative (positive) Reynolds shear stress is expected given the mean shear. This mechanism is contained in the linearized Navier–Stokes equations, thus allowing linear analysis of the observed phenomena. When applied to a fully developed turbulent channel flow, skin-friction drag is also significantly reduced by an upstream travelling wave, demonstrating that the surface blowing and suction in the form of such a wave is also effective in fully developed turbulent flows. Consideration of the energy budget shows a possibility of net drag reduction in turbulent channel flows with the present open-loop control.
Racial and Ethnic Differences in the Predictive Validity of the Level of Service Inventory–Revised Among Prison Inmates:

The Level of Service Inventory-Revised (LSI-R) is a risk/needs assessment tool that is widely used in correctional settings. Extant research has demonstrated the predictive validity of the LSI-R for individuals under correctional supervision. Yet, few researchers have assessed whether the LSI-R and its various subcomponents predict prison misconduct similarly for White versus non-White inmates. Using data collected from male inmates confined in prisons across a Midwestern state, we examined the predictive validity of the LSI-R and its 10 subcomponents for White, Black, and Hispanic inmates. We found that the LSI-R predicted the prevalence of misconduct for inmates of varying races/ethnicities. However, we reached a different conclusion when we examined the incidence of misconduct; the LSI-R composite score and subcomponent scores showed greater predictive utility for White inmates than for non-White inmates. Our findings add to a growing body of research that suggests that the predictive validity of the LSI-R differs by offender race/ethnicity. We discuss the policy implications of our findings and offer recommendations for future research. Language: en
Malignant Soft Tissue Tumors in Children

Soft tissue masses are frequently seen in children. Although most are benign or reactive, soft tissue sarcomas (STS)-both rhabdomyosarcoma (most common) and non-rhabdo STS, do occur in the extremities. Appropriate evaluation of extremity soft tissue tumors often includes a biopsy as the clinical and imaging features may not be enough to establish a definitive diagnosis. Much needs to be done for improving the treatment of these rare but often devastating sarcomas. Given the small numbers of these cases seen at various centers, collaborative efforts should be made to further our understanding and improve the management of these challenging cases.
Temporal Operators for Nonlinear Structural Dynamics Problems

Three of the most often used numerical integration schemes for the geometrically nonlinear response analysis of structural components are evaluated based on the ease of problem formulation, machine strage required, and speed and accuracy of solution. The particular integration methods considered are the implicit Houbolt and constant-average-acceleration Newmark methods and the explicit central finite difference scheme. The methods are evaluated by a series of numerical experiments with one and multiple degree-of-freedom system, both with and without damping, with emphasis on the characteristics of these temporal operators as regards stability and artificial attenuation or viscosity.
The FIRE infrared spectrometer at Magellan: construction and commissioning

We describe the construction and commissioning of FIRE, a new 0.8-2.5μm echelle spectrometer for the Magellan/ Baade 6.5 meter telescope. FIRE delivers continuous spectra over its full bandpass with nominal spectral resolution R = 6000. Additionally it offers a longslit mode dispersed by the prisms alone, covering the full z to K bands at R ~ 350. FIRE was installed at Magellan in March 2010 and is now performing shared-risk science observations. It is delivering sharp image quality and its throughput is sufficient to allow early observations of high redshift quasars and faint brown dwarfs. This paper outlines several of the new or unique design choices we employed in FIRE's construction, as well as early returns from its on-sky performance.
Synthesis and characterization of InP and InN colloidal nanocrystals

We report on colloidal synthesis of InP and InN nanocrystals (NCs) from organometallic precursors in a noncoordinating solvent using myristic acid as a ligand. The results of NC structural and optical characterization are presented.
What Are We Talking about When We Talk about Agency

