cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Comparison of the Effects of Down Milling and Up Milling on the Tool Temperature in Machining of Ti-6Al-4V

Ti-6AL-4V is widely used in the industry for the high strength-to-weight ratio at elevated temperature, its excellent resistance to fracture and corrosion, and biological properties. However, Ti-6AL-4V is hard to manufacture for its reactive chemical properties and low thermal conductivity that causes high temperature on the tool surface. Prediction of the tool temperature distribution from different manufacturing ways, up and down milling, has great significance in predicting tool wear pattern (cutting speed, feed/tooth, and axial depth of cut) in corner milling on temperature of the tool rake face. The tool material used is general carbide and Johnson-Cook plastic model is utilized to model the behavior of the workpiece Ti-6AL-4V. A separate Abaqus heat transfer model is used to analyze the heat transfer process after the tooth disengages the workpiece and before it engages the workpiece again to predict change of temperature distribution during this cooling process. The comparison of the up milling and down milling on the tool temperature is conducted.Copyright © 2015 by ASME
Non-Uniform Justice: An Equal Protection Analysis of Veterans Treatment Courts’ Exclusionary Qualification Requirements

When a military veteran commits a crime, should he be afforded a separate criminal justice system -- one that allows the veteran to avoid incarceration and possibly conviction altogether -- simply because he is a veteran? In an increasing number of jurisdictions in the United States, the answer to that question is yes. In just six years, the number of Veterans Treatment Courts (VTCs) in the United States has exploded from zero to 170, with more created each year. VTC participants enjoy a more lenient and beneficial system of adjudication of criminal misconduct than non-participants who commit identical crimes in the same jurisdiction. This article dissects the equal protection ramifications of VTCs’ exclusionary qualification requirements. After briefly describing VTCs and other problem-solving courts, the article examines the appropriate level of scrutiny for equal protection-based challenges to exclusion from VTC participation. This assessment includes an extended analysis of whether there is, as some have suggested, an equal protection-based “fundamental right to equal access to the courts,” concluding there is not such a right that applies to issues associated with exclusion from VTCs. The article then turns to an evaluation of the government interests and classifications associated with VTCs, concluding that each of the examined classifications survives rational basis review. The article closes with a brief argument that VTCs illustrate a flaw of fundamental rights jurisprudence: declaring broad fundamental rights based on equal protection can have the unintended consequence of prohibiting non-invidious state efforts the Equal Protection Clause has never been understood to address.
Converting California Psychological Inventory Protocols from 1957 to 1987 Norms and Variables

This article presents a simple methodology for manually converting 1957 California Psychological Inventory protocols to the 1987 version. This process permits utilization of current norms for prior administrations of the inventory and also allows computation of Gough's three new second-order (“structural”) personality variables and of several new scales which were not formally included in the 1957 version.
A Novel Theoretical Model for Semiconductor Oxide Gas Sensor

A new constitutive equation for the gas sensitivity of n-type semiconductor oxide thin film gas sensor has been proposed here based on a single-crystal model. The derived constitutive equation shows the dependence of the gas sensitivity on various critical parameters such as nanocrystallite size, space-charge-layer thickness, reducing gas concentration, bulk charge-carrier-concentration, surface-density of states, oxygen-ion-vacancy concentration, operating temperature, and film thickness. The present theoretical model is applicable to all n-type semiconductor oxides gas sensors.
T-mycoplasmas: their growth and production of a toxic substance in broth.

pH 6.0-6.5, in screw-capped tubes. Both grew in T-broth, pH 6.0-6.5, containing ammonium salts but not at an alkaline pH. Mycoplasma T-960 and Mycoplasma T-McA had cfu consisting of four cells and single cells, respectively, that resisted sonication. Both had typical growth curves and declined rapidly when the cfu reached about 5 x 106/ml of T-broth. Aeration probably restricted the synthesis of essential metabolites and, thus, retarded growth. The concentration of cfu was increased and the decline delayed by dialysis of broth cultures during incubation. The decline was not due to lack of nutrients nor production of NH3 and changes in pH in the T-broth but to a catalase-resistant, heat-stable dialyzable toxic product. Three other laboratory strains and five wild strains also grew in T-broth, pH 6.0-6.5, containing ammonium salts. All produced and were inactivated by the toxic product.
An Antimalarial Effect in vitro of Parapyruvic Acid

SummaryWhen the erythrocytic forms of Plasmodium lophurae were maintained extracellularly in vitro the addition of parapyruvate at concentrations down to 25 μg per ml increased the proportion of degenerate parasites present after one day's incubation. In cultures with intracellular parasites in suspensions of intact duck erythrocytes, the addition of the parapyruvate at concentrations down to 8 μg per ml decreased sharply the numbers of parasites present after two days' incubation. Somewhat higher concentrations also interfered with the reinvasion of erythrocytes by merozoites formed in such cultures. No antimalarial effect was observed when the compound was administered intravenously to ducklings infected with P. lophurae
Baseline CXCL10 and CXCL13 levels are predictive biomarkers for tumor necrosis factor inhibitor therapy in patients with moderate to severe rheumatoid arthritis: a pilot, prospective study

