cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Design of Yagi-Uda antennas using genetic algorithms

A method of using genetic algorithms to optimize the element spacing and lengths of Yagi-Uda antennas is presented. A method of moments code, NEC2, performs the task of evaluating each of the antenna designs generated by the genetic algorithm (GA) during the optimization process. To illustrate the capabilities of the method, the length and spacing of several Yagi-Uda antennas are optimized for various performance characteristics. The results are compared to published results from other optimization techniques and to well-designed equally spaced arrays.
Exercised-based methods to treat adult scoliosis: adult case report

Study design This study is a self-described case report of a sixty fiveyear-old female with severe scoliosis (Cobb angle 60–65 degrees), who was diagnosed at age 28 years, and was not treated surgically. A multimodal approach using lowimpact and high-impact exercises offered through the YMCA, yoga and Tae Kwon Do Centers was used. These included aerobics, step aerobics, boot camps, pilates, yoga, nia, body conditioning, kickboxing and martial arts.
Pulmonary instillation of MWCNT increases lung permeability, decreases gp130 expression in the lungs, and initiates cardiovascular IL-6 transsignaling

Pulmonary instillation of multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) has the potential to promote cardiovascular derangements, but the mechanisms responsible are currently unclear. We hypothesized that e...
Pedagogía Social en América del Norte: Antecedentes históricos y desarrollo actual

In North America, the use of the term ‘social pedagogy’ is a relatively new phenomenon, but social pedagogical practices have been used for a long time. The recent interest in the field of social pedagogy can be explained in part by the publication of an unprecedented volume of books and articles in English language, the creation of a new international journal, the simultaneous development of graduate programs in social pedagogy in the UK and the USA, and the establishment of a social pedagogy association that brings together academics and practitioners. In North America, social pedagogy thinking is influenced by the history of the field, by current social pedagogy theory and practice in other parts of the world, and by several traditions that connect education with social change. The paper discusses ten of them: indigenous education, progressive education, social movement learning), community development, public pedagogy, popular education, participatory action research, social economy, participatory democracy, and critical theory.
High doses of oral contraceptives do not alter endometrial α1 and αvβ3 integrins in the late implantation window

Objective To assess the effects of an emergency contraceptive agent on the distribution of integrin heterodimers during that part of the implantation window. Design Prospective, case-controlled study in a university-based Population Program. In the first ovulatory control cycle after the detection of LH surge, patients had endometrial sampling 11 days after the surge. In the next cycle the procedure was repeated 2 days after the administration of a postcoital contraceptive agent on day 9 after LH surge (100 g ethinyl E 2 and 2mg norgestrel). Main Outcome Measures The effects of postcoital contraceptives on the expression of integrin heterodimers ( α 1 and α v β 3 subunits) reported to be unique to secretory phase was determined. Results All six specimens were consistent histologically with days 24 and 25 of the menstrual cycle by light microscopy. Using immunohistochemistry, strong membrane staining of endometrial glandular cells and superficial epithelium for both α 1 subunit and vitronectin ( α v β 3) receptor was observed in treatment and controls. No diminution of intensity or distribution was observed relative to pretreatment controls. Conclusions There is no apparent change in the level of these two integrins in the human endometrium when high-dose oral contraceptives are given in the later stages of the implantation window. This suggests that the high doses of steroids used in emergency contraceptives may exert their effect through more complex mechanisms than endometrial cell surface changes.
Large-eddy simulation of a spatially evolving compressible boundary layer flow

Several issues involving the large-eddy simulation (LES) of wall bounded compressible turbulent flows are investigated. A spatially evolving supersonic boundary layer is simulated using a high-orderaccurate finite difference scheme and the dynamic subgrid-scale model. A parametric study suggests that the finite difference scheme has a detrimental effect on the resolution of the smaller scales due to excessive numerical dissipation from the spatial differencing. Also, since the dynamic model uses the smaller resolved-scale eddies to determine the model coefficients, the predicted coefficients do not have the appropriate values. The use of higher-order schemes is found to better capture the smaller resolved scales and substantially improve the quality of the results. The effect of discretization errors on LES needs to be addressed further before proceeding with LES of flows of engineering interest.
A Simulation Tool for Rapid Investigation of Trends in 3-DIC Performance and Power Consumption

In order to compare the costs and the benefits of 2-D and 3-D integrated circuits (3-DICs) technologies, a compact simulation tool for 3-DIC system evaluation and design space exploration is presented. The simulator is implemented in the MATLAB, and is composed of several modules, including a compact 3-DIC wire-length distribution, a wire pitch and repeater insertion module, a 2-D and 3-DIC power supply noise estimation module, and a finite-difference thermal simulator. The simulator is validated against published data for several commercial 2-D processors at the 65-, 45-, and 32-nm nodes. In order to quantify the benefits of both 2-D and 3-D integration approaches, a 32-nm CPU core is modeled, and the impact of several technology parameters, including interlayer dielectric material, on-chip wire material, die thickness, and cooling solution, is explored. The results suggest that the 3-D integration may provide a significant power reduction for the 32-nm test case, but more aggressive cooling solutions must be employed to maintain the same clock frequency due to the increased areal power density of the 3-D CPU.
International Law from Below: From resistance to renewal: Bretton Woods institutions and the emergence of the “new” development agenda