Jeunesse: Young People, Texts, Cultures 8.1 (2016) Perhaps it is unfair of me to quote this short extract from a much larger argument out of context. While it has the virtue of representing a position with which I wish to take issue, abstracting it from the context of the nuanced and leisurely argument that Perry Nodelman makes in The Hidden Adult or even from the context of the essay by him that inspired this forum threatens to reduce the statement to a convenient straw figure. Furthermore, I have a great deal of respect for Perry Nodelman; I have been reading his work since the mid1980s, when, as a graduate student, I accidentally but happily stumbled into the field of children’s literature studies. Then the editor of Children’s Literature Association Quarterly, Nodelman was instrumental in helping to define that field. Nevertheless, nearly thirty years later in a review essay in Jeunesse, in which I reviewed The Hidden Adult in conjunction with several volumes of Nodelman’s children’s fiction, I began to delineate some problems I have with his “taxonomy of children’s literature” (“Ambivalent” 140). My primary objection, as I hope to make clear in the remainder of this essay, is to Nodelman’s premise that “[T]he characteristic markers of children’s literature ‘are all variants of and manifestations of the basic opposition between adult and child implied by the very circumstance of adults writing for children.’”
A Radiation Technique for Measuring the Freezing Points of Refractory Oxides

In the course of developing high-temperature equipment at Arthur D. Little, Inc., using an arc imaging furnace, we have observed a phenomenon that appears to be potentially useful as a technique for determining the freezing points of unknown refractory materials. While studying alumina samples, we noted that after the heating radiation had been removed, the temperature decline of the sample was temporarily arrested at a point roughly corresponding to the melting point of the sample. After the sample temperature stayed at this value for a short time, it continued to decline, and eventually reached ambient.
The reinforcing and discriminative stimulus effects of the novel cocaine analog 2beta-propanoyl-3beta-(4-tolyl)-tropane in rhesus monkeys.

2beta-propanoyl-3beta-(4-tolyl)-tropane (PTT), is a cocaine analog that inhibits dopamine uptake, binding with high affinity and selectivity to the dopamine transporter. In the present study, the behavioral effects of PTT were evaluated in two models of cocaine abuse: drug self-administration and drug discrimination. In the first experiment, rhesus monkeys (n = 3) were trained to self-administer cocaine (0.03 and 0.1 mg/kg/injection, i.v.) under a fixed-interval 5-min schedule. Presession administration of PTT (0.03-0.3 mg/kg, i.v.) or cocaine (0.3-3.0 mg/kg, i.v.) were evaluated. At both self-administered doses of cocaine, PTT decreased response rates and total session intakes and was approximately 0.5 to 1.0 log units more potent than cocaine. In experiment 2, the reinforcing effects of PTT (0.003-0.1 mg/kg/injection) were evaluated in a separate group of monkeys (n = 4) responding under a fixed-interval 5-min schedule of cocaine (0.03 mg/kg/injection) presentation. When substituted for cocaine, PTT maintained response rates similar to saline-maintained rates and significantly lower than rates maintained by cocaine (0.003-0.3 mg/kg/injection). Total session PTT intake was significantly lower than cocaine intake. In experiment 3, the discriminative stimulus effects of PTT (0.003-0.1 mg/kg, i.m.) were evaluated in monkeys (n = 3) trained to discriminate cocaine (0.2 mg/kg, i.m.) from saline (0.5 ml). PTT substituted for cocaine in a dose-dependent manner and was 0.5 to 1.0 log units more potent than cocaine. At the highest PTT dose, cocaine-appropriate responding was observed 8 to 24 hr after the injection. These results demonstrated that the long-acting indirect dopamine agonist PTT was effective in decreasing cocaine self-administration and in abuse liability testing showed a unique behavioral profile, not functioning as a reinforcer when substituted for cocaine and producing discriminative stimulus effects similar to cocaine.
Smoke inhalation and burn injury.