Background TNF inhibitors have been used as a treatment for moderate to severe RA patients. However, reliable biomarkers that predict therapeutic response to TNF inhibitors are lacking. In this study, we investigated whether chemokines may represent useful biomarkers to predict the response to TNF inhibitor therapy in RA.
Application of Fracture Prediction Technology in Qingxichang Area

Through the study on drilling data and gas test case in Qingxichang Area in northeastern Sichuan,it is found that the fractured gas reservoir is distributed unevenly in Feixianguan Formation.High-pressure fractured gas reservoir is drilled in Well QX1 and Well XQX1,but Well QX2 and Well QX3 are in vain.Therefore,it is necessary to study the distribution of fractures in the area.Firstly,the logging data of Well QX2 are used for rock physical forward model study and it is found that the fractured gas reservoir exhibits AVO response.Secondly,based on the anisotropic theory of subsurface media in seismic wave propagation,pre-stack seismic data are used to study the azimuthal attribute and pre-stack gathers of different angles of incidence of seismic data.Starting with the analysis of the variation of pre-stack seismic attribute with the azimuth and the angle of incidence,the distribution characteristics of fractured reservoir at top of Feixianguan Formation in Qingxichang structure are characterized and described.Thirdly,post-stack coherence attribute slice is used to analyze the fractured reservoir in the area,and numerical simulation for tectonic stress field is applied to verify the fracture system in the area.The results show that fractures developed in top reservoir of Feixianguan Formation,detection of anisotropic characteristics has good effect on fracture prediction in the area,and abnormal low FVO gradient on plane is consistent with anisotropic detection.But the results of numerical simulation of coherence attribute slice and tectonic stress field are relatively poor.Comparative study is conducted on the fractured reservoir drilled at top of Feixianguan Formation,and it is shown that anisotropic detection results correspond well to the data of drilled wells in the area,the fracture strike predicted at the drilling site is identical with that interpreted based on log data.
Emphysematous Pyelonephritis in a Solitary Kidney

AbstractA middle-aged female diabetic presented with ureteral obstruction, renal failure and emphysematous pyelonephritis in a solitary kidney. She was treated non-operatively with intensive antimicrobial therapy, prolonged ureteral catheter drainage and dialysis. Good recovery of renal architecture and function was eventually obtained.Although the usual indications for surgical extirpation or drainage of the kidney with emphysematous pyelonephritis seem to be well established circumstances may occasionally dictate an alternative course of action.
Binding of quinidine to plasma proteins in normal subjects and in patients with hyperlipoproteinemias

Quinidine in the plasma binds to the various lipoproteins as well as to albumin. With the use of computer simulations the effect of varying the serum level of each of the lipoproteins as weil as albumin was examined. The results suggested that the overall binding of quinidine is relatively insensitive to changes in any one serum pro tein provided the others are present in normal concentrations. Evaluation of the degree of protein binding of quinidine in plasma from normal subjects and patients with types IV and IIa hyperlipoproteinemias supported the computer predictions. The degree of pro tein binding in plasma from normal subjeets and patients with types IV and IIa hyperlipoproteinemias were 71.2% ± 11.4%, 75.9% ± 8.7%, and 69.9% ± 15.0%, respectively. The quinidine bin ding in plasma of patients with hyperlipoproteinemias did not differ statistically from that in the normal subjects.
A Case of Euglycemic Diabetic Ketoacidosis Following Long-term Empagliflozin Therapy.

In 2015, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) released a statement associating the use of sodium–glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors and the incidence of diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) in cases with relatively normal or mildly elevated glucose levels (euglycemic DKA [euDKA]) (1). This warning along with a review of more recent publications reveals possible triggers of this complication (2–4). Our report highlights a case of euDKA in a patient with type 2 diabetes, after over 6 months of empagliflozin treatment, presenting in respiratory alkalosis with krill oil use as a possible precipitating factor. A 57-year-old man with a 10-year history of type 2 diabetes presented to the emergency room with lightheadedness. He had been using empagliflozin alone for 189 days, decreasing his HbA1c from 7.0% …
Reshaping East Asia, Rethinking World Literature

This special issue of Symposium breaks ground in a new area for the journal: “East Asia,” broadly defined. The relevance of the literatures of East Asia warrants little exegesis: Gao Xingjian and M...
Periodicity in optimal hierarchical checkpointing schemes for adjoint computations

We reexamine the work of Aupy et al. on optimal algorithms for hierarchical adjoint computations, where two levels of memories are available. The previous optimal algorithm had a quadratic execution time. Here, with structural arguments, namely periodicity, on the optimal solution, we provide an optimal algorithm in constant time and space, with appropriate pre-processing. We also provide an asymptotically optimal algorithm for the online problem, when the adjoint chain size is not known before-hand. Again, these algorithms rely on the proof that the optimal solution for hierarchical adjoint computations is weakly periodic. We conjecture a closed-form formula for the period. Finally, we assess the convergence speed of the approximation ratio for the online problem through simulations.
High temperature performance of dielectrically isolated LDMOSFET, LIGBT and LEST

