cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Metal-Matrix Composites of Closed Geometries

Procedures are described for fabricating Borsic filament-reinforced aluminum-alloy composites of closed circular geometry. Two circumferentially reinforced shapes are considered: a thickwalled right circular cylinder and a thin-walled conic section. The parts were fabricated by plasma spraying the alloy over hoopwound Borsic filament, and then densifying in ways which avoided damage to the brittle filament. Axial compaction of the cylinder resulted in a fully dense part without degradation of the Borsic. The conic section was densified by the radial thermal expansion of an aluminum die which forced a semiliquid matrix alloy between the filaments. Properties were measured by ultrasonic and mechanical methods.
Inhibition of NF-κB Activation by Arsenite through Reaction with a Critical Cysteine in the Activation Loop of IκB Kinase

Arsenite is a potent environmental toxin that causes various pathologies including cancers and skin disorders. Arsenite is believed to exert its biological effects through reaction with exposed sulfhydryl groups, especially pairs of adjacent thiols. Here, we describe the mechanism by which arsenite affects the NF-kappaB signaling pathway. Activation of transcription factor NF-kappaB depends on the integrity of the IkappaB kinase (IKK) complex. We found that arsenite potently inhibits NF-kappaB and IKK activation by binding to Cys-179 in the activation loop of the IKK catalytic subunits, IKKalpha/beta. The affinity of IKKbeta for trivalent arsenic was verified in vitro by the ability of IKKbeta to enhance the fluorescence of an arsenic-substituted fluorescein dye. The addition of 1,2-dithiol antidotes or replacement of Cys-179 with an alanine residue abolished dye binding to and arsenite inhibition of IKKbeta. Overexpression of IKKbeta (C179A) protects NF-kappaB from inhibition by arsenite, indicating that despite the involvement of a large number of distinct gene products in this activation pathway, the critical target for inhibition by arsenite is on the IKK catalytic subunits.
Insight into the pathogenesis and nature of Central giant cell lesions of the jaws

Central giant cell lesions of the jaws are not uncommon. While the majority of these represent single, sporadic lesions, histologically identical lesions are seen in association with a number of other bone lesions, as well as in certain syndromes. This manuscript offers a brief update on recent developments in this area that provide new insight into the pathogenesis and nature of Central Giant Cell Lesions of the Jaws.
Negative Emotions and Risk for Type 2 Diabetes among Korean Immigrants

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to examine the relationship between negative emotions and bio-behavioral risk factors among Korean immigrants at risk for type 2 diabetes (T2DM).MethodsData were collected from 148 Korean immigrant adults who are “at risk” for T2DM as defined by having family history of T2DM in first degree relatives, body mass index greater than 23, or history of gestational diabetes in women. Participants completed questionnaires and underwent biological measures. Negative emotions included feeling nervous, hopeless, restless, anxious, and stressed as well as depressive symptoms.ResultsHigh percentages of participants had T2DM risk factors including overweight, greater than normal waist to hip ratio, and blood glucose readings that are indicative of T2DM. Feeling stressed was the most commonly reported negative emotion (66%), followed by feeling anxious (51%), restless (38%), nervous (30%), and hopeless (13%). Experience of negative emotions was significantly related to behavioral risk factors; higher levels of experiencing negative emotions were related to increased soda intake and a decreased likelihood of doing at least 10 minutes of moderate exercise. Stress and anxiety were each negatively related to moderate exercise and depressive symptoms were negatively related to both moderate and vigorous exercise. No significant relationship was found between negative emotions and biological risk factors.ConclusionsFindings suggest that negative emotions, individually and taken together, may be related to T2DM risk behaviors in high-risk Korean immigrants. Behavioral interventions to prevent T2DM in this population should consider assessing and addressing negative emotions.
Effects of pitch range variation on f0 extrema in an imitation task

A central issue in speech intonation research concerns how fundamental frequency (f0) variation relates to phonological categories. The hypothesis was tested that pitch range variation which affects whether one syllable is higher or lower than another would elicit categorical shifts in f0 extremum timing in an imitation task. Participants heard synthetic versions of the phrase Some lemonade with rising-falling or falling-rising intonation and flat f0 contours across le- and mo-. The f0 levels of le- and mo- were varied such that for half the stimuli, le- had a higher f0 than mo-, while the reverse was true for the remainder. Participants produced f0 peaks and valleys on syllables that had flat f0 in stimuli; extremum types (peaks or valleys) and their temporal alignments varied categorically with the relative f0 levels of le- and mo- in the stimuli. The results are discussed in terms of theories of intonational phonology. It is shown that an account of these results under autosegmental-metrical theory (e.g., Pierrehumbert, J. (1980). The phonology and phonetics of English intonation. Ph.D. dissertation, MIT, Cambridge, MA) requires positing additional constraints in phonetic models of f0. A revised version of the Pierrehumbert and Beckman [(1988). Japanese tone structure. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press] phonetic model is therefore proposed which assumes additional constraints on relative tone heights and strictly monotonic interpolation between tones.
Effects of Aldicarb and some other Nematicides on Growth of Sugar Beet in Heterodera schachtii-infested Soil

SUMMARY The vigour and yield of sugar beet grown on Heterodera schachtii-infested soils, with organic matter contents of 14 to 68 per cent, were increased by aldicarb granules applied in the seed furrow in field trials in eastern England in 1968 to 1970. Sugar yields were smallest on the most heavily infested sites; yield increases on plots treated with aldicarb were greatest at doses ranging from 11 to 31 oz active ingredient/ acre (770–2,170 g/ha), but increases were not enough to ensure a satisfactory crop. Post-crop numbers of cyst eelworm were not decreased by treatment. Other candidate nematicides - chlorfenvinphos, diazinon, fensulfothion, methomyl, ‘Neosar’, oxamyl, pirimiphos-methyl, ‘Prophos’, thionazin, RD 18502, C14421 and R17210-had no beneficial effect and several, especially at higher doses, were phytotoxic.
Surface-wave sensitivity to 3-D anelasticity

