cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Wolff's Defence of Philosophical Anarchism

Anarchism is not given any serious status in the great texts of political philosophy until Hobbes' Leviathan. There it is mentioned and described as the " state of nature ". We find no advocacy of anarchism, however, until the time of the French Revolution (e.g., in Godwin). In the nineteenth century, the century of " isms ", the term 'anarchism' came into common use. It was perhaps first used in an approving way by Proudhon, who adopted the term to describe his own political beliefs. One important point about this new usage was that anarchism largely lost its connotation of chaos-of disorder and insecurity-at least among those who advocated it. From the point of view of its defenders, anarchism would be the selfregulation of a social order or of a group of persons or of the single individual, where self-regulation was distinguished from coercive regulation by institutions of the State (e.g., army, police, laws, courts, and jails). In a word, anarchism would be a desirable state of society without government. There is, of course, more complexity to the theory of anarchism than this brief capsulation could indicate. I am referring here, in particular, to the many proposals for decentralized social organization put forward by anarchists historically: the industrial worker "syndicates ", the artisan " mutualist " societies, the agrarian communes, co-operative societies of all sorts. Now I do not want to denigrate the significance of these suggestions, or of the utopian impulse in general. But the point is that the existence, and even the desired quality of life, of any one of these social arrangements is probably consistent with the existence of government. Hence, it is to some purpose that the negative character of anarchism has been stressed. For it is no accident that anarchism, as the name itself implies, is best understood by reference to what it is against. Moreover, given that the radically individualistic devil-take-the-hindmost anarchist of the Right would tend to reject the social ideals of the egalitarian, communityoriented anarchist of the Left, it may well be that the only thing that all anarchists have in common is what anarchism denies. In any case, this negative side of theoretical anarchism would appear to be a necessary adjunct of any positive scheme that the anarchist might want to advance. One of the characteristic ways, and perhaps the most persuasive way, in which this "denial " side of anarchism has been expressed is in the claim that no government can be " legitimate ". This proposition states, I think, the essence of what the philosophical anarchist is committed to.
The Study of the Influence Factors of the TEH in Shaanxi Province Based on Quantile Regression

Objective: Quantileregression model was used to study the influence factors of total health expenditure(TEH)of Shaanxi province,so as to help the health administrative departmentsto allocatethe TEHand provide evidence for health policy-making.Metheds: First, Based on the published research and the actual situation of Shanxi Province, the factors that may affect the TEH in Shaanxi provincefrom 2003 to 2014 were picked up, then the collinearityamong theindependent variables were tested by using the method of stepwise regression, and the explanatory variable was screened. Finally, the R software was used to establishquantileregression model of total health expenditureand its influencing factors,and determine the impact factors. Results: The test results of coefficient of GDP from 10%-90% fractile aresignificant, and all the quantile regression coefficient is positive. Conclusion: GDP is the main influencing factor of the growth of total health expenditurewith the change of THE waspositively correlated, and the growth of GDP promotes the growth of THEin Shaanxi province.
Analysis on the Epidemic Situation of Venereal Disease(VD) in Inner Mongolia in Tongliao City in 2011

OBJECTVE For the purpose of understanding the development tendency and epidemic features of the epidemic situation of venereal disease in Tongliao in 2011, to provide basis for working out the tactics of prevention and cure of venereal disease in the whole city from now on. METHODS Adopting the administration software of the epidemic situation of venereal disease and the Excel 2003 statistics software, to analyse the report forms of the epidemic situation of venereal disease that 8 countries reported. RESULTS There are 1118 cases that added up by 6 kinds of venereal diseases in Tongliao in 2011, which embraces syphilis, AIDS, gonorrhea, Ct, CA, and genital herpes. There were 729 cases in 2010, which went up 53% , including male 572 cases and female 546 cases. The rate of the cases of illnesses went of men and women were 1.05∶1.The sum up report incidence of venereal disease of the whole city was 30.99/100 000. Which the maximum increase range was gonnorrea (107.54% ), syphilis (71.91% ), AIDS (64.00% ), Ct (61.11% ). CONCLUSION The report case of venereal disease is substantially increased by 2010 in Tongliao in 2011, syphilis is the first one among the 6 kinds of venereal disease which are reported, CA is the second reported, AIDS cases marked increase.
The Transactional Interpretation

Let us start by considering again just what an “interpretation” of quantum mechanics is and why this very fundamental theory of physics needs an interpretation at all. As observed in Chap. 1, the theories of physics usually come with the interpretation as part of the package. Quantum mechanics is unique in having been formulated with a somewhat mysterious formalism that had no apparent interpretation. The Copenhagen Interpretation had to be rather painfully constructed by Bohr , Heisenberg , and Born in the late 1920s after the wave-mechanics and matrix-mechanics formalisms were already in place, in order to make calculations and predictions possible and to deflect some of the paradoxical messages (state vector collapse, simple nonlocality, wave-particle duality ) that seemed to be implicit in the formalism.
Evaluation of imaging performance of major image guidance systems