International lawyers who focus upon international economic law as well as international institutions readily concede the importance of the BWIs to the success of their respective disciplines. While the GATT/WTO mechanisms constitute an important segment of the institutional framework of international economic law, the BWIs are better known and have historically wielded much more influence over the economic and financial policies of Third World countries. In particular, due to their enormous resources, considerable intellectual power, and the resultant influence they have over the national policies of developing countries, they are also more “sexy” and constitute favorite targets of media and academic critiques. Indeed, for many Third World states, their historical relationships to the BWIs have been not only more significant, but also more problematic than their relationships with other organizations. This is partly due to the role of these institutions as gate-keepers to the international economic system, including access to western capital. It is also due to the far-reaching power of these institutions that extends into most domains of human activity in the Third World, including economic and social policy, urban and rural development, and even the very structure of the state. Furthermore, due to their focus on issues of justice – mainly anti-poverty programs – the BWIs figure inevitably in radical Third World critiques of the international economic order. Yet, it is not automatically obvious why or how these institutions became so important and powerful.
Electrochemical degradation of oil and COD in wastewater produced by oilfields

A novel method for treating the oilfield wastewater containing polyacrylamide was carried out via electrochemical oxidation using iron or aluminum anodes.The effect of the anode material,electrode distance voltage,and current on the removal rate of oil and CODcr(Chemical Oxygen Demand) was studied.While the current density is 75 mA·cm-2,the oil removal is 95% and the removal rate of CODcr is more than 86%,and the polymer was degraded into small molecules by action of a volume of 2 500 mL wastewater with an initial oil of 637.0 mg/L pH of 3～4 for 60 minutes.
Research on Steam-flow Excitation and Optimization Design for Steam Distribution of Large-scale Steam Turbine Unit

The mechanism of the steam-flow excitation triggered by nozzle governing is the main issue analyzed in the paper as steam-flow excitation phenomenon occurred frequently just after the reform of the turbine flow path in a 600MW steam turbine.According to the sequence valve test and bearing load calculation,optimization solution for steam distribution was achieved,and it was applied to steam distribution reform of the 600MW steam turbine unit successfully.
Ransom, Revenge, and Heroic Identity in the Iliad : The Embassy to Achilleus: In the Name of the Father

A gift is not signed. Derrida The Debacle Zeus' nod that had shaken Olympos in Book 1 of the Iliad seems not to have affected events on the Trojan plain up to Book 8, for the Greeks enjoy a string of victories. But after Zeus weighs the two fates of the armies and the Achaians' sink (8.69–73), he sends panic through the Greek army so that Hektor is able to drive them back to their ships and behind a hastily constructed palisade. Darkness falls too soon for the Trojans on that day, but for the Achaians it brings a brief respite (8.485–88). Both sides anticipate that the coming day will decide the issue of the war. The light emanating from the Trojan camp renders stark the dread that settles around the Achaian ships. And so, as Book 9 opens, the dispirited Achaians are pinned behind a wall that will not long protect them against the Trojan onslaught. And the Greek commander in chief is in tears. When the Achaians were dying from the plague sent by Apollo, Achilleus had summoned an assembly to determine its cause and seek a remedy; as a result, Agamemnon was forced to pay compensatory timē to redress the harm and bring an end to the plague.
Dietary macronutrient composition affects hypothalamic appetite regulation in chicks

Objective: The objective was to determine the effects of high-protein and high-fat diets, and fasting and refeeding, on appetite regulation in chicks.Methods: Day of hatch chicks were fed one of four diets: basal, high protein (25% crude protein), and 15 and 30% high fat (15 and 30% metabolizable energy derived from soybean oil, respectively), and assigned to one of three treatments at 4 days: (1) access to feed, (2) 3 hours of fasting, or (3) fasting followed by 1 hour of refeeding. The hypothalamus was collected, total RNA isolated, and mRNA abundance measured.Results: Food intake was reduced in chicks fed the high-protein and high-fat diets. Agouti-related peptide, neuropeptide Y (NPY), NPY receptors 1, 2, and 5, melanocortin receptors 3 and 4 (MC3R and 4R, respectively), mesotocin, corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF), and CRF receptor sub-type 2 (CRFR2) mRNAs were greatest in chicks that consumed the basal diet. Refeeding was associated with increased MC3R mRNA in the high-protein diet group. CRFR2 m...
INDUCTION OF CELLULASE IN HIGH SOLIDS CULTIVATION OF TRICHODERMA REESEI FOR ENHANCED ENZYMATIC HYDROLYSIS OF LIGNOCELLULOSE