High temperature performance of dielectrically isolated LDMOSFETs, LIGBTs and dual channel LESTs with a breakdown voltage of 500 V are compared. The device parameters measured between 25/spl deg/C and 200/spl deg/C include the on-state current, threshold voltage, transconductance and the switching characteristics. The high temperature performance of the LIGBT is found to be superior to the LEST in terms of on-state current at a given forward bias, the parasitic thyristor latching current density, and the turnoff times. The effect of anode shorting and hybrid Schottky anode structures, for both the LIGBT and LEST, on the tradeoff curves are reported for different operating temperatures. >
Risk and Hazard Assessment for Projects Involving the Geological Sequestration of CO2

Publisher Summary Hazards due to geological sequestration are either caused by, or will lead to, a leakage of the sequestered CO 2 or both. They include acute hazards and diffuse hazards. As a result, CO 2 concentrations in the different environmental media exceed their normal ranges, resulting in various risks. A sudden release of CO 2 due to well cap failure or through fracture zones, although unlikely, could be the most hazardous event. A risk and consequence assessment methodology for carbon sequestration projects has been developed in this chapter, using a typical injection field as the source of hazard and leaking CO2 concentrations and fluxes as the key measures of risk and consequence to humans, animals, biota, property, agriculture, and water resources. Methods have been presented for quantifying the leakage rates via different pathways into various media, the resulting CO 2 concentrations, consequences, and risks. Results indicate that an acute, accidental release of CO 2 at the wellhead is the primary hazard, followed by leakage through a failed cap rock. Risks are the highest near the wellhead and dissipate radially away from the injection field. A better understanding of the associated uncertainty is needed to improve the confidence in risk projections, for which the methods presented provide a basis.
The Role of the Built Environment: How Decentralized Nurse Stations Shape Communication, Patient Care Processes, and Patient Outcomes

ABSTRACTIncreasingly, health communication scholars are attending to how hospital built environments shape communication, patient care processes, and patient outcomes. This multimethod study was conducted on two floors of a newly designed urban hospital. Nine focus groups interviews were conducted with 35 health care professionals from 10 provider groups. Seven of the groups were homogeneous by profession or level: nursing (three groups), nurse managers (two groups), and one group each of nurse care technicians (“techs”) and physicians. Two mixed groups were comprised of staff from pharmacy, occupational therapy, patient care facilitators, physical therapy, social work, and pastoral care. Systematic qualitative analysis was conducted using a conceptual framework based on systems theory and prior health care design and communication research. Additionally, quantitative modeling was employed to assess walking distances in two different hospital designs. Results indicate nurses walked significantly more in t...
The availability of essential cancer medication: An analysis of national formularies

Abstract Objective Compared to most other diseases, the total burden of common cancers is rapidly increasing in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). The World Health Organization (WHO) publishes the Essential Medicines List, which provides guidance to countries in selecting which cancer medications should be prioritized for general public access. Countries commonly have formularies which are representative of the specific medications that the national government has prioritized for its populations. Methods National formularies were collected from 116 countries, and the quantification of essential cancer medication was computed using text-matching software. The proportion of essential cancer medications listed on national formularies (i.e. "concordance") was compared to per capita gross domestic product, per capita healthcare expenditures, the human development index, smoking prevalence, and the combined prevalence of overweight and obesity. Results Median concordance with cancer drugs among low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) was 42.71%. In bivariate comparisons, concordance was significantly associated with per capita GDP at PPP ( p =0.005), per capita health expenditures ( p =0.050), the human development index ( p p =0.006). However, concordance was not associated with smoking prevalence ( p =0.292). Conclusion With national formularies analyzed for over 80% of all LMICs, this study found that most LMICs listed under half of cancer medications considered by the WHO to be essential. LMIC decision-making for policies related to cancer drug access may be heavily influenced by economic development, as well as by the high prevalence of certain cancer risk factors. The results from this study suggest that LMICs are generally ill-prepared to adequately provide essential treatment for their rapidly rising numbers of cancer patients.
Experimental results on direct adaptive control as applied to multi-degree-freedom torsional system

Abstract This paper focuses on the implementation of direct model reference adaptive control (DMRAC) for a multi degree-of-freedom, disc-shaft torsional system with varying plant parameters. The feedforward compensator for DMRAC is designed. The DMRAC is practically implemented on an actual real-life three-degree-of-freedom torsional system. The effectiveness and simplicity in the practical implementation of DMRAC is also demonstrated.
Are “U” Ready for the Future: Design Thinking as a Critical Educational Leadership Skill