Purpose: The imaging characteristics of two popular kV cone-beam CT (CBCT) and two MVCT systems utilised in image-guided radiation therapy (IGRT) were evaluated. Materials and methods: The study was performed on Varian Clinac iX, Elekta Synergy S, Siemens Oncor, and Tomotherapy. A CT phantom (Catphan-504, Phantom Laboratory, Salem, NY) was scanned for measurements of image quality including image noise, uniformity, density accuracy, spatial resolution, contrast linearity, and contrast resolution. The measurement results were analysed using in-house image analysis software. Reproducibility, position correction, and geometric accuracy were also evaluated with markers in a smaller alignment phantom. The performance evaluation compared volumetric image properties from these four systems with those from a conventional diagnostic CT (CCT). Results: It was shown that the linearity of the two kV CBCT was fairly consistent with CCT. The Elekta CBCT with half-circle 27-cm FOV had higher CT numbers than the other three systems. The image noises of the Elekta kV CBCT, Siemens MV CBCT, and Tomotherapy fan-beam CT (FBCT) are about 2-4 times higher than that of the Varian CBCT. The spatial resolutions of two kV CBCTs and two MV CBCTs were 8-11 lp/cm and 3-5 lp/cm, respectively. Conclusion: Elekta CBCT provided a faster image reconstruction and low dose per scan for half-circle scanning. Varian CBCT had relatively lower image noise. Tomotherapy FBCT had the best uniformity. © 2011 Biomedical Imaging and Intervention Journal. All rights reserved.
Abstract P069: 1H-Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy Reveals Elevation of MyoInositol and Other Markers of Inflammation in the Dorsal Medulla of Children with Orthostatic Intolerance

Children with orthostatic intolerance (OI) have exaggerated decreases in heart rate variability (HRV) and suppression of baroreflex sensitivity (BRS) with standing. Inflammation is proposed as a possible factor contributing to impaired HRV in cardiometabolic disorders; whether systemic or brain inflammation better predicts impaired HRV is arguable. We used 1H magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) to quantify markers of neuronal and glial integrity in children with OI compared with asymptomatic controls. Fifteen subjects ages 10-18 years were evaluated for blood pressure, HR, and autonomic function in supine and upright positions and 7 tested positive for OI. An average of 2 weeks following OI testing all subjects underwent 1H-MRS scans of dorsal medulla on a clinical 3T magnet while supine. OI subjects had higher myoinositol (mIns) as a marker of glial inflammation than asymptomatic controls (7.8 ± 0.4 vs 5.6 ± 0.9 mmol/L, p = 0.03). Trends were observed for higher glycerophosphocholine (higher GPC, reduced myelination and axonal integrity) (2.3 ± 0.2 vs 1.8 ± 0.2 mmol/L, p = 0.08) and lower N-acetyl aspartate (lower NAA, reduced neuronal integrity) (2.8 ± 0.3 vs. 3.7 ± 0.4 mmol/L, p = 0.1) in OI subjects vs controls (mean ± SEM). mIns concentrations did not correlate with indices of autonomic function measured in the supine position. However, supine measures of mIns correlated with autonomic measures taken in the upright position: negatively correlated with spontaneous BRS (R = -0.64, p = 0.01), parasympathetic tone measured by high frequency alpha index (HFα, R= -0.547, p=0.04) and HRV measured by root of mean square of successive differences (rMSSD, R = -0.45, p = 0.09); there was a positive correlation with HR (R = 0.53, p < 0.05). In summary, children with OI have higher mIns in dorsal medulla while supine that is predictive of impairment in BRS, HRV and parasympathetic tone upon upright posture. This first report that OI in children is associated with elevated mIns, a marker of glial inflammation in a variety of neuropathies, raises the intriguing possibility that brain inflammation plays a role in the autonomic dysfunction observed while standing in these subjects. Support: Centers for Integrative Medicine and Hypertension & Vascular Research; AHA12CRP9420029
Dietary Selectivity in Relation to Availability and Quality of Food for Goslings of Cackling Geese

Observations effectuees dans le delta du Yukon-Kuskokwim Alaska. L'oie beneficie nutritionnellement du choix alimentaire qu'elle effectue. La qualite des aliments sur le site de reproduction peut influencer la dynamique de population des oies en depit de la disponibilite globale elevee des vegetaux herbaces
Methods for modeling non-equilibrium degenerate statistics and quantum-confined scattering in 3D ensemble Monte Carlo transport simulations

Particle-based ensemble semi-classical Monte Carlo (MC) methods employ quantum corrections (QCs) to address quantum confinement and degenerate carrier populations to model tomorrow's ultra-scaled metal-oxide-semiconductor-field-effect-transistors. Here, we present the most complete treatment of quantum confinement and carrier degeneracy effects in a three-dimensional (3D) MC device simulator to date, and illustrate their significance through simulation of n-channel Si and III-V FinFETs. Original contributions include our treatment of far-from-equilibrium degenerate statistics and QC-based modeling of surface-roughness scattering, as well as considering quantum-confined phonon and ionized-impurity scattering in 3D. Typical MC simulations approximate degenerate carrier populations as Fermi distributions to model the Pauli-blocking (PB) of scattering to occupied final states. To allow for increasingly far-from-equilibrium non-Fermi carrier distributions in ultra-scaled and III-V devices, we instead generate ...
Freshwater Macroinvertebrates and Their Habitats in Dominica