This section covers five situations in surgical respiratory care that the busy surgeon may encounter only a few times each year. The authors are experts on the modern understanding of these conditions. The practice of pediatric surgery and neonatal intensive care is approaching the point at which a surgeon will deal with neonates all the time or not at all. Nonetheless, many of the respiratory care techniques that are currently routine procedures in adults came directly from the neonatal intensive care unit, so that every reader serves to gain by careful study of the clear descriptions by Philippart, Sarnaik, and Belenky. Likewise, patients with smoke inhalation and burns are usually referred to burn care centers, which are familiar with Moylan’s work. However, there are important lessons in his article for anyone who deals with disorders of the airway. By contrast, every surgeon lives with major trauma, aspiration, pulmonary embolism, and cardiac failure. Every reader will remember the last patient seen with these problems and anticipate the next with concern. These solid practical reviews will make that experience easier.
TYPE A BEHAVIOR PATTERN AND TENDENCY TO COOPERATE OR COMPETE DURING A SIMULATION NEGOTIATION ACTIVITY

Summy.-This study examined the Type A behavior pattern of 80 indidividuals who participated in a simulation in which they acted in either a cooperative or a competitive manner. Correlations of Type A behavior scores with the tendency ta compete were small but significant and positive. These findings were consistent with the existing literature on the Type A behavior pattern but suggested that the competitiveness of this pattern may exist for situations in which competition is inappropriate. The Type A behavior pattern was identified by Friedman and Roseman (1974) as a lifestyle variable that contributed significantly to the development of coronary heart disease. Mettlio (1976) found that the Type A behavior pattern was significantly related to occupational status and income with Type A individuals having higher incomes and occupational positions. Glass (1977) suggested that a Type A behavior pattern was the result of assimilating a Western culture's value system with its emphasis on conuol of the environment, time urgenq, and competition. Research by McGregor (1960) determined that two general types of managers existed. Type X managers tended to assume that employers and employees were involved in a competitive zero-sum relationship in which one side could win only at the other's expense. Type Y managers tended to assume that employees wanted to perform well and made cooperative win-win assumptions about interactions. On the basis of McGregor's work a simulation called "Win as Much as You Can," or "Score as Much as Possible" was developed (Shrank, 1972). This simulation involved negotiation among four individuals who could act in a win-lose (competitive) manner or a win-win (cooperative) manner. Subjects were 80 undergraduates at a Midwestern university. Four intact classes were administered a Type A behavior pattern questionnaire. Two weeks later the simulation "Score as Much as Possible" was administered by randomly assigning subjects to teams with four individuals per team. Release forms were signed and all subjects were debriefed following the completion of the study. To assess Type A behavior, a 10-item questionnaire was administered (Girdano & Everly, 1979). Subjects responded on a 4-point Likert scale: 4, almost always true, 3, often true, 2, seldom true, and 1, almost never uue. The possible range of scores was 40 to 10; actual range was 30 to 14; mean was 23.11, standard deviation 3.87. The authors reported no reliability or validity data, but the instrument had Construct validity as each item was derived from empirical findings on the Type A behavior pattern. To assess the tendency to cooperate (Type Y) or compete (Type X), the simulation "Score as Much as Possible" was administered (Shrank, 1972). In the process of participating in simulation, subjects responded to 10 negotiation rounds with either an "X" (competitive) or "Y (cooperative) response. A total X score was computed by computing the number of rounds in which the individual recorded an X (competitive
Energy gaps in graphene nanomeshes

We report on the band gap opening and electronic structures of graphene nanomeshes (GNMs), the defected graphene containing a high-density array of nanoscale holes, from first-principles calculations. As expected, quantum confinement at the GNM necks leads to a sizable band gap; however, surprisingly, the appearance of a gap depends sensitively on the hole arrangement and periodicity. For the simplest hexagonal zigzag-edged holes passivated by hydrogen, two-thirds of GNMs remain semimetallic while the rest are semiconductors. Furthermore, we show that the energy gap opening in GNM results from the combination of quantum confinement and the periodic perturbation potential due to perforation.
TNF-α stimulates colonic myofibroblast migration via COX-2 and Hsp27