This chapter explores how design thinking, integrated with systems thinking and Theory U, is an essential leadership tool for transforming learning spaces from preschool to learning within organizations. This chapter will help educators and those interested in the educational process to learn how generative thinking and leadership lead to designing new learning environs for sustainable living in the twenty-first century and beyond. The chapter starts with a rationale for why design thinking is needed today. The second part of the chapter explores the underlying concepts found in systems thinking, Theory U, and design thinking and how they relate to leadership. The readers will see how these concepts are used in an education leadership development program focused on creating new learning environment in the future. Finally, the reader will interact with the lessons learned to integrate these concepts into their daily routines.
A minimax problem in plasticity theory

We discuss a specific example of infinite-dimensional optimization. It arises in the limit analysis of a perfectly plastic structure, when the loads are increased until they are no longer balanced by admissible stresses. This moment of collapse can be determined, both analytically and numerically, as the extreme value either of an optimization problem in the stresses or of its dual in terms of displacements. In our example the dual (but not, so far, the primal) can actually be solved. We hope that the example will suggest the right choice of function spaces in the general theory, and also provide a good test case for the numerical analysis.
Tensorial Change Analysis Using Probabilistic Tensor Regression.

This paper proposes a new method for change detection and analysis using tensor regression. Change detection in our setting is to detect changes in the relationship between the input tensor and the output scalar while change analysis is to compute the responsibility score of individual tensor modes and dimensions for the change detected. We develop a new probabilistic tensor regression method, which can be viewed as a probabilistic generalization of the alternating least squares algorithm. Thanks to the probabilistic formulation, the derived change scores have a clear information-theoretic interpretation. We apply our method to semiconductor manufacturing to demonstrate the utility. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first work of change analysis based on probabilistic tensor regression.
Besi: behavior learning and tracking with wearable and in-home sensors - a dementia case-study: poster abstract

Sensing driven behavior modeling is vital in health applications. Recent advances in machine learning and sensing technologies accelerate such efforts. While wearables facilitate continuous sensing, they lack the computational resources for on-board heavy-weight signal processing and model-based prediction. Moreover, continuous transmission to a remote server drains much energy to achieve reasonable battery life for practical use. The BESI (Behavioral and Environmental Sensing and Intervention) system addresses these challenges to achieve continuous and real-time prediction-based tracking of human behavior. It employs a network of embedded nodes to ensure continuous connection with the wearables, and distributes the feature extraction and the model prediction tasks among these nodes and a local server to achieve real-time performance. In a dementia case-study, the BESI system is used for tracking agitated behavior in patients. It has been deployed in 12 residences of dementia patients, each for 30 days; and is planned for 10 more 60-day deployments. The system operation, behavior modeling method, and some preliminary result on tracking performance are presented here along with a discussion on future plan for platform optimization and model performance improvement.
Role of FNAC in diagnosis of cutaneous malignancies

Fine needle aspiration (FNA) of clinically suspicious cutaneous nodules was carried out in 68 patients with or without any evidence of malignancy elsewhere. They comprised 4.24% of all malignant cytologies from various body sites. About half of all the nodules were metastases from distant primaries and about one third post therapy local recurrences of tumours, while direct extension from underlying tumours and primary cutaneous malignancies were relatively less common. The commonestsite of primary was lungs in males and cervix, breast followed by ovary in females. In three out of six cases with unknown primary tumour, cytology proved useful in suggesting the source of metastasis to be hepatocellular carcinoma, melanoma and mucin secreting adenocarcinoma of GIT. FNA was found to be extremely useful in the diagnosis and management of malignant cutaneous nodules when utilized in context of clinical and radiological findings, eliminating the need of a surgical biopsy.
New Targets for Diagnostic Test Generation

A logic diagnosis procedure provides information about the defects that are present in a faulty unit as a set of candidate faults. To obtain smaller, and more accurate, sets of candidate faults, a diagnostic test generation procedure produces a test set that distinguishes fault pairs. This paper observes that large sets of candidate faults are obtained when multiple defects are present in a faulty unit, even if a diagnostic test set is used for logic diagnosis. This points to the possibility that fault pairs do not provide a complete set of targets for diagnostic test generation. This paper analyzes the conditions that cause a large set of candidate faults to be formed under a particular logic diagnosis procedure and suggests new targets for diagnostic test generation. The experimental results for benchmark circuits demonstrate that a diagnostic test set can be improved by adding diagnostic tests for the new targets.
Abstract P2010: Silencing Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor Reduces P44/42 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Signaling in the Hypothalamic Paraventricular Nucleus and Ameliorates Sympathetic Excitation in Rats With Heart Failure After Myocardial Infarction

The p44/42 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway is activated in the brain in myocardial infarction (MI)-induced heart failure (HF). Activation of brain p44/42 MAPK signaling ca...
Diagnostic performance and role of the contrast enema for low intestinal obstruction in neonates