A survey of macroinvertebrates inhabiting freshwater habitats of Dominica was conducted from 1995 to 2005. Qualitative collections were made by sweeping a dip net through the water column, agitating the bottom substrate, and by hand examination of rocks, plants, and debris submerged in both standing and flowing bodies of water across the island. Water temperature and elevation were also recorded at each site. Ecological conditions were generally suitable to support many groups of freshwater macroinvertebrates, although high water temperatures, suspected low dissolved oxygen concentrations, and low pH values at some sites may have limited some populations. These collections yielded at least 62 taxa, 29 of which are reported for the first time from Dominica, bringing the total number of freshwater macroinvertebrates known from this island to 116. Dominant taxa collected included gastropods, ephemeropterans, odonates, hemipterans, trichopterans, and dipterans. Waterfalls, which were thought to act as barriers to upstream movement of non-flying invertebrates, appear not to limit the distribution of most decapods, but may impede nerite snails. Generally the freshwater macroinvertebrate fauna of Dominica is sparse, most likely due to the oceanic origin of the island and challenges colonizing such a habitat.
Modification of absorbent poly(glycerol‐glutaric acid) films by the addition of monoglycerides

Monoglycerides (MGs) have been incorporated into the matrix of poly(glycerol-co-glutaric acid) films to investigate their effect on the thermal, mechanical, and solvent absorption properties of the resultant films. Solvent absorption studies revealed that poly(glycerol-co-glutaric acid-co-MG) films were able to absorb and resorb solvents better than poly(glycerol-co-glutaric acid) films, albeit they had higher erosion levels. Thermogravimetric analysis showed that the incorporated MGs did not affect the thermal stability of the glycerol-based films. The MG-incorporated films were observed to be much softer than the poly(glycerol-co-glycerol) films which was further proven by a 39-fold reduction in Young's Modulus and 17-fold reduction in fracture energy when compared to the poly(glycerol-co-glycerol). Mechanical property studies also revealed that the incorporation of MGs increased the elongation % and reduced the tensile strength of poly(glycerol-co-glutaric acid) films. Correlation analysis revealed a strong linear relationship between Young's Modulus and fracture energy (R2 = 0.9962), and between Young's Modulus and tensile strength (R2 = 0.9972). Our study proved that MGs can be successfully incorporated in the polymer matrix of poly(glycerol-co-glutaric acid) films to produce softer films with increased elongation and increased solvent absorption capacity. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2017, 134, 45381.
A Data-Rich Longitudinal Wellness Study for the Digital Age: Fixing a Broken Medical System Requires Data About Each Patient

We live in an age of plentiful information, collected continuously by pervasive gadgetry, distributed through digital and social networks, and mined deeply by ever-more-powerful analytics systems. And yet, one of the things we know the least about is our bodies. When it comes to our own health, we are driving blindly. Modern medicine has clearly been remarkably successful, as evidenced by continually growing life expectancies. For example, the number of people 65 and older in the United States has seen a steady increase over the last century, rising from 3.1 million in 1900 to 41.4 million as of 2011-and is expected to grow to 80 million by 2040. Concurrently, the number (and fraction) of people suffering from chronic conditions is also growing, from 44.7% in 1995 to 47.7% in 2015-and expected to rise to over 49% by 2030 [1]. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the vast majority of healthcare costs (86%) are spent on treating and managing chronic disease. Indeed, the medical field today focuses almost entirely on care after illness: modern medicine is largely reactive, waiting until the system fails before taking action. While the field of dentistry has fully embraced regular preventive evaluation and treatment with great success, most other medical fields have yet to do so. Yearly physical evaluations are recommended, but they rely on very limited data collection. As long as there are no symptoms, current standard medical practice largely foregoes testing (laboratory, imaging, etc.) as a screening method to detect disease before it manifests itself.
Mutation in TNXB gene causes moderate to severe Ehlers-Danlos syndrome

We report a 28-year-old female who presented with severe joint pain, chronic muscle weakness, Raynaud's phenomenon, and hypermobility. She was found to have a 6074A > T nucleotide transition in the TNXB gene causing an amino acid protein change at Asp2025Val classified as likely pathogenic. We add this clinical report to the literature and classical human disease gene catalogs to identify this specific mutation as disease-causing. This gene variant was reported previously in a different 36-year-old patient who shared our patient's symptoms of joint hypermobility, skeletal and joint pain, skin elasticity and musculoskeletal problems, thereby causing a more severe presentation than seen in the hypermobility type of Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS). At the time of writing, a few mutations in the TNXB gene have been recognized as pathogenic causing EDS due to tenascin-X deficiency, but the variant identified in our patient has not been recognized as pathogenic in online genetic databases. Our case study in combination with peer-reviewed literature suggests that the 6074A > T nucleotide transition in the TNXB gene may be classified as disease-causing for EDS due to tenascin-X deficiency.
Vascular Access in Critically Ill Pediatric Patients With Obesity.