Abstract Backround Crohn's disease (CD) is a chronic inflammatory enteropathy characterized by fibrotic strictures. Myofibroblasts (MFBs) are stromal cells of the gastrointestinal tract found in increased numbers in patients with CD and represent the key effector cells involved in pathologic fibrosis. MFB is a known target of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), a proinflammatory cytokine strongly implicated in the pathophysiology of CD. However, the precise mechanisms through which TNF-α contributes to fibrosis remain incompletely understood. Here, we demonstrate for the first time that TNF-α increases MFB migration through the cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2) and heat-shock protein 27 (Hsp27) pathways. Materials and methods The human colonic MFB cell line 18Co was grown to confluence on 35 × 10 mm cell culture dishes and used from passages 8-14. An in vitro scratch assay assessed the effect of TNF-α (10 ng/mL) on MFB migration over 24 h in the presence or absence of several inhibitors (NS398, SB203580, Hsp27 siRNA). Results TNF-α significantly increased MFB migration over 24 h. TNF-α also led to the increased expression of COX-2 and stimulated rapid phosphorylation of Hsp27 at serine 82. TNF-α-induced COX-2 expression, Hsp27 phosphorylation, and MFB migration were all significantly inhibited by the P38 MAPK inhibitor SB203580 (P Conclusions TNF-α stimulates colonic MFB migration through P38 MAPK-mediated activation of COX-2 and Hsp27. Further elucidating these inflammatory signaling pathways may lead to novel therapeutic targets for the treatment of CD-related fibrosis and strictures.
Modulation of Innate Immune Response for Tissue Engineering

The number of biomaterial scaffolds for tissue engineering applications continues to rise and holds promise for regenerative medicine. However, the complexity of the immune response poses a challenging environment for implanted biomaterial scaffolds for tissue repair. Specifically, the innate immune responses characterized by tissue infiltrating neutrophils and macrophages have been shown to govern either pro-inflammatory or tissue reparative microenvironments at the local site of tissue injury depending on their activation and phenotypic status. Thus, a selective strategy for developing immune-modulatory biomaterial scaffolds to improve the modulation of innate immune reactions may offer attractive features for tissue regeneration. The focus of this chapter is to discuss recent progress in the development of biomaterial scaffolds for modulating immune responses and their potential application for tissue repair. Specifically, important design variables for fabricating immuno-modulatory biomaterial scaffolds are highlighted.
Automatic scanpath generation with deep recurrent neural networks

Many computer vision algorithms are biologically inspired and designed based on the human visual system. Convolutional neural networks (CNNs) are similarly inspired by the primary visual cortex in the human brain. However, the key difference between current visual models and the human visual system is how the visual information is gathered and processed. We make eye movements to collect information from the environment for navigation and task performance. We also make specific eye movements to important regions in the stimulus to perform the task-at-hand quickly and efficiently. Researchers have used expert scanpaths to train novices for improving the accuracy of visual search tasks. One of the limitations of such a system is that we need an expert to examine each visual stimuli beforehand to generate the scanpaths. In order to extend the idea of gaze guidance to a new unseen stimulus, there is a need for a computational model that can automatically generate expert-like scanpaths. We propose a model for automatic scanpath generation using a convolutional neural network (CNN) and long short-term memory (LSTM) modules. Our model uses LSTMs due to the temporal nature of eye movement data (scanpaths) where the system makes fixation predictions based on previous locations examined.
The weaker sex? Vulnerable men and women’s resilience to socio-economic disadvantage

Sex differences in mortality vary over time and place as a function of social, health, and medical circumstances. The magnitude of these variations, and their response to large socioeconomic changes, suggest that biological differences cannot fully account for sex differences in survival. Drawing on a wide swath of mortality data across countries and over time, we develop a set of empiric observations with which any theory about excess male mortality and its correlates will have to contend. We show that as societies develop, M/F survival first declines and then increases, a “sex difference in mortality transition” embedded within the demographic and epidemiologic transitions. After the onset of this transition, cross-sectional variation in excess male mortality exhibits a consistent pattern of greater female resilience to mortality under socio-economic adversity. The causal mechanisms underlying these associations merit further research.
Impacts of Experiential Learning Depth and Breadth on Student Outcomes