OF THESIS INDUCTION OF CELLULASE IN HIGH SOLIDS CULTIVATION OF TRICHODERMA REESEI FOR ENHANCED ENZYMATIC HYDROLYSIS OF LIGNOCELLULOSE This project aimed investigated cellulase in-situ production for large-scale on-farm production of lignocellulosic biofuel. Cellulase activity and glucose released by T. reesei with corn stover and wheat bran as co-substrates for solid state cultivation (SSC) were examined. Co-cultivation has previously increased T. reesei cellulase, but corn stover and wheat bran have not been co-cultivated (Dhillon, Oberoi et al. 2011). This work compared cellulase activity and glucose concentration of corn stover co-cultivated with 0-40% wheat bran in high solids. Samples with at least 20% wheat bran exhibited increased cellulase activity. However, the average glucose concentration without wheat bran was 3.29 g/L compared to 16.7 g/L with wheat bran. Glucose released by T. reesei on pretreated corn stover with 0-40% wheat bran was compared at the optimal temperatures for fungal growth and for cellulase activity after SSC. Previous research has rarely used cellulase from SSC to hydrolyze lignocellulose. Following SSC of T. reesei at 30°C for seven days, samples were warmed to 50°C for five days. Glucose concentration increased to 12.1 and 32.7 g/L for samples with and without wheat bran. This strategy could reduce lignocellulosic fuel production costs by eliminating need for commercial cellulase and is promising for efficient cellulose hydrolysis.
Catalyst role of Nd3+ ions for the precipitation of silver nanoparticles in phosphate glass

Abstract The present work proposes that neodymium(III) performs as catalyst enhancing the precipitation of Ag nanoparticles (NPs) in silver-doped phosphate glass. In situ optical isothermal microspectroscopy was employed for evaluating the influence of the rare-earth dopant on the kinetics of Ag NP precipitation in real time in the solid-state host. A temperature-dependent first-order exponential increase with time of the peak optical density of the surface plasmon resonance of Ag NPs was observed in relation to concomitant particle nucleation and diffusion-driven growth. An Arrhenius-type plot was used for the activation energy estimation of the plasmonic Ag particles precipitation at 2.3 eV. This value is about 56% lower than the activation energy of 5.2 eV measured previously in our group [46] for the diffusion-based Ag NP growth in the glass without Nd3+ ions. Further characterizations were performed by differential scanning calorimetry, transmission electron microscopy, solid-state 31P nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, and Raman scattering, in support of the in situ optical measurements. The distinctive results were discussed in the context of glass composition and structure.
Measurement of Social Factors in Aging Research

This chapter presents measurement and methodological issues regarding four social factors that are important in epidemiologic research on aging. These factors are socioeconomic status (income, education and occupation), living arrangement, caregiving status and widowhood. They were selected because they influence health outcomes in older adults. These factors may be dynamic over the life course, particularly during old age, which has implications for their measurement, study design, and interpretation of associations with health outcomes. In this chapter we also reviewed five general measurement and methodological issues that are common to these factors: consideration of the factor from a life-course perspective, cohort effects, influence of prior health status, changes in the factor over time, and choice of comparison groups. For each factor, we present data to illustrate its importance in epidemiologic studies of older populations, describe different approaches to its measurement and their advantages and limitations, summarize its associations with health outcomes, and discuss implications of measurement and methodological decisions. We also address specific methodologic issues such as study design, sampling, and confounding that are unique to individual factors.
Reverse Image Lookup: Assessing Digital Library Users and Reuses

ABSTRACTReverse image lookup technology was used to assess the users and reuses of images from the Library of Congress's Teaching with Primary Resources digital collection. After selecting 44 images for the study, researchers used Google Reverse Image Lookup to generate a dataset of over 1,400 URLs. Drawing upon a coding rubric designed for a previous study on the ultimate uses of digital library materials, researchers coded the data to identify who uses these images and for what purposes. They found that the most popular type of user was “personal,” which aligns with previous work and indicates that a pattern is emerging between ultimate use and the personal user type. Additionally, the study's results indicate that social media and popular culture research outnumbered any other type of reuse. This article introduces reverse image lookup as a viable and approachable tool for digital library assessment, and discusses its implications for assessment and content selection.
DD91: Utopiesyndrome überall (Mai 2009)

Das Wort Utopiesyndrom habe ich bei Watzlawick als Kapiteluberschrift im Buch Losungen gefunden. Es geht um das Anstreben von unerreichbaren Zielen, deren Aufstellen derzeit fast gangige Praxis ist. „Wir wollen Nummer 1 werden.“ – „Wir werden gestarkt aus der Krise hervorgehen, indem wir von ihr enorm profitieren.“ Und im privaten Sektor gibt es Formen wie diese: „Ich bin finster entschlossen, ein absolut sinnvolles Leben zu fuhren.“ – „Ich will immer schon sein.“ – „Wir wollen die ideale Liebe leben.“ – „Meine Kirche ist die wahre.“
Processing–Structure–Property Relationships for Lignin‐Based Carbonaceous Materials Used in Energy‐Storage Applications