Objectives:Pediatric obesity is highly prevalent and has been associated with poor outcomes for hospitalized children. Vascular access is essential in critically ill patients. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether critically ill children with obesity are more likely to undergo vascular devic
Coupled strontium-sulfur cycle modeling and the Early Cretaceous sulfur isotope record

Abstract Coupled modeling of biogeochemical cycles leads to improved constraints on elemental fluxes and helps to identify mechanisms that drive secular variations in isotopic records. Here, we develop a coupled strontium-sulfur isotope mass-balance model to examine the Early Cretaceous marine sulfate (δ34Ssw) and strontium (87Sr/86Sr) isotope records. We also present an expanded marine barite S isotope record and pyrite S isotope record for the Early Cretaceous with updated age models in line with the Geologic Time Scale 2012. Collectively constraining the primary input fluxes that drive both Sr and S cycles – hydrothermal and weathering – helps to identify which parameters primarily control coherent, oppositional, and divergent isotopic perturbations. With the primary input fluxes constrained in the coupled model, the importance of additional factors responsible for secular changes in δ34Ssw can be examined. Model results indicate that emplacement of the Ontong Java-Manihiki-Hikurangi Plateau, along with elevated mid-ocean ridge spreading rates, increased continental arc volcanism, and eruption of additional large igneous provinces, all contributed to the Early Cretaceous ~5‰ negative δ34Ssw shift and maintained low δ34Ssw over long time scales. The coupled strontium-sulfur modeling was able to demonstrate that a complex interplay of changes in multiple S cycle parameters – not simply total weathering and hydrothermal fluxes – was required to produce this major shift and new alternate state within the S isotope record. In addition, coupled modeling highlights the differences in chemical behavior (volatility) between S and Sr. Review of S cycle modeling and examination of a variety of initial conditions indicates a distinctly different range of δ34S values for the total weathering flux, weathered evaporite-pyrite ratios, the pyrite burial fraction, and the global integrated fractionation factor for pyrite burial compared to those used in previous S cycle models. Coupling the Sr cycle to other biogeochemical cycles that also reflect a balance between hydrothermal and riverine inputs offers a powerful tool for interpreting marine isotopic records.
The Use of Virtual Reality in the Treatment of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

Background . Interest in the treatment of PTSD is increasing with concerns about the psychological effects of war on troops. Objective . We performed a comprehensive literature review on virtual reality (VR) for treating combat-related PTSD. Methods . Canada's primary institute for scientific and technical information (NRC-CISTI) performed the initial literature search in 2008. Of 296 items which met inclusion criteria, 20 pertained to VR in the treatment of mental health.. An additional 20 more recent items were added in 2009, making a total of 40 items reviewed. Of those, 6 empirical studies involved patients with PTSD [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6]. Results. VR exposure therapy (VRET) has been successfully used to treat anxiety and phobia disorders including PTSD [7, 8]. VRET may be particularly suitable for clients with combat-related PTSD as it aids in exposure treatments for these clients whom are often unable to engage in traditional therapy [9, 10]. Future research should include randomized, controlled studies employing large samples.
EVALUATION AND MANAGEMENT OF THE SOLITARY THYROID NODULE

Thyroid nodular disease is very common in the United States, with palpable nodules occurring in approximately 5% of adults, especially in women. Because of the possibility of a single nodule being cancerous (albeit only approximately 5%), a thorough clinical evaluation, including a detailed history and physical exam, must be undertaken. Fine needle aspiration biopsy is the cornerstone of the laboratory evaluation of thyroid nodules, and its use in recent years has resulted in a significant decrease in the number of thyroid surgeries being performed, while increasing the yield of malignant lesions of patients who have undergone operation. The utility of levothyroxine suppression in patients with benign thyroid nodules continues to be controversial.
A general labeling algorithm for assumption-based truth maintenance

Assumption-based truth maintenance systems have become a powerful and widely used tool in Artificial Intelligence problem solvers. The basic ATMS is restricted to accepting only horn clause justifications. Although various generalizations have been made and proposed to allow an ATMS to handle more general clauses, they have all involved the addition of complex and difficult to integrate hyperresolution rules. This paper presents an alternative approach based on negated assumptions which integrates simply and cleanly into existing ATMS algorithms and which does not require the use of a hyperresolution rule to ensure label consistency.
Rethinking the Risk of Defined Contribution Plans

This article analyzes the risk of shortfall in the expected retirement benefits in defined contribution plans, as regulated by the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA). The article compares and contrasts the allocation of investment risks between defined benefit and defined contribution plans. This article demonstrates that current pension law offers inadequate protection of the expected retirement benefit in defined contribution plans and proposes additional fiduciary, insurance, and funding protection for defined contribution plans.
EFFECTS OF MOLDY COTTONSEED ON REPRODUCTION IN BEEF AND DAIRY HEIFERS

Weather conditions before harvest and storage conditions after harvest contribute to growth of molds and subsequent production of mycotoxins in various commodity feeds. Although numerous mycotoxins have been identified, information on adverse effects on farm animals is often speculative, or based only on case studies and field observations. This is particularly true for suspected mycotoxicoses in ruminants.
Extra operative intracranial EEG monitoring for epilepsy surgery in elderly patients.