This 5-year study of graduating seniors at Elon University (n = 2,058) evaluates the impacts of experiential learning depth (amount of time commitment) and breadth (number of different types of exp...
640. A Tissue Engineered Nipple and Areola Complex

There are more than 2.8 million breast cancer survivors in the United States, many of who have undergone reconstructive surgery. Approximately 36% of patients with early stage diagnoses and 60% of patients with late stage diagnoses undergo mastectomies. Moreover, immediate breast reconstruction following mastectomies has become more common, significantly increasing at an average rate of 5% per year, from 20.8% in 1998 to 37.8% in 2008. This increasing trend is not surprising as breast reconstruction likely provides psychological benefits for women who undergo mastectomies. There is evidence to suggest that nipple and areola complex (NAC) reconstruction affects psychological wellbeing by enhancing body image and selfesteem, or decreasing the feeling of distress felt by female patients with mastectomies. Due to this, there exists a need for a reproducible and more naturally aesthetic architecture for NAC reconstruction. Current strategies for NAC reconstruction are limited to surgical techniques that create a NAC-like structure from existing local tissue, secondary site grafting, 3D tattooing, or using commercially available acellular dermal matrix sheets, such as Alloderm. Generating a tissue engineered, biocompatible NAC implant, made of decellularized whole NAC, for use in place of surgically created NAC structures is a promising approach to NAC reconstruction following mastectomies.To date, no tissue engineering and cellular therapy strategies have been developed focused on NAC reconstruction. The application of decellularization to the whole, semi-glandular NAC can create a non-immunogenic NAC that retains the microarchitecture and gross structures of a native NAC. This tissue engineering approach to whole NAC structure regeneration allows for the effective removal of cellular material, the retention of the extracellular matrix components and structure, as well as cell adhesion molecules. Once decellularized, NAC scaffolds would be seeded with autologous cells to create a graft that is patient-specific. Preliminary studies have shown, using tissues from a Rhesus Macaque Non- Human Primate animal model, that biologically derived scaffolds were able to be reproducibly isolated with effective removal of nuclear material—less than ≈50ng of 200bp DNA per mg of sample remaining. Through histological analysis of the NAC scaffolds it was shown that the presence of extracellular matrix and adhesion proteins were maintained after the decellularization process. Additionally, bioactivity of the scaffolds were assessed using rhesus bone marrow-derived stem cells for one week, under dynamic cell culture conditions. Herein, a tissue engineered, regenerative medicine approach to reconstruct the nipple and areola complex using a biologically derived scaffold and autologous cell sources is described.
Body emotion recognition disproportionately depends on vertical orientations during childhood

Children’s ability to recognize emotional expressions from faces and bodies develops during childhood. However, the low-level features that support accurate body emotion recognition during developm...
Role of Pectoral Fin Flexibility in Robotic Fish Performance

Pectoral fins play a vital role in the maneuvering and locomotion of fish, and they have become an important actuation mechanism for robotic fish. In this paper, we explore the effect of flexibility of robotic fish pectoral fins on the robot locomotion performance and mechanical efficiency. A dynamic model for the robotic fish is presented, where the flexible fin is modeled as multiple rigid elements connected via torsional springs and dampers. Blade element theory is used to capture the hydrodynamic force on the fin. The model is validated with experimental results obtained on a robotic fish prototype, equipped with 3D-printed fins of different flexibility. The model is then used to analyze the impacts of fin flexibility and power/recovery stroke speed ratio on the robot swimming speed and mechanical efficiency. It is found that, in general, flexible fins demonstrate advantages over rigid fins in speed and efficiency at relatively low fin-beat frequencies, while rigid fins outperform flexible fins at higher frequencies. For a given fin flexibility, the optimal frequency for speed performance differs from the optimal frequency for mechanical efficiency. In addition, for any given fin, there is an optimal power/recovery stroke speed ratio, typically in the range of 2–3, that maximizes the speed performance. Overall, the presented model offers a promising tool for fin flexibility and gait design, to achieve speed and efficiency objectives for robotic fish actuated with pectoral fins.
Building MT for a Severely Under-Resourced Language: White Hmong