We aim to evaluate the diagnostic performance and relationship between clinical characteristics, imaging findings, and final diagnosis for the neonatal contrast enema (CE). Retrospective 10-year review of all neonatal CEs including imaging findings, clinical information, indication, and final diagnosis from discharge summaries, surgical reports, and pathology (reference standard). Two blinded pediatric radiologists reinterpreted 366 CEs for obstruction, microcolon, rectosigmoid index (RSI), serrations, meconium, ileal cut-off, transition zone, diagnosis, and level of confidence. CE diagnostic performance was calculated versus reference standard. Diagnoses included Hirschsprung disease (HD) (15.8%), small left colon syndrome (14.8%), small intestinal atresia/colonic atresia (SIA/CA) (12.6%), meconium ileus (MI) (4.4%), and normal (48.9%). CE had a moderate specificity (87.7%) and low sensitivity (65.5%) for HD; abnormal RSI and serrations showed high specificities (90.3%, 97.4%) but low sensitivities (46.6%, 17.2%). CE showed high specificity (97.4%) and low sensitivity (56.3%) for MI blinded to cystic fibrosis status. Microcolon was specific (96.6%) but not sensitive (68.8%) for MI. CE showed highest PPV (73.1%) (specificity 95.6%, sensitivity 82.6%) for SIA/CA. Microcolon with an abrupt cut-off was specific (99.1%) but not sensitive (41.3%) for atresias. Neonatal CE demonstrates high specificities and low to moderate sensitivities across all diagnoses, with lowest performance in HD. None.
Risks associated with cesarean delivery during prolonged second stage of labor

Background Data regarding maternal and fetal morbidities are limited to surgical morbidity per each additional hour in the second stage of labor. Objective This study aimed to quantify perinatal morbidities associated with cesarean delivery by duration of the second stage of labor. Study Design Our work is a retrospective cohort study of cesarean deliveries during the second stage of labor using the Consortium on Safe Labor database. All term, singleton pregnancies in cephalic presentation were included. Women with stillbirth or contraindications to vaginal delivery were excluded. Groups were divided by duration of the second stage of labor: ≤3 hours, 3–4 hours, 4–5 hours, 5–6 hours, and >6 hours. The primary outcome was a composite of maternal morbidities. The secondary outcomes were a composite of neonatal morbidities and individual maternal and neonatal morbidities. Baseline demographic and clinical characteristics were compared among groups. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed. Results We included 6273 women in total. In addition, 3652 women (58.2%) went through the second stage for ≤3 hours, 854 (13.6%) for 3 to 4 hours, 618 (9.9%) for 4 to 5 hours, 397 (6.3%) for 5 to 6 hours, and 752 (12.0%) for >6 hours. Neither the maternal nor neonatal morbidity composite outcomes were statistically different among the groups. Extended maternal length of stay (>5 days), increased birthweight, and lower rates of general anesthesia were associated with an increased duration of the second stage of labor. Chorioamnionitis, wound complications, postpartum hemorrhage, and thrombosis did not increase over time. Conclusion Women should be counseled regarding the duration of the second stage of labor, which should include a discussion of the risks associated with a cesarean delivery with a prolonged second stage of labor. However, these risks may not be as high as anticipated.
Tracking Representational Flexibility Development through Speech Data Mining

In this work-in-progress research we exploited and investigated a virtual reality (VR) based, flexibility learning environment (FLE) in which adolescents with autism use, customize, and design an assortment of simulation games that represent and exemplify the application of forces and Newton’s laws of motion. The simulation/game modeling and making tasks acted as the primers of practicing and assessing representational flexibility in solving the engineering design problems with computational thinking. The participants’ participation behaviors and verbal utterances during the intervention sessions have been archived via screen and webcam recordings. The current study findings indicated that two approaches of speech or text data mining, multi-label classification and similarity index, can act as the in-situ performance assessment methods to evaluate the representational flexibility development for engineering design and computational thinking of a heterogeneous learner group.
Avoiding digital marketing analytics myopia: revisiting the customer decision journey as a strategic marketing framework

The use of analytics data in digital marketing has had a profound impact on the way marketers create consumer relationships and how firms make decisions. However, the marketing analytics literature offers little guidance on how digital marketing analytics tools should be selected and leveraged in service to the firm’s overall strategy. Foundational marketing theory and research concerning the origin of consumer value and the primary importance of the consumer decision journey to strategy formation offer a pathway to evaluating digital marketing tools and analysis in a strategic and theoretically sound manner. This paper builds on seminal marketing thought to propose a conceptual framework that places use of digital marketing analytics tools and channels in the context of a firm’s marketing plan. The framework has diverse applications across many industries and platforms and can help markers avoid falling victim to digital marketing analytics myopia, even as evolving technologies and broader societal forces like the response to Covid-19 accelerate the digitalization of marketing.
Complete Genome Sequence of Geobacter sp. Strain FeAm09, a Moderately Acidophilic Soil Bacterium.