Abstract Object The objective of the study is to investigate and report our experience with extra operative intracranial EEG monitoring for evaluation of epilepsy surgery among elderly (≥ 60 years) patients. Methods After IRB approval, we searched our prospectively maintained epilepsy surgery database to find patients who underwent eiEEG at the age of 60 years or older. Electronic medical records were reviewed to extract clinical and surgery-related information. Patients who underwent resective epilepsy surgery after eiEEG and had at least 1 year of clinical follow-up were assessed for seizure outcome. Categorical and continuous variables were compared using Pearson chi-square and Student's t-test, respectively. Results A total of 21 patients, with 13 (62%) women, underwent eiEEG in our center at the age of 60 years or older. The mean age at time of implantation was 63.8 ± 2.7 years. Sub-dural grids (SDG) were implanted in five (24%) patients, whereas sixteen (76%) patients underwent stereo-EEG (SEEG) implantation. Median number of contacts in SDG were 106 (56–136) and depth electrodes in SEEG were 12 (9–14). There were 2 complications, including one mortality due to intracerebral hemorrhage. Sixteen (76%) patients underwent respective epilepsy surgery after eiEEG and eleven (69%) achieved Engel class I outcome on the last follow-up [mean follow-up duration of 2.7 (± 1.8) years]. Conclusion We noticed an increased utilization of eiEEG in elderly patients after the introduction of SEEG at our center. Overall, we found that eiEEG can help achieve good seizure outcomes in the elderly population. However, the one eiEEG-related mortality serves a word of caution about the potential risks in this population.
Cooperative aerial lift and manipulation (CALM)

Abstract This paper proposes a novel paradigm for aerial payload transport and object manipulation by an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) team. This new paradigm, called cooperative payload lift and manipulation (CALM), applies the continuum deformation agent coordination approach to transport and manipulate objects autonomously with collision avoidance guarantees. CALM treats UAVs as moving supports during transport and as stationary supports during object manipulation. Constraints are formulated to assure sufficient thrust forces are available to maintain stability and follow prescribed motion and force/torque profiles. CALM uses tensegrity muscles to carry a suspended payload or a manipulation object rather than cables. A tensegrity structure is lightweight and can carry both the tension and compression forces required during cooperative manipulation. During payload transport, UAVs are categorized as leaders and followers. Leaders define continuum deformation shape and motion profile while followers coordinate through local communication. Each UAV applies input–output (IO) feedback linearization control to track the trajectory defined by continuum deformation. For object manipulation, the paper proposes a new hybrid force controller to stabilize quadcopters when smooth or sudden (impulsive) forces and moments are exerted on the system.
Origins of obsidian at the “Pompeii of the Syrian Desert:” Sourcing lithic artifacts from the Yale-French excavations at Dura-Europos

Abstract The Hellenistic, Parthian, and Roman site of Dura–Europos (or simply “Dura”), dubbed the “Pompeii of the Syrian Desert” by Yale historian and archaeologist Michael Rostovtzeff, was jointly excavated by Yale University and the French Academy of Inscriptions and Letters from 1928 to 1937. Given the outstanding preservation of art and architecture at Dura, it is not surprising that four obsidian artifacts have escaped attention, despite evidence that stone tools – including obsidian ones – continued to be used into and after the Iron Age in the Eastern Mediterranean. After more than eight decades, the character of Dura's connections to the Classical world remains a matter of debate. Pottery includes not only local ceramic wares but also North African and Aegean ones. Our nondestructive pXRF testing establish that the Dura artifacts match the three most widely used Eastern Anatolian obsidian sources: Nemrut Dag volcano as well as the Bingol A and B sources. If indeed obsidian arrived at Dura via long-standing mechanisms of Mesopotamian exchange, these Eastern Anatolian obsidians would be expected. Unfortunately, the artifacts' precise locations at Dura are unclear, the excavations lacked stratigraphic constraints, and Near Eastern obsidian distribution patterns have been rarely studied beyond the Early Bronze Age. Keeping in mind these limitations, our findings are most consistent with past suggestions regarding the importance of local Mesopotamian influences and resources at the site.
CLINICAL OUTCOMES OF THE COMBO DUAL THERAPY CORONARY STENT VERSUS STANDARD DRUG ELUTING STENTS: META-ANALYSIS

Despite improvement in drug-eluting coronary stent (DES) performance, concerns about in-stent neo-atherosclerosis, restenosis, and stent thrombosis remain. The COMBO™ dual therapy stent (COMBO DTS) elutes sirolimus and has CD34 antibodies immobilized on the stent surface to capture circulating
Enhancing THz generation in photomixers using a metamaterial approach

Photomixers at THz frequencies offer an attractive solution to fill the THz gap; however, conventional photomixer designs result in low output powers, on the order of microwatts, before thermal failure. We propose an alternative photomixer design capable of orders of magnitude enhancement of continuous-wave THz generation using a metamaterial approach. By forming a metal-semiconductor-metal (MSM) cavity through layering an ultrafast semiconductor material between subwavelength metal-dielectric gratings, tailored resonance can achieve ultrathin absorbing regions and efficient heat sinking. When mounted to a tunable E-patch antenna, gratings also act as vertically biased electrodes, further enhancing photoconductive gain by reducing the carrier path length to nanoscales. Thus, through these multiplicative enhancements, the metamaterial-enhanced photomixer is projected to generate THz powers in the milliwatt range and exceed the Manley-Rowe limit for frequencies less than 2 THz.
How Are We Doing 60 Years Later