Lignin, an abundant organic polymer and a byproduct of pulp and biofuel production, has potential applications due to its high carbon content and aromatic structure. Processing-structure relationships are difficult to predict due to lignin's heterogeneity. The work discusses the role of unit operations in the carbonization process of softwood lignin, and its resulting impact on materials structure and electrochemical properties when used as the anode in lithium-ion cells. The processing variables include the presence, temperature and duration of thermal stabilization, pyrolysis and reduction. Materials are characterized at the atomic- and micro-scales. High temperature carbonization, 2000°C, produced larger graphitic domains than 1050°C but resulted in reduced capacity. Coulombic efficiencies over 98% were achieved for extended galvanostatic cycling. Consequently, a properly designed carbonization process for lignin is well suited to generating low-cost, high-efficiency electrodes.
Plateaus and sinuous ridges as the fingerprints of lava flow inflation in the Eastern Tharsis Plains of Mars

Abstract The Tharsis Montes rift aprons are composed of outpourings of lava from chaotic terrains to the northeast and southwest flank of each volcano. Sinuous and branching channel networks that are present on the rift aprons suggest the possibility of fluvial processes in their development, or erosion by rapidly emplaced lavas, but the style of lava flow emplacement throughout rift apron development is not clearly understood. To better characterize the style of lava emplacement and role of fluvial processes in rift apron development, we conducted morphological mapping of the Pavonis Mons southwest rift apron and the eastern Tharsis plains using images from the High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment (HiRISE), Mars Orbiter Camera (MOC), Context Camera (CTX), Thermal Emission Imaging System (THEMIS), and High Resolution Stereo Camera (HRSC) along with the Mars Orbiter Laser Altimeter (MOLA) Precision Experiment Data Records (PEDRs) and gridded data. Our approach was to: (1) search for depositional fans at the slope break between the rift apron and adjacent low slope plains; (2) determine if there is evidence that previously formed deposits might have been buried by plains units; (3) characterize the Tharsis plains morphologies east of Pavonis Mons; and (4) assess their relationship to the rift apron units. We have not identified topographically significant depositional fans, nor did we observe evidence to suggest that plains units have buried older rift apron units. Flow features associated with the rift apron are observed to continue across the slope break onto the plains. In this area, the plains are composed of a variety of small fissures and low shield vents around which broad channel-fed and tube-fed flows have been identified. We also find broad, flat-topped plateaus and sinuous ridges mixed among the channels, tubes and vents. Flat-topped plateaus and sinuous ridges are morphologies that are analogous to those observed on the coastal plain of Hawai‘i, where lava flows have advanced from the volcano's several degree flank onto the nearly zero degree coastal plain. When local volumetric flow rates are low, flow fronts tend to spread laterally and often thicken via endogenous growth, or inflation, of the sheet-like flow units. If flow advance is restricted by existing topography into narrow pathways, inflation can be focused into sinuous, elongate ridges. The presence of plateaus and ridges—emplaced from the rift zones, across the plains to the east of Pavonis Mons—and a lack of fan-like features, or evidence for their burial, are consistent with rift apron lavas crossing a slope break with low local volumetric flow rates that led to inflation of sheet-like and tube-fed lava flows.
Injectable and topical neurotoxins in dermatology: Indications, adverse events, and controversies.

The use of neuromodulators for therapeutic and cosmetic indications has proven to be remarkably safe. While aesthetic and functional adverse events are uncommon, each anatomic region has its own set of risks of which the physician and patient must be aware before treatment. The therapeutic usages of botulinum toxins now include multiple specialties and multiple indications. New aesthetic indications have also developed, and there has been an increased utilization of combination therapies to combat the effects of global aging. In the second article in this continuing medical education series, we review the prevention and treatment of adverse events, therapeutic and novel aesthetic indications, controversies, and a brief overview of combination therapies.
Time-Dependent Extension from an 8-Oxoguanine Lesion by Human DNA Polymerase Beta.

The oxidative DNA lesion 7,8-dihydro-2′-deoxyguanine (8-oxoG) often occurs in double-stranded DNA and poses a threat to genomic integrity due to the ability of 8-oxoG to form stable Watson–Crick base pairs with deoxycytidine (8-oxoG:dC) and Hoogsteen base pairs with deoxyadenosine (8-oxoG:dA). In humans, short-patch base excision repair of 8-oxoG:dA base pairs requires human DNA polymerase β (hPolβ) to bypass 8-oxoG. Previously, we have shown hPolβ-catalyzed 8-oxoG bypass to exhibit low fidelity and identified a unique stacking interaction between the newly incorporated nucleotide (dCMP or dAMP) and the templating 8-oxoG. The effect of this stacking on the ability of hPolβ to extend from 8-oxoG during long-patch base excision repair was unknown. Here we report pre-steady-state kinetics and time-dependent crystal structures to demonstrate that extension from both 8-oxoG:dC and 8-oxoG:dA base pairs is 18- to 580-fold less efficient compared to 8-oxoG bypass and that extension from 8-oxoG:dC over 8-oxoG:dA i...
Theorizing the nexus of STEAM practice

Recent advances in arts education policy, as outlined in the latest National Core Arts Standards, advocate for bringing digital media into the arts education classroom. The promise of such Science,...
Structure and Dynamic Properties of Membrane Lipid and Protein

The prodigious x-ray flux and tuneability of synchrotron radiation has proved an enormous boon in studies of the structural biology and dynamic properties of membranes and their components. Over the past several years, this bright x-ray source has been used to advantage in investigations of the dynamics and mechanism of lipid phase transitions in bulk systems, lyotrope transport between and within bulk mesophases, x-radiation damage of lipid, lipid-lipid and lipid-lyotrope miscibility, Langmuir-Blodgett lipid films, and of the crystallization of membrane proteins in lipidic mesophases. A review of these disparate but related investigations is presented here.
The crystal structure of the Yersinia pestis iron chaperone YiuA reveals a basic triad binding motif for the chelated metal.