A moderately acidophilic Geobacter sp. strain, FeAm09, was isolated from forest soil. The complete genome sequence is 4,099,068 bp with an average GC content of 61.1%. No plasmids were detected. The genome contains a total of 3,843 genes and 3,608 protein-coding genes, including genes supporting iron and nitrogen biogeochemical cycling.
Incidence and risk factor of vocal cord paralysis following slide tracheoplasty for congenital tracheal stenosis: a retrospective observational study.

Background Slide tracheoplasty for congenital tracheal stenosis (CTS) has been shown to improve post-operative outcomes, but the incidence and risk factors of vocal cord paralysis (VCP) following slide tracheoplasty remain unclear. This study aimed to review our experience of slide tracheoplasty for CTS with a focus on post-operative VCP. Methods Twenty-eight patients, who underwent tracheal reconstruction with or without cardiovascular repair at Kobe Children's Hospital between June, 2016 and March, 2020 were enrolled in this retrospective observational study. They were divided into two groups based on the presence of a pulmonary artery sling (PA sling). Perioperative variables were compared between the two groups. Results Twenty-one of the 28 patients underwent concomitant repair for associated cardiovascular anomalies, including 15 patients with PA sling. The overall incidence of VCP following slide tracheoplasty was 28.6%. The incidences of VCP were 46.7% in patients with CTS and PA sling, which were 14.3% in CTS patients without cardiovascular anomalies. The only risk factor associated with VCP following slide tracheoplasty was a concomitant repair for PA sling. Post-operatively, the duration of nasogastric tube feeding in patients with VCP was significantly longer than that in patients without VCP. Conclusions The incidence of VCP following slide tracheoplasty for CTS was high, especially in concomitant repair cases for PA sling. Routine screening and evaluation of VCP soon after post-operative extubation is required for its appropriate management.
Territorial wars and absolute outcomes

Why do some wars end with an absolute outcome, with state death or regime change? I argue that we are more likely to see absolute outcomes when we have territorial disputes with the potential for c...
Single isocenter treatment planning techniques for stereotactic radiosurgery of multiple cranial metastases.

Abstract Background and purpose Whole brain radiation therapy use has decreased in favor of stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) for the treatment of multiple brain metastases due to reduced neurotoxicity. Here we compare two single isocenter radiosurgery planning techniques, volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT) and dynamic conformal arcs (DCA) in terms of their dosimetric and delivery performance. Materials and methods Sixteen patients with 2– 18 brain metastases (total 103; median 4) previously treated with single fraction SRS were replanned for multiple lesion single isocenter treatments using VMAT and DCA using different treatment planning systems for each and three different plan geometries for DCA. Plans were evaluated using the Paddick conformity index, normal tissue V12Gy, the probability for symptomatic brain necrosis (S-NEC), maximum organ-at-risk (OAR) point doses, and total number of monitor units (MU). Results Conformity was not significantly different between VMAT and DCA plans. VMAT plans showed a trend towards higher MU with a median difference between 18% and 24% (p ≤ 0.09). Median V12Gy differences were 7.0 cm3–8.6 cm3 favoring DCA plans (p Conclusions In most cases DCA plans were found to be dosimetrically superior to VMAT plans with reduced V12Gy and associated risk for S-NEC. Maximum doses to important OARs showed significant improvement, increasing the ability for subsequent salvage treatments involving radiation.
Alterations of the carboxyl-terminal amino acid residues of Escherichia coli lipoprotein affect the formation of murein-bound lipoprotein

Mutations in the Escherichia coli lpp gene resulting in the alterations of the COOH-terminal region of the lipoprotein have been isolated by oligonucleotide-directed mutagenesis. As might be expected, substitution of Lys78 with Arg78 completely abolished the formation of murein-bound lipoprotein. Each of the following single amino acid substitutions did not significantly affect the formation of bound-form lipoprotein: Asp70 to Glu70 or Gly70; Lys75 to Thr75; and Tyr76 to His76, Ile76, or Leu76. In contrast, mutational alterations of Tyr76 to Cys76, Gly76, Asn76, Pro76, or Ser76 resulted in a reduction of the bound-form lipoprotein to levels of 14-32% of that in the wild-type strain. A common feature of these lpp COOH-terminal mutations affecting the formation of bound-form lipoprotein is the presence of a beta-turn secondary structure at the COOH-terminal region of all these mutant lipoproteins. In addition, substitution of Tyr76 to Asp76 or Glu76, and Arg77 to Asp77 or Leu77 also resulted in a reduced formation of the bound-form lipoprotein. These results suggest that the formation of murein-bound lipoprotein requires a COOH-terminal Lys residue and a positively charged COOH-terminal region. Furthermore, a beta-turn secondary structure in the COOH-terminal random coil region interferes with the attachment of the lipoprotein to the peptidoglycan.
Concept space interchange protocol: a protocol for concept map based resource discovery in educational digital libraries