Since the mid-twentieth-century re-orientation of US business schools, four goals have been prominent. How well have we done in the past 60 years in accomplishing those goals? There have certainly been successes. Characteristics of complexity, applied science, and professions impose limits on what accomplishments are possible.
Pumping flow model in a microchannel with propagative rhythmic membrane contraction

A pumping flow model in a microchannel with a single attached membrane subjected to propagative contraction is presented in this article. The lubrication theory is used to approximate the induced flow field at a low Reynolds number flow regime. A well-posed expression for the wall profile is derived to describe the membrane propagative mode of rhythmic contractions. Unlike our previously derived pumping model “nonpropagative” where at least two membranes that operate with time-lag are required to produce unidirectional flow, the present results demonstrate that an inelastic channel with a single membrane contraction that operates in a “propagative” mode can produce unidirectional flow and work as a micropump. The model can be used to understand flow transport in many biological systems including but not limited to insect respiration, urine flow, and fluid dynamics of duodenum and intestine. The present pumping paradigm is relatively easy to fabricate and is expected to be useful in many biomedical applications.A pumping flow model in a microchannel with a single attached membrane subjected to propagative contraction is presented in this article. The lubrication theory is used to approximate the induced flow field at a low Reynolds number flow regime. A well-posed expression for the wall profile is derived to describe the membrane propagative mode of rhythmic contractions. Unlike our previously derived pumping model “nonpropagative” where at least two membranes that operate with time-lag are required to produce unidirectional flow, the present results demonstrate that an inelastic channel with a single membrane contraction that operates in a “propagative” mode can produce unidirectional flow and work as a micropump. The model can be used to understand flow transport in many biological systems including but not limited to insect respiration, urine flow, and fluid dynamics of duodenum and intestine. The present pumping paradigm is relatively easy to fabricate and is expected to be useful in many biomedical applica...
The stereochemical course of fragmentation of benzyloxychlorocarbene

Abstract The fragmentation of α-deuteriobenzyloxychlorocarbene to α-deuteriobenzyl chloride in acetonitrile occurs with at least 60% net retention of stereochemistry.
Teaching NeuroImages: A case of Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada disease with bilateral retinal detachment

A 28-year-old East African man with progressive visual impairment and keratitis presented with new symptoms including headache, nausea, disequilibrium, tinnitus, and right leg paresthesias. MRI showed bilateral retinal detachments and diffuse leptomeningeal enhancement (figure). Lumbar puncture showed lymphocytic pleocytosis and elevated protein. His clinical picture was consistent with Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada (VKH) disease: an autoimmune inflammatory disorder with ocular, auditory, skin, and neurologic involvement.1 VKH disease is more common in Asian, Middle Eastern, and Hispanic populations.1 Treatment includes early high-dose corticosteroids with prolonged taper over months.1,2 His symptoms improved following high-dose methylprednisolone.
Overcoming Challenges in Coronavirus Disease 19 Translational Research.

This perspective details the challenges faced in starting a coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) biobank as part of a collaborative effort to accelerate translational research. Barriers to COVID-19 translational research are surmountable and necessary in the effort to combat this pandemic.
Are Some Countries Just Different: A Fixed Effects Look at Growth

There have been numerous attempts to identify the drivers of economic growth. Within this context, it has been repeatedly shown that African countries are different from the rest of the world by using a dummy variable. Although this is an important identification, it may be an oversimplifying assumption to imply that all African nations are different from the rest of the world. For this reason, I am applying a fixed-effects model to data on growth to identify which countries are significantly different. Once identified, I estimate a model of growth based on economic freedom, and other standard factors, inly for those countries that are statistically similar. For those countries that are statistically different, I identify the key factors that make them different and how these differences may impact their growth.
Student Session: Practical Insights on Acceleration for 3D Lidar Data Processing

3D Lidar has become a widely used sensor technology in autonomous vehicles by providing accurate distance information. However, lidar pointcloud processing often involves sophisticated algorithms, and takes a lot of computational power. Many prior approaches relied on a GPU-based parallel programming model, such as CUDA, to accelerate these computations. However, little attention has been given to comparing different methods for selecting the most-suited programming and parallelization approaches for a given computing system. We present our findings and insights identified by implementing various parallel approaches considering both CPUs and GPUs. We also demonstrate significant acceleration results using a realworld perception algorithm developed to detect road boundaries. Finally, we compare the pros and cons of each method in terms of system architecture, programming model, and resource utilization to yield a better understanding of choosing the best parallelization approach for a given optimization objective.
A quantum linearity test for robustly verifying entanglement

We introduce a simple two-player test which certifies that the players apply tensor products of Pauli σX and σZ observables on the tensor product of n EPR pairs. The test has constant robustness: any strategy achieving success probability within an additive of the optimal must be poly(e)-close, in the appropriate distance measure, to the honest n-qubit strategy. The test involves 2n-bit questions and 2-bit answers. The key technical ingredient is a quantum version of the classical linearity test of Blum, Luby, and Rubinfeld. As applications of our result we give (i) the first robust self-test for n EPR pairs; (ii) a quantum multiprover interactive proof system for the local Hamiltonian problem with a constant number of provers and classical questions and answers, and a constant completeness-soundness gap independent of system size; (iii) a robust protocol for verifiable delegated quantum computation with a constant number of quantum polynomial-time provers sharing entanglement.
Examining sex differences in sitting-induced microvascular dysfunction: Insight from acute vitamin C supplementation.