Biological chelating molecules called siderophores are used to sequester iron and maintain its ferric state. Bacterial substrate-binding proteins (SBPs) bind iron–siderophore complexes and deliver these complexes to ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters for import into the cytoplasm, where the iron can be transferred from the siderophore to catalytic enzymes. In Yersinia pestis, the causative agent of plague, the Yersinia iron-uptake (Yiu) ABC transporter has been shown to improve iron acquisition under iron-chelated conditions. The Yiu transporter has been proposed to be an iron–siderophore transporter; however, the precise siderophore substrate is unknown. Therefore, the precise role of the Yiu transporter in Y. pestis survival remains uncharacterized. To better understand the function of the Yiu transporter, the crystal structure of YiuA (YPO1310/y2875), an SBP which functions to present the iron–siderophore substrate to the transporter for import into the cytoplasm, was determined. The 2.20 and 1.77 A resolution X-ray crystal structures reveal a basic triad binding motif at the YiuA canonical substrate-binding site, indicative of a metal-chelate binding site. Structural alignment and computational docking studies support the function of YiuA in binding chelated metal. Additionally, YiuA contains two mobile helices, helix 5 and helix 10, that undergo 2–3 A shifts across crystal forms and demonstrate structural breathing of the c-clamp architecture. The flexibility in both c-clamp lobes suggest that YiuA substrate transfer resembles the Venus flytrap mechanism that has been proposed for other SBPs.
Citations and Citation Metrics in a Serial Assessment Using Master's Theses

We analyzed serial citations in 72 marine biology master's theses as well as the ranking data of aquatic science serials from six global serial citation metrics, to assess serial use by marine biol...
Diabetes mellitus and bone health: epidemiology, etiology and implications for fracture risk stratification

Skeletal fractures can result when there are co-morbid conditions that negatively impact bone strength. Fractures represent an important source of morbidity and mortality, especially in older populations. Diabetes mellitus is a metabolic disorder that has reached worldwide epidemic proportions and is increasingly being recognized as a risk factor for fracture. Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes have different effects on bone mineral density but share common pathways, which lead to bone fragility. In this review, we discuss the available data on diabetes and fractures, bone density and the clinical implications for fracture risk stratification in current practice.
Maladaptive learning and memory in hybrids as a reproductive isolating barrier

Selection against hybrid offspring, or postzygotic reproductive isolation, maintains species boundaries in the face of gene flow from hybridization. In this review, we propose that maladaptive learning and memory in hybrids is an important, but overlooked form of postzygotic reproductive isolation. Although a role for learning in premating isolation has been supported, whether learning deficiencies can contribute to postzygotic isolation has rarely been tested. We argue that the novel genetic combinations created by hybridization have the potential to impact learning and memory abilities through multiple possible mechanisms, and that any displacement from optima in these traits is likely to have fitness consequences. We review evidence supporting the potential for hybridization to affect learning and memory, and evidence of links between learning abilities and fitness. Finally, we suggest several avenues for future research. Given the importance of learning for fitness, especially in novel and unpredictable environments, maladaptive learning and memory in hybrids may be an increasingly important source of postzygotic reproductive isolation.
The callosal impingement syndrome of hydrocephalus

Individuals with idiopathic hydrocephalus exhibit a generalized reduction in coordinated motor and cognitive function. A retrospective review of subjects with hydrocephalus was undertaken to study specific MRI correlates of the associated signs and symptoms. Forty adults were studied to elucidate specific clinico-radiologic patterns. The significant change, not described previously, was localized dorsal flattening and thinning of the posterior body of the corpus callosum. The structure responsible for this flattening is the rigid free surface of the falx cerebri, which impinges upon the caudal upwardly expanding corpus callosum and supracallosal hippo-campal formation. This mechanical insult could cause variable, incomplete axonal dysfunction resulting initially in a neuroelectrically active bihemispherically radiating commissural and supracallosal forniceal axono-pathy. It is postulated that this combined commissuro-pathy/fornicopathy represents a dynamic partial intra-and inter-hemispheric disconnection accounting, in part, for the complex clinical state associated with hydrocephalus.
The Use of Non-Ionizing Radiation for Therapeutic Heating