The Strand Map Service provides resource discovery in digital libraries using strand maps developed by the American Association for the Advancement of Science, project 2061. Strand maps are a special kind of concept maps that contains interconnected learning goals organized along grade groups and topical strands. The Strand Map Service provides programmatic access to AAAS strand maps that can be used by educational digital libraries to dynamically build resource discovery interfaces. The programmatic access to strand maps is enabled by the Concept Space Interchange Protocol, which provide following services (1) service capability determination, (2) resource alignment, and (3) search and retrieval of dynamically generated strand maps. The protocol is implemented as a web service and integration experiments have been performed for two educational digital libraries. In this poster we describe the Concept Space Interchange Protocol and its integration with educational digital libraries.
Are We Reaching a Tipping Point? How Contemporary Challenges are Affecting the Military Necessity-Humanity Balance

The contemporary Law of Armed Conflict is predicated on the existence of a balance between the traditionally recognized principles of military necessity and humanity. This equilibrium permeates the entirety of that field of law, thereby ensuring that force is applied on the battlefield in a manner allowing for the accomplishment of the mission while simultaneously taking appropriate humanitarian considerations into account. This longstanding equipoise is at risk as illustrated by three contemporary examples. The first involves the recently revived claim that the Law of Armed Conflict imposes a strict obligation on a combatant to attempt to capture before employing deadly force against an enemy combatant under a "least-restrictive-means" of force construct, which is designed to ensure a belligerent uses the least harmful approach to incapacitate an enemy. The second issue concerns the lawfulness of autonomous weapon systems and whether they should be preemptively banned, as has been suggested by some nongovernmental organizations (NGOs). The third includes the backlash emanating from efforts to establish rules and ways to respond to attacks in the cyber context, including using lethal kinetic responses. The legal and public discourse stemming from these current debates represents a potential tipping point that could upend the historical framework by disproportionally favoring humanitarian considerations thus eroding the ability of the Law of Armed Conflict to effectively regulate warfare.
Identification of Functional Segments within the β2I-domain of Integrin αMβ2

The αMβ2integrin plays an important role in leukocyte biology through its interactions with a diverse set of ligands. Efficient ligand binding requires the involvement of both the αM and β2 subunits. Past ligand binding studies have focused mainly on the αM subunit, with the β2subunit being largely unexplored. Therefore, in this study we conducted homolog-scanning mutagenesis on the I-domain (residues 125–385) within the β2 subunit. We identified four noncontiguous sequences (Arg144–Lys148, Gln199–Ala203, Leu225–Leu230, and Gly305–His309) that are critical for fibrinogen and C3bi binding to αMβ2. Molecular modeling revealed that these four sequences reside within a narrow region on the surface of the β2I-domain, in close proximity to three potential cation-binding sites. Among these sequences, Gln199–Ala203, Leu225–Leu230, and Gly305–His309 are important for the binding of both ligands, whereas Arg144–Lys148 is more critical for fibrinogen than for C3bi binding. These sequences within the β2I-domain are directly involved in ligand binding, since 1) switching these segments to their corresponding β1 sequences destroyed ligand binding; 2) loss of function was not due to a nonspecific gross conformational change, since the defective αMβ2 mutants reacted well with a panel of conformation-dependent mAbs; 3) mutation of these functional sequences did not effect Ca2+binding; and 4) synthetic peptides corresponding to sequences Gln199–Ala203 and Gly305–His309 blocked ligand binding to αMβ2, and the peptides interacted directly with fibrinogen and C3bi. Given the similarity among all integrin β subunits, our results may help us to understand the underlying mechanism of integrin-ligand interactions in general.
Planning for Unplanned Pork: The Consequences of Congressional Earmarking for Regional Transportation Planning

Congressional earmarks can fund projects irrespective of carefully crafted metropolitan plans, potentially undermining years of analysis and negotiation. Yet, while earmarking of federal transport funds expanded significantly around the turn of the century, the planning literature has not considered whether or how this affected regionally scaled planning. To address that gap, this study examines how congressional earmarking and metropolitan planning interact, especially as competing paths for transportation investments. By analyzing transportation spending bills, other archival materials and conducting original interviews with federal, state and local agencies, transport policy organizations, and lobbyists, this article uncovers several unforeseen planning, financial, and administrative challenges associated with congressional earmarks. Second, it reveals how metropolitan planning organizations (MPOs) manage such earmarks post hoc, creatively improving earmarking outcomes and strengthening planning in the process. These findings underscore the pivotal role of federal policies that institutionalize regional planning and that can enable flexible and assertive MPO responses. To successfully shape congressional intervention in regional investment programs and outcomes, planners and officials involved in metropolitan transportation must be sharply attuned to the politics of earmarking in addition to being exceptionally knowledgeable about the formal and informal rules that govern regional planning. With this dual awareness, of politics and process, they stand to more effectively influence congressional actions, enhancing their planning functions even when subject to uncertainty and conflict.
Metabolic Profiles: Gas-Phase Methods for Analysis of Metabolites