Abstract Purpose Lower limb microvascular dysfunction resulting from prolonged sitting (PS) bouts has been revealed to occur independent of sex. Although acute antioxidant supplementation has been reported to blunt conduit artery dysfunction following PS in young males, it is unknown if this protective effect extends to the microvasculature or is relevant in young females, who possess intrinsic vascular protective mechanisms specific to antioxidant defense. Therefore, this study employed an acute antioxidant supplementation to further examine sex differences during PS with a specific focus on microvascular function. Methods On two separate visits, 14 females (23 ± 3 years) and 12 males (25 ± 4 years) had leg microvascular function (LMVF) assessed (via the passive leg movement technique) before and after 1.5 h of sitting. Prior to each visit, one gram of vitamin C (VC) or placebo (PL) was consumed. Results PS significantly reduced LMVF [PL: (M: −34 ± 20; F: −23 ± 18%; p Conclusion Young males and females reported similar reductions LMVF following PS, but only the young males reported a preservation of LMVF following the VC supplementation. This finding in young females was highlighted by substantial variability in LMVF measures in response to the VC condition that was unrelated to changes in the potential contributors to sitting-induced reductions in LMVF (e.g. lower limb venous pooling, reduced arterial shear rate). New and noteworthy In this study, we employed an acute Vitamin C (VC) supplementation to examine sex differences in leg microvascular function (LMVF) following a bout of prolonged sitting. This study revealed that prolonged sitting reduced LMVF independent of sex, but only young males reported an attenuation to this lowered LMVF following VC supplementation. The young females revealed substantial variability in sitting-induced changes to LMVF that could not be explained by the potential contributors to sitting-induced reductions in LMVF (e.g. lower limb venous pooling, reduced arterial shear rate).
Caenorhabditis Elegans ETR-1/CELF Has Broad Effects on the Muscle Cell Transcriptome, Including Genes That Regulate Translation and Neuroblast Migration

Abstract Migration of neuroblasts and neurons from their birthplace is central to the formation of neural circuits and networks. ETR-1 is the Caenorhabditis elegans homolog of the CELF1 (CUGBP, ELAV-like family 1) RNA-processing factor involved in neuromuscular disorders. etr-1 regulates body wall muscle differentiation. Our previous work showed that etr-1 in muscle has a non-autonomous role in neuronal migration, suggesting that ETR-1 is involved in the production of a signal emanating from body wall muscle that controls neuroblast migration and that interacts with Wnt signaling. etr-1 is extensively alternatively-spliced, and we identified the viable etr-1(lq61) mutant, caused by a stop codon in alternatively-spliced exon 8 and only affecting etr-1 isoforms containing exon 8. We took advantage of viable etr-1(lq61) to identify potential RNA targets of ETR-1 in body wall muscle using a combination of fluorescence activated cell sorting (FACS) of body wall muscles from wild-type and etr-1(lq61) and subsequent RNA-seq. This analysis revealed genes whose splicing and transcript levels were controlled by ETR-1 exon 8 isoforms, and represented a broad spectrum of genes involved in muscle differentiation, myofilament lattice structure, and physiology. Genes with transcripts underrepresented in etr-1(lq61) included those involved in ribosome function and translation, similar to potential CELF1 targets identified in chick cardiomyocytes. This suggests that at least some targets of ETR-1 might be conserved in vertebrates, and that ETR-1 might generally stimulate translation in muscles. As proof-of-principle, a functional analysis of a subset of ETR-1 targets revealed genes involved in AQR and PQR neuronal migration. One such gene, lev-11/tropomyosin, requires ETR-1 for alternative splicing, and another, unc-52/perlecan, requires ETR-1 for the production of long isoforms containing 3’ exons. In sum, these studies identified gene targets of ETR-1/CELF1 in muscles, which included genes involved in muscle development and physiology, and genes with novel roles in neuronal migration.
Suprainguinal peripheral artery disease—Topics for future investigation

Abstract Current practice guidelines for the management of suprainguinal peripheral vascular disease continue to be principally derived from data with male-predominant patient populations. Despite targeted research toward sex disparity in cardiovascular health and diseases, there is no clear consensus on prognosis and best management for women with aortoiliac occlusive disease (AIOD). Indeed, many studies that indicate comparative investigation between male and female subjects often report statistical differences in the outcomes rather than conducting sex-specific treatment arms or analyses. Those that do derive sex-distinguished outcomes often have contradictory conclusions to other reported investigations. There are no randomized controlled studies from which to derive consensus. Prognostic and outcome specific data for women with aortoiliac occlusive disease remains unclear, both because it affects reproductive health as well as perspectives regarding optimum medical versus operative management. We discuss areas of future investigation to increase awareness of the gaps of knowledge that may ultimately lead to disparities in practice.
Thermal analyses of high-power advanced thermoacoustic radioisotope power system for future space exploration missions