Various forms of non-ionizing radiation are used for the therapeutic application of heat. As part of this symposium, a brief overview will be given on the use of therapeutic heat in the form of shortwave, microwave and ultrasonic radiation. Goals in therapeutic heat application are as follows: (1) to increase extensibility of collagen tissue; (2) to decrease “joint stiffness”; (3) to produce pain relief; (4) to relieve muscle spasm; (5) to assist in resolution of inflammatory infiltrates, edema and exudates; and (6) to increase blood flow.
A Local and Global Sensitivity Analysis of a Mathematical Model of Coagulation and Platelet Deposition Under Flow

The hemostatic response involves blood coagulation and platelet aggregation to stop blood loss from an injured blood vessel. The complexity of these processes make it difficult to intuit the overall hemostatic response without quantitative methods. Mathematical models aim to address this challenge but are often accompanied by numerous parameters choices and thus need to be analyzed for sensitivity to such choices. Here we use local and global sensitivity analyses to study a model of coagulation and platelet deposition under flow. To relate with clinical assays, we measured the sensitivity of three specific thrombin metrics: lag time, maximum relative rate of generation, and final concentration after 20 minutes. In addition, we varied parameters of three different classes: plasma protein levels, kinetic rate constants, and platelet characteristics. In terms of an overall ranking of the model's sensitivities, we found that the local and global methods provided similar information. Our local analysis, in agreement with previous findings, shows that varying parameters within 50-150% of baseline values, in a one-at-a-time (OAT) fashion, always leads to significant thrombin generation in 20 minutes. Our global analysis gave a different and novel result highlighting groups of parameters, still varying within the normal 50-150%, that produced little or no thrombin in 20 minutes. Variations in either plasma levels or platelet characteristics, using either OAT or simultaneous variations, always led to strong thrombin production and overall, relatively low output variance. Simultaneous variation in kinetics rate constants or in a subset of all three parameter classes led to the highest overall output variance, incorporating instances with little to no thrombin production. The global analysis revealed multiple parameter interactions in the lag time and final concentration leading to relatively high variance; high variance was also observed in the thrombin generation rate, but parameters attributed to that variance acted independently and additively.
Distinguishing between model- and data-driven inferences for high reliability statistical predictions

Abstract Estimating the tails of probability distributions plays a key role in complex engineering systems where the goal is characterization of low probability, high consequence events. When data are collected using physical experimentation, statistical distributional assumptions are often used to extrapolate tail behavior to assess reliability, introducing risk due to extrapolation from an unvalidated (statistical) model. Existing tools to evaluate statistical model fit, such as probability plots and goodness of fit tests, fail to communicate the risk associated with this extrapolation. In this work, we develop a new statistical model validation metric and relate this metric to engineering-driven model validation metrics. The metric measures how consistent the parametric tail estimates are with a more flexible model that makes weaker assumptions about the distribution tails. An extreme-value based generalized Pareto distribution is used for the more flexible model. Models are updated using a Bayesian inference procedure that defaults to reasonably conservative inferences when data are sparse. Properties of the estimation procedure are evaluated in statistical simulation, and the effectiveness of the proposed metrics relative to the standard-of-practice statistical metrics is illustrated using a pedagogical example related to a real, but proprietary, engineering example.
Polymethacrylamide and Carbon Composites that Grow, Strengthen, and Self‐Repair using Ambient Carbon Dioxide Fixation

Plants accumulate solid carbon mass and self-repair using atmospheric CO2 fixation from photosynthesis. Synthetic materials capable of mimicking this property can significantly reduce the energy needed to transport and repair construction materials. Here, a gel matrix containing aminopropyl methacrylamide (APMA), glucose oxidase (GOx), and nanoceria-stabilized extracted chloroplasts that is able to grow, strengthen, and self-repair using carbon fixation is demonstrated. Glucose produced from the embedded chloroplasts is converted to gluconolactone (GL) via GOx, polymerizing with APMA to form a continuously expanding and strengthening polymethacrylamide. The extracted spinach chloroplasts exhibit enhanced stability and produce 12 µg GL mg-1 Chl h-1 after optimization of the temporal illumination conditions and the glucose efflux rate, with the insertion of chemoprotective nanoceria inside the chloroplasts. This system achieves an average growth rate of 60 µm3 h-1 per chloroplast under ambient CO2 and illumination over 18 h, thickening with a shear modulus of 3 kPa. This material can demonstrate self-repair using the exported glucose from chloroplasts and chemical crosslinking through the fissures. These results point to a new class of materials capable of using atmospheric CO2 fixation as a regeneration source, finding utility as self-healing coatings, construction materials, and fabrics.
Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) Area under the Curve (AUC): A Diagnostic Measure for Evaluating the Accuracy of Predictors of Education Outcomes.