In this paper, we discuss the development of statistical machine translation for English to/from White Hmong (Language code: mww). White Hmong is a Hmong-Mien language, originally spoken mostly in Southeast Asia, but now predominantly spoken by a large diaspora throughout the world, with populations in the United States, Australia, France, Thailand and elsewhere. Building statistical translation systems for Hmong proved to be incredibly challenging since there are no known parallel or monolingual corpora for the language; in fact, finding data for Hmong proved to be one of the biggest challenges to getting the project off the ground. It was only through a close collaboration with the Hmong community, and active and tireless participation of Hmong speakers, that it became possible to build up a critical mass of data to make the translation project a reality. We see this effort as potentially replicable for other severely resource poor languages of the world, which is likely the case for the majority of the languages still spoken on the planet. Further, the work here suggests that research and work on other severely under-resourced languages can have significant positive impacts for the affected communities, both for accessibility and language preservation.
Genome Sequence of Weissella cibaria DmW_103, Isolated from Wild Drosophila.

ABSTRACT Lactic acid bacteria are commonly associated with Drosophila spp. Here, we report on the isolation of a strain of Weissella cibaria and the sequencing, assembly, and annotation of its genome. A total of 35 contigs were generated, with 2,349 coding sequences found.
Study of overvoltage and insulation coordination of UHV DC transmission line

In order to determine the insulation level of DC transmission line, one UHV DC transmission project is taken as an example in this paper. PSCAD program is used to establish the simulation calculation model. Multiple fault points on the fault line are selected. The induced overvoltage amplitude, distribution along the line and the maximum overvoltage envelope of healthy pole transmission line corresponding to the failure point are calculated to determine 2% statistical overvoltage. The influence of DC filter parameters, grounding resistance and grounding position on overvoltage are analyzed. According to the DC filter scheme, the DC line insulation coordination is analyzed, and the air gap of transmission line tower is determined. The calculation results provide the references for the designation and construction of UHV DC transmission projects.
Indole synthesis by palladium-catalyzed tandem allylic isomerization – furan Diels–Alder reaction

A Pd(0)-catalyzed elimination of an allylic acetate generates a π-allyl complex that is postulated to initiate a novel intramolecular Diels-Alder cycloaddition to a tethered furan (IMDAF). Under the reaction conditions, this convergent, microwave-accelerated cascade process provides substituted indoles in moderate to good yields after Pd-hydride elimination, aromatization by dehydration, and in situ N-Boc cleavage.
Seattle's minimum wage ordinance did not affect supermarket food prices by food processing category.

OBJECTIVE To examine the impacts of Seattle's minimum wage ordinance on food prices by food processing category. DESIGN Supermarket food prices were collected for 106 items using a University of Washington Center for Public Health Nutrition market basket at affected and unaffected supermarket chain stores at three times: March 2015 (1-month pre-policy enactment), May 2015 (1-month post-policy enactment) and May 2016 (1-year post-policy enactment). Food items were categorized into four food processing groups, from minimally to ultra-processed. Data were analysed across time using a multilevel, linear difference-in-differences model at the store and price level stratified by level of food processing. SETTING Six large supermarket chain stores located in Seattle ('intervention') affected by the policy and six same-chain but unaffected stores in King County ('control'), Washington, USA. SUBJECTS One hundred and six food and beverage items. RESULTS The largest change in average price by food item was +$US 0·53 for 'processed foods' in King County between 1-month post-policy and 1-year post-policy enactment (P < 0·01). The smallest change was $US 0·00 for 'unprocessed or minimally processed foods' in Seattle between 1-month post-policy and 1-year post-policy enactment (P = 0·94). No significant changes in averaged chain prices were observed across food processing level strata in Seattle v. King County stores at 1-month or 1-year post-policy enactment. CONCLUSIONS Supermarket food prices do not appear to be differentially impacted by Seattle's minimum wage ordinance by level of the food's processing. These results suggest that the early implementation of a city-level minimum wage policy does not alter supermarket food prices by level of food processing.
Should Trauma Physicians Treat a Severely Injured Patient for the Sake of Elucidating Preferences about Organ Donation

Organ donor potential should not be considered during active resuscitation of trauma patients, and trauma surgeons should not make organ donation requests.
Drug-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Strains Reveal Distinct Biochemical Features with Raman Microspectroscopy.

Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) is a leading cause of hospital-acquired infections, such as bacteremia, pneumonia, and endocarditis. Treatment of these infections can be challenging since strains of S. aureus, such as methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA), have evolved resistance to antimicrobials. Current methods to identify infectious agents in hospital environments often rely on time-consuming, multistep culturing techniques to distinguish problematic strains (i.e., antimicrobial resistant variants) of a particular bacterial species. Therefore, a need exists for a rapid, label-free technique to identify drug-resistant bacterial strains to guide proper antibiotic treatment. Here, our findings demonstrate the ability to characterize and identify microbes at the subspecies level using Raman microspectroscopy, which probes the vibrational modes of molecules to provide a biochemical “fingerprint”. This technique can distinguish between different isolates of species such as Streptococcus agalactiae and S....
Neural Networks: Biological Models and Applications

Beginning with the seminal work of McCulloch and Pitts in the early 1940s, the pursuit of increasingly accurate mathematical characterizations of the electrophysiological properties of individual neurons and networks of interconnected neurons has been a driving force in neural network research. This line of research has branched into descriptions of the nervous system at many different grains of analysis, including complex mathematical models of the properties of a single neuron, models of simple biological networks involving small numbers of neurons, and more abstract models which act as simplified treatments of large-scale networks involving millions of neurons in the nervous systems of humans and other vertebrates. At various points in the history of neural network research, successful neural network models have spread beyond the biological modeling domain into the domains of engineering and medical applications. Because they are capable of learning complicated nonlinear relationships from sets of training examples, neural networks are particularly well suited to pattern recognition problems involving the detection of complicated trends in high-dimensional datasets, such as the detection of medical abnormalities from physiological measures.
Transfer of Liquid Hydrogen through Uninsulated Lines

The purpose of this paper is to present the results of an investigation to determine the heat leak and pressure drop characteristics for uninsulated liquidhydrogen transfer lines. The results are incorporated into single-phase flow design curves in such a way that design variables may be selected to give optimum performance. In addition, the pressure-drop, flow, and quality relationship for two-phase hydrogen flows with high rates of heat transfer are analyzed and discussed.
Weather and Road Geometry Impact on Acceleration Behavior: Experimental Set-Up and Data Collection Using a Driving Simulator

Transportation researchers tried for decades to investigate the dynamics of traffic flow in order to “optimize” the movement of goods and people under different surrounding conditions while reducing the negative environmental impacts and the economic losses due to congestion and traffic incidents. An important aspect missing from some previous studies relates to the activities through which drivers process the information representing a given surrounding. Such activities include: perception, evaluation, judgment and execution. Recognizing such limitation, the objective of this paper is utilize a 3-D driving simulator to advance the state of knowledge related to driving behavior while considering the surrounding environment’s impact (weather and road geometry) on drivers’ decision-making logic. Through a thorough literature review, the authors looked at the external factors that may impact longitudinal driving behavior. The major factors considered include visibility level, road friction, curvature, gradient, median existence, lane width and shoulder width. The literature review is then translated to an experimental set-up with variables that “parameterize” the external environment’s characteristics. A total of 36 students and staff from the George Washington University, 26 male and 10 female, with varying driving experience participated in the experiments. The participants drove behind a yellow cab which speed patterns are dictated by real-word trajectories taken from the NGSIM trajectory data. The collected performance measures include accelerations, speeds, longitudinal and lateral coordinates of the subject vehicle and the lead vehicle.
From Data Raider to Democratic Researcher