Abstract This paper presents the results of 3-D thermal analyses of the heat source assembly of a 440 We advanced radioisotope power system (RPS) for future space exploration missions. This high thermal efficiency RPS employs a heat source assembly of eight Step 2 General Purpose Heat Source (GPHS) modules and four Thermoacoustic Power Converter (TAPC) units. Each unit is thermally coupled to two GPHS modules. The analyses investigated the temperatures of the Iridium (Ir) alloy cladding of the 238PuO2 fuel pellets and the surface of the Fine Weave Pierced Fabric (FWPF) aeroshell in the GPHS modules to ensure reliable operation and safety in case of an unlikely reentry. Conductive coupling of the GPHS modules to the heater heads of the TAPC units produces relatively uniform axial and azimuthal distributions of heat flux and temperature. However, for this case the temperature of the Ir alloy cladding is lower than the desired values of 1173 K to maintain sufficient ductility. Adding a 5 mm wide He filled gap and decreasing the thickness of the graphite sleeve to 10 mm increased Ir cladding temperature to 1197–1174 K, which are in the desired range. The maximum surface temperatures of the FWPF graphite aeroshell of 1022–1131 K is well below the NASA specified limit of 1373 K. In addition, the total mass of the heat source assembly decreased by 19.6 kg, ∼43% saving compared to original design.
Permission To Cheat: Ethnography of a Swingers’ Convention

Although some research has been done on the communicative practices among swingers, none has taken a holistic approach to investigating the formation of sexual scripts within the swinging community. The purpose of this ethnographic study was to analyze the communicative techniques being used to initiate conversation about engaging in sexual interactions with those outside of a primary romantic relationship. During a four-day swingers’ convention held in the United States, field notes were taken and cultural artifacts were reviewed. In addition, 32 formal interviews were conducted with married spouses who participated in this lifestyle after the convention concluded. An aggregation of the observed social behaviors and resulting communicative scripts has been organized into three chronological themes: introductions, noting of interest, and invitation to engage in sexual relations.
On the Mode of Action of Hypoglycin A III. ISOLATION AND IDENTIFICATION OF cis-4-DECENE-1,10-DIOIC, cis,cis-4,7-DECADIENE-1,10-DIOIC, cis-4-OCTENE-1,8-DIOIC, GLUTARIC, AND ADIPIC ACIDS, N-(METHYLENECYCLOPROPYL)ACETYLGLYCINE, AND N-ISOVALERYLGLYCINE FROM URINE OF HYPOGLYCIN A-TREATED RATS

Abstract 1. Seven unusual compounds were detected in large amounts in urine from rats treated with hypoglycin A (l-α-amino-β-(methylenecyclopropyl)propionic acid). They were isolated by a combination of preparative gas-liquid chromatography and silver nitrate-impregnated thin layer chromatography. From evidence obtained by nuclear magnetic resonance, mass and infrared spectrometry, and chemical techniques, these compounds were identified as cis-4-decene-1,10-dioic, cis,cis-4,7-decadiene-1,10-dioic, cis-4-octene-1,8-dioic, glutaric, and adipic acids, N-isovalerylglycine, and N-(methylenecyclopropyl)acetylglycine. The amounts of these compounds found in urine of hypoglycin treated rats were 50 to several hundred times of controls. These compounds were not accumulated in urine of rats treated with 4-pentenoic acid, which has been believed to act similarly to hypoglycin A. 2. In vivo and in vitro experiments suggest that accumulation of glutarate is due to inhibition of glutaryl coenzyme A dehydrogenase. 3. N-(Methylenecyclopropyl)acetylglycine appears to be one of the major final metabolites of hypoglycin A. Hypoglycin A is metabolized to (methylenecyclopropyl)acetyl-CoA which is not oxidized further but is mostly conjugated and excreted in urine. N-(Methylenecyclopropyl)acetylglycine accounts for about 25 to 40% of such conjugates. 4. Excretion of N-isovalerylglycine is consistent with the inhibition of isovaleryl-CoA dehydrogenase by hypoglycin A. 5. To identify precursors of 4-decenedioate and 4-octenedioate, experiments were carried out using [U-14C]oleate as a substrate on the assumption that these compounds were the products of ω oxidation and subsequent bilateral β oxidation of oleate. However, this hypothesis could not be confirmed. Further 14C from [U-14C]palmitate was not incorporated into adipate in a significant amount.
Abstract P341: Associations between Middle-age Risk Factors and Risk of Asymptomatic Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm: the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) Study

Introduction: Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is an important cardiovascular disease in older adults and rupture of an AAA is associated with high mortality. Although traditional cardiovascular risk factors have been associated with the risk of AAA, their importance in the etiology of AAA is not well established, partly due to limited data for asymptomatic AAA from large prospective studies with a long follow up. The objective of this study was to prospectively assess the association between mid-life atherosclerotic disease risk factors and later-life asymptomatic AAA in the ARIC Study, a large, community-based cohort. Methods: Risk factors were measured at baseline, at 45-64 years of age, in 1987-1989. Abdominal aortic ultrasound was conducted in 2011-2013. Ultrasound images with maximal infrarenal abdominal aortic diameter (IAD) ≥ 28 mm were over-read by radiologists. Diagnosis of asymptomatic AAA was made in the over-reading based on IAD ≥ 30 mm. Participants who had a history of repair for abdominal a...