Early Warning Systems (EWS) and Early Warning Indictors (EWI) have recently emerged as an attractive domain for states and school districts interested in predicting student outcomes using data that...
Melorheostosis with an associated para-articular enhancing soft tissue mass

Melorheostosis is a rare non-hereditary sclerosing bone dysplasia which predominantly affects the appendicular skeleton. Although melorheostosis is typically recognized as an osseous lesion, associated soft-tissue components have been reported. Advanced imaging with MRI may allow for more complete evaluation of these soft tissue components; however, there is little information regarding their MRI characteristics which may lead to confusion with malignant processes. We present a case of melorheostosis in a 32-year-old woman with an associated paraarticular enhancing soft tissue mass and emphasize discriminating this from soft tissue sarcoma.
Examining social support, self-efficacy, stress, and performance, in U.S. Division I collegiate student-athletes’ academic and athletic lives

Stress can significantly harm ones physiological and psychological well-being. For student-athletes, the stress that accumulates across their dual roles as a student and an athlete is arguably unav...
Purification of proteins using peptide-ELP based affinity precipitation

In this work, we employed fusions of affinity peptides and elastin-like polypeptide (ELP) to carry out a proof-of-concept study for the single-step purification of model, tag-free proteins. Three known peptide-protein binding pairs of varied binding strengths were evaluated. The peptide-protein binding was first characterized through in-solution binding techniques such as fluorescence spectroscopy. Peptide-ELP constructs were then produced in E. coli and purified by phase transition. The binding of the peptide-ELP constructs to the products were then evaluated using competitive fluorescence spectroscopy. Affinity capture, precipitation and recovery experiments were then conducted using the three constructs to evaluate the efficacy of these peptide-ELP based affinity precipitation processes. Two out of the three systems tested were successful in capturing the product and yielding pure protein in a single affinity precipitation step. These results indicated that peptide-protein affinity played an important role in both the effective capture of the protein, and also in the required binding molar ratio for the affinity precipitation process. In addition, for intermediate affinity systems, constructs containing two copies of the peptide at the N-terminus of the ELP were beneficial towards achieving both high purity and yield, likely due to increased affinity from avidity effects. This proof-of-concept study lays the foundations for the development of new peptide-ELP-based affinity purification processes for industrially relevant proteins and other classes of biologics.
Underweight patients are at just as much risk as super morbidly obese patients when undergoing anterior cervical spine surgery.

Abstract BACKGROUND CONTEXT Past studies have focused on the association of high body mass index (BMI) on spine surgery outcomes. These investigations have reported mixed conclusions, possible due to insufficient power, poor controlling of confounding variables, and inconsistent definitions of BMI categories (e.g. underweight, overweight, and obese). Few studies have considered outcomes of patients with low BMI. PURPOSE To analyze how anterior cervical spine surgery outcomes track with World Health Organization categories of BMI to better assess where along the BMI spectrum patients are at risk for adverse perioperative outcomes. DESIGN/SETTING Retrospective cohort study. PATIENT SAMPLE Patients undergoing elective anterior cervical spine surgery were abstracted from the 2005 to 2016 American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database. OUTCOME MEASURES Thirty-day adverse events, hospital readmissions, postoperative infections, and mortality. METHODS Patients undergoing anterior cervical spine procedures (anterior cervical discectomy and fusion, anterior cervical corpectomy, cervical arthroplasty) were identified in the 2005 to 2016 National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database. Patients were then aggregated into modified World Health Organization categories of BMI. Odds ratios of adverse outcomes, normalized to average risk of normal weight subjects (BMI 18.5–24.9 kg/m2), were calculated. Multivariate analyses were then performed on aggregated adverse outcome categories controlling for demographics (age, sex, functional status) and overall health as measured by the American Society of Anesthesiologists classification. RESULTS In total, 51,149 anterior cervical surgery patients met inclusion criteria. Multivariate analyses revealed the odds of any adverse event to be significantly elevated for underweight and super morbidly obese patients (Odds Ratios [OR] of 1.62 and 1.55, respectively). Additionally, underweight patients had elevated odds of serious adverse events (OR=1.74) and postoperative infections (OR=1.75) and super morbidly obese patients had elevated odds of minor adverse events (OR=1.72). Relative to normal BMI patients, there was no significant elevation for any adverse outcomes for any of the other overweight/obese categories, in fact some had reduced odds of various adverse outcomes. CONCLUSIONS Underweight and super morbidly obese patients have the greatest odds of adverse outcomes after anterior cervical spine surgery. The current study identifies underweight patients as an at-risk population that has previously not received significant focus. Physicians and healthcare systems should give additional consideration to this population, as they often already do for those at the other end of the BMI spectrum.
BIM-GIS Integration in HoloLens

In recent decades, technological advancements have led to the introduction of wearable computing devices allowing visualization using virtual, augmented, and mixed reality. The Architecture, Engineering, and Construction industry has seen an increase in the use of such wearable technology, especially with the introduction of information modeling. Building Information Modeling (BIM) has been used extensively on vertical construction projects to better communicate information among project stakeholders and facilitate the construction process. More recently, infrastructure projects started using information modeling along with Geographic Information Systems (GIS) on local or cloud services. The integration of GIS and BIM has the potential to improve the construction process and aid in decision-making, especially when combined with newer visualization techniques. This paper presents a platform for GIS and BIM integration in Mixed Reality. The proposed application will allow a seamless transfer of data from BIM and GIS software into game engines, and the visualization of the BIM-GIS integration on Microsoft HoloLens 2. The application will allow users not only to visualize models, but to explore information in model elements, and make model changes in the mixed reality environment.
Polycythemia Vera: Symptom Burden, Oncology Nurse Considerations, and Patient Education