Multicomponent analyses were carried out for three types of urinary constituents: steroids, acids, and drugs and drug metabolites. The methods were based on gas-phase analytical techniques, which include the use of instruments and instrumental systems for gas chromatography, gas chromatography—mass spectrometry, and mass spectrometry—computerization. After isolating an analytical sample, we prepared derivatives in each instance. Gas chromatography was used for separations, mass spectrometry for identification. These procedures for obtaining metabolic profiles may be used in various ways, including studies of abnormal conditions, drug metabolism, and the effects of drugs on metabolic pathways, as well as for human developmental studies.
Guest editors\' introduction to the special issue: why is there a resource-based view? Toward a theory of competitive heterogeneity

Although the resource-based view (RBV) is one of the most popular and fruitful areas of strategy research, it often perplexes scholars from other disciplines. Also, it is unclear whether strategy scholars themselves agree on the RBV's basic issues and premises. To clarify the contribution of the RBV, in this paper we elaborate its basic tenets and relate them to other current research on interfirm performance variance. We suggest a more expansive discussion of sustained differences among firms and thereby develop a broad theory of competitive heterogeneity. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Intestinal decontamination inhibits TLR4 dependent fibronectin-mediated cross-talk between stellate cells and endothelial cells in liver fibrosis in mice

Background & Aims Liver fibrosis is associated with angiogenesis and leads to portal hypertension. Certain antibiotics reduce complications of liver failure in humans, however, the effects of antibiotics on the pathologic alterations of the disease are not fully understood. The aim of this study was to test whether the non-absorbable antibiotic rifaximin could attenuate fibrosis progression and portal hypertension in vivo , and explore potential mechanisms in vitro . Methods The effect of rifaximin on portal pressure, fibrosis, and angiogenesis was examined in wild type and Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) mutant mice after bile duct ligation (BDL). In vitro studies were carried out to evaluate the effect of the bacterial product and TLR agonist lipopolysaccharide (LPS) on paracrine interactions between hepatic stellate cells (HSC) and liver endothelial cells (LEC) that lead to fibrosis and portal hypertension. Results Portal pressure, fibrosis, and angiogenesis were significantly lower in BDL mice receiving rifaximin compared to BDL mice receiving vehicle. Studies in TLR4 mutant mice confirmed that the effect of rifaximin was dependent on LPS/TLR4 pathway. Fibronectin (FN) was increased in the BDL liver and was reduced by rifaximin administration and thus, was explored further in vitro as a potential mediator of paracrine interactions of HSC and LEC. In vitro , LPS promoted FN production from HSC. Furthermore, HSC-derived FN promoted LEC migration and angiogenesis. Conclusions These studies expand our understanding of the relationship of intestinal microbiota with fibrosis development by identifying FN as a TLR4 dependent mediator of the matrix and vascular changes that characterize cirrhosis.
Body image assessment for obesity (BIA-O) : development of a new procedure

OBJECTIVE: A new measure of body image, named the body image assessment for obesity (BIA-O) was developed and tested for reliability and validity in a sample of 1209 adult men and women. Separate BIA-O procedures were developed for men and women. Current, ideal and reasonable body image estimates of Caucasian and African-American men and women were compared. METHOD: Figural stimuli of males and females were developed for body sizes ranging from very thin to very obese in 18 increments. Participants selected figures that represented estimates of current, ideal and reasonable (a body size that could be maintained over time) body size. Some participants (n=641) also completed two measures of body dissatisfaction in a test of the validity of the BIA-O as a measure of body dissatisfaction. A sample of 77 participants was administered the BIA-O on two occasions to test the test–retest reliability of the BIA-O. RESULTS: The reliability of the BIA-O was supported by test–retest reliability coefficients which ranged from 0.65 to 0.93. Concurrent validity of the discrepancy between current and ideal and current and reasonable body size estimates was supported by positive correlations with two measures of body dissatisfaction. The BIA-O body size estimates of Caucasians and African-Americans, controlled for age and BMI, were compared. As BMI increased, Caucasian men and women were found to select larger current body size estimates in comparison to African-Americans. DISCUSSION: The reliability and validity of the BIA-O were supported. Greater body size dissatisfaction in obese Caucasians, relative to African-Americans of the same size, may be a function of biased estimates of current body size.
Establishment of sink conditions in dissolution rate determinations. Theoretical considerations and application to nondisintegrating dosage forms

The importance of approximating perfect sink conditions for the determination of dissolution rates which may be correlated with in vivo results is pointed out. A theoretical treatment of zero and first-order dissolution under perfect sink and nonsink conditions is presented. It is shown that unless sink conditions are maintained, in vitro results will bear little relationship to in vivo observations. The use of an organic solvent phase which can function as a reservoir for dissolved drug and thereby maintain sink conditions in the aqueous dissolution fluid is demonstrated for a model nondisintegrating tablet exhibiting zero-order drug release. The use of an organic solvent reservoir for the determination of first-order dissolution rates is also discussed.