Over the last several years I have been volunteering with the Merrimack Valley Project (MVP), researching this extensive community coalition as the subject of my doctoral dissertation for the Social Economy/Social Justice program at Boston College. The MVP is a neo-Alinsky community organizing effort working across four historic industrial cities in northeastern Massachusetts (Lowell, Lawrence, Haverhill, and Amesbury). As an institution-based coalition, the membership consists of congregations, labor unions, and other community groups. These organizations have provided hundreds of grassroots leaders who have conducted local and regional issue campaigns across the Valley. The MVP has been a place for me to research democratic process and institution-building dynamics at the community level (the academic focus of my dissertation) as well as a place to participate with a large group of citizens working for a more just and civil society.
Biodegradation of phenol by Acinetobacter tandoii isolated from the gut of the termite

The diet of wood-feeding termites (WFT) consists of cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin. Cellulose and hemicellulose are utilized by symbiotic protozoa as a carbon source. Protozoa produce acetate, which is the carbon source of the termite. Recently, the mechanisms by which lignin is modified by termites have been reported. Lignin is broken down into its phenylpropanoid monomers and phenolic compounds. Bacteria from WFT gut capable of degrading lignin metabolic products are potentially valuable for bioremediation and biofuel production. A bacterium was isolated from the gut of the WFT and identified as Acinetobacter tandoii. This bacterium was capable of utilizing phenol as the sole carbon source and was able to completely degrade phenol at the concentration of 280 mg/L. A. tandoii degraded phenol via the ortho and β-ketoadipase pathway. This bacterium is a known phenol degrader, but to our knowledge, this is the first time it was isolated and tested for phenol-degrading ability from termites.
Blood staining of the posterior capsule caused by Terson syndrome

A 49-year-old man noticed bilateral acute visual loss after a subarachnoid hemorrhage caused by right vertebral artery dissection. Ophthalmologic findings were consistent with a diagnosis of Terson syndrome. A 25-gauge pars plana vitrectomy was performed after phacoemulsification with intraocular lens implantation; all procedures were uneventful. However, the operative field was very hazy. A small transparent circle, presumably the basement of Cloquet canal, was observed in the center of the cloudy operative field. We concluded that the posterior capsule had been stained by the vitreous hemorrhage. Therefore, a posterior capsulotomy was performed around the small circle, resulting in a clear operative field, and the surgery proceeded safely.
208 END-STAGE LIVER DISEASE WITH RECENT-ONSET DIARRHEA.

A 10-year-old Caucasian female presents with hepatosplenomegaly and increased liver enzymes. She reported the onset of watery stools 5/d for several months but no emesis, abdominal pain, or weight changes. On initial physical examination, she had a firm liver 4 cm below the costophrenic margin, palpable spleen tip, and spider nevi. The remainder of the physical examination was unremarkable. Laboratory testing revealed hemoglobin 11.1, platelets 176, AST 262, ALT 218, GGT 116, alkaline phosphatase 323, albumin 3.3, direct bilirubin 0, ESR 58, CRP 1.7. Hepatitis A, B, and C screen and CMV and EBV titers were negative. ANA 1:640, anti-LKM-1 negative, anti-smooth muscle 81 (nl
Collective Efficacy and Crime

In this article, we explore the literature on collective efficacy and crime, but pay attention to three major challenges that confront this literature, and researchers moving forward with the concept in studies of neighborhoods. These challenges are (1) precisely defining and measuring the concept of collective efficacy; (2) determining whether the notions of general cohesion and trust in neighborhoods are really components of collective efficacy, or determinants of it; and (3) whether neighborhood crime can have feedback effects on the level of collective efficacy.
“The Goodest of Functions”: The Restoration of Temporality in the Analysis of a Psychotic Child

This paper presents the psychoanalysis of a hospitalized psychotic child that validates some current theoretical understanding about primitive, unrepresented states of mind. It highlights the funct...