Polycythemia vera (PV) is a rare progressive myelo-proliferative cancer with significant symptom burden. Patients with PV often experience symptoms that adversely affect quality of life, work productivity, and functional status. Oncology nurses are well suited to assess for symptom burden and to provide educational interventions that support patients and their families.
The Role of Experiential Avoidance and Emotion Regulation in DSM-5 Posttraumatic Stress Symptomatology

The present study expanded previous research examining how experiential avoidance and PTSD symptoms of hyperarousal impact negative alterations of cognition and mood according to DSM-5 PTSD criteri...
Hyperandrogenemia alters mitochondrial structure and function in the oocytes of obese mouse with polycystic ovary syndrome.

Background Hyperandrogenemia in an obese polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) mouse model results in altered glucose/insulin metabolism and mitochondrial structure and function in the oocytes, in part explaining adverse outcomes and inheritance patterns seen in PCOS. Objective To study the oocyte quality by means of mitochondrial structure and function in a well-established classic PCOS mouse model. Design Animal study using an obese PCOS mouse model compared with control. Setting Animal research facility in a tertiary care university hospital setting. Animals C57/B6J mice. Intervention(s) Three-week-old mice had subdermal implants of dihydrotestosterone controlled release pellet or placebo for 90 days. Main Outcome Measure(s) The mouse model was validated by performing glucose tolerance test and glycated hemoglobin level, body weight, and estrous cycle analyses. Oocytes were subsequently isolated and were used to investigate mitochondrial membrane potential, oxidative stress, lipid peroxidation, adenosine triphosphate production, mitochondrial DNA copy number, transcript abundance, histology, and mitochondrial ultrastructure. Result(s) Results showed glucose intolerance and hyperinsulinemia along with dysregulated estrus cycle. Analysis of the oocytes indicated impaired inner mitochondrial membrane function, increased adenosine triphosphate production and mitochondrial DNA copy number, altered RNA transcript abundance, and aberrant ovarian histology. Electron microscopy of the oocytes revealed severely impaired mitochondrial ultrastructure. Conclusion(s) The obese PCOS mouse model shows a decreased oocyte quality related to impaired mitochondrial function.
Public Employee Speech: Answering the Unanswered and Related Questions in Lane v. Franks

This article analyzes the United States Supreme Court’s 2014 decision in Lane v. Franks and discusses how the Court’s analysis and holding left important questions unanswered regarding public employee freedom of speech jurisprudence. Among others, the article addresses the question of whether the First Amendment prohibits employer retaliation when a public employee provides sworn, truthful testimony as a part of his or her ordinary job responsibilities. The article uses Lane’s principles, its narrow interpretation of the Supreme Court’s oft-criticized decision in Garcetti v. Ceballos, and its resurrection of the principles underlying the Court’s seminal decision in Pickering to provide answers to the questions analyzed. Lastly, the article discusses how reliance on Lane’s legal and policy principles will further the values underlying the protection of public employee speech in the sworn testimony context.
Program Controls Effectiveness Measurement Framework & Metrics

Any program or a project that is designed to accomplish certain objectives, needs to establish program level controls pertaining to the overall goal. A critical aspect that determines the success of a program is the quality of the controls and their effectiveness in accomplishing the goal. Traditional Control Maturity Models primarily focus on the efficiency, management, and optimization of controls, while only indirectly measuring control effectiveness which neglects an essential aspect of control efficacy. In this paper, we highlight the ineffectiveness of these models, outline an adaptable program controls framework, and provide an approach to define measurable attributes (metrics) that enable a zero-defect program. To the best of our knowledge, we believe this is the first paper that provides a structured approach to defining a controls measurement framework and creation of effectiveness metrics that can be adopted by a variety of program use cases.
Chemo- and Stereoselective Intermolecular [2+2] Photocycloaddition of Conjugated Dienes using Colloidal Nanocrystal Photocatalysts.

Summary The use of visible-light photosensitizers to power [2 + 2] photocycloadditions that produce complex tetrasubstituted cyclobutanes is a true success of photochemistry, but the scope of this reaction has been limited to activated α,β-unsaturated carbonyls. This paper describes selective intermolecular homo- and hetero-[2 + 2] photocycloadditions of terminal and internal aryl-conjugated dienes—substrates historically unsuited for this reaction because of their multiple possible reaction pathways and product configurations—through triplet-triplet energy transfer from CdSe nanocrystal photocatalysts to generate valuable and elusive syn-trans aryl vinylcyclobutanes. The negligible singlet-triplet splitting of nanocrystals' excited states allows them to drive the [2 + 2] pathway over the competing [4 + 2] photoredox pathway, a chemoselectivity not achievable with any known molecular photosensitizer. Reversible tethering of the cyclobutane product to the nanocrystal surface results in near-quantitative yield of the syn-trans product. Flat colloidal CdSe nanoplatelets produce cyclobutanes coupled at the terminal alkenes of component dienes with up to 89% regioselectivity.