SUMMARY Lateral variations in mantle anelasticity (Q) are important for understanding the Earth's thermal and chemical structure in the mantle. In the past decades, preliminary global 3-D tomographic Q models have been developed based upon the assumption that traveltime (phase delay) anomalies are due to the Earth's elastic (velocity) structure whereas amplitude anomalies are dominated by 3-D anelastic (Q) structure. In this paper, we calculate the 3-D finite-frequency sensitivity of fundamental-mode surface-wave phase delays and amplitudes to perturbations in anelasticity (Q). Calculations of Q and velocity sensitivity kernels show that (1) roughly 15–20 per cent of observed phase delays in long-period surface waves can be explained by lateral variations in Q in the upper mantle; and (2) focusing and defocusing effects due to 3-D velocity structure account for a major portion of observed amplitude perturbations in long-period surface waves. The coupling between elastic and anelastic effects in both seismic traveltimes and amplitudes indicates that a joint inversion of 3-D velocity and 3-D Q structure accounting for both anelastic dispersion and associated focusing and defocusing effects is necessary in mapping lateral heterogeneities in the upper mantle.
Cranial dural arteriovenous fistulae: asymptomatic cortical venous drainage portends less aggressive clinical course.

Objective Cranial dural arteriovenous fistulae (dAVF) with cortical venous drainage (CVD) (Borden Types 2 and 3) are reported to carry a 15% annual risk of intracranial hemorrhage (ICH) or nonhemorrhagic neurological deficit (NHND). The purpose of this study was to compare the clinical course of Type 2 and 3 dAVFs that present with ICH or NHND with those that do not. Methods Twenty-eight patients with Type 2 or 3 dAVFs were retrospectively evaluated. CVD was classified as asymptomatic (aCVD) if patients presented incidentally or with pulsatile tinnitus or orbital phenomena. CVD was classified as symptomatic (sCVD) if patients presented with ICH or NHND. Occurrence of new ICH or new or worsening NHND between diagnosis and disconnection of CVD or last follow-up (if not disconnected) was noted. Overall frequency of events was compared using Fisher's exact test. Cumulative, event-free survival was compared using Kaplan-Meier analysis with log-rank testing. Results Of 17 patients with aCVD, 1 (5.9%) developed ICH and none experienced NHND or death during the median 31.4-month follow-up period. Of 11 patients with sCVD, 2 (18.2%) developed ICH and 3 (27.3%) experienced new or worsened NHND over the median 9.7-month follow-up period. One of these patients subsequently died. Overall frequency of ICH or NHND was significantly lower in patients with aCVD versus sCVD (P = 0.022). Respective annual event rates were 1.4 versus 19.0%. aCVD patients had significantly higher cumulative event-free survival (P = 0.0016). Conclusion Cranial dAVFs with aCVD may have a less aggressive clinical course than those with sCVD.
Human-robot team navigation in visually complex environments

Current fully autonomous robots are unable to navigate effectively in visually complex environments due to limitations in sensing and cognition. Full teleoperation using current interfaces is difficult and the operator often makes navigation mistakes due to lack of operating environment information and a limited field of view. We present a novel method for combining the sensing and cognition of a robot with that of a human. Our collaborative approach is different from most in that we address bi-directional considerations. It provides the human a mechanism to supplement the robot's capabilities in a new and unique way and provides novel forms of feedback from the robot to enhance the human's understanding of the current state of the system and its intentions.
The chemistry of organosilane/metal oxide interfaces: reaction of trimethoxysilane on MgO and SiO2 surfaces

Abstract The adsorption and reaction of trimethoxysilane (TMS) on MgO(100) and amorphous SiO 2 thin films were studied using temperature-programmed desorption, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and Auger electron spectroscopy. TMS dissociated on MgO(100) at temperatures below 200 K to form primarily adsorbed HSi(OCH 3 ) 2 and methoxy groups. For submonolayer coverages of TMS on MgO(100), the primary reaction pathway was recombination to produce gaseous TMS at 310 K. Small amounts of methanol, tetramethoxysilane and methane were also produced at 280, 380, and 540 K, respectively. For multilayer coverages on MgO(100). TMS formed a siloxane polymer upon adsorption. This polymeric species decomposed at 390 K producing gaseous organosilanes and amorphous silica. TMS was also found to adsorb dissociatively on amorphous SiO 2 thin films. Heating the TMS-dosed SiO 2 surface resulted in the formation of methanol at 180 K, dimethylether at 200 K, and trimethoxysilane at 290 K. Polymerization of TMS did not occur on the SiO 2 surface.
Testing Time Domain Passivity Control of Haptic Enabled Systems

One of the most important issues in haptic interface design is to achieve stable interaction between the haptic display and the virtual environment for any operating conditions and for any virtual environment parameters. Recently, Hannaford and Ryu [10,11,16] proposed an energy based method, whose components are termed the “Passivity Observer” (PO) and “Passivity Controller” (PC). Force and velocity are the key variables which define the nature of haptic contact. If the system has initial stored energy at t = 0 of E(0), we can use the following widely known definition of passivity.
Political Humiliation and Conversion

In this article, I explore political humiliation and its relation to conversion, as seen in the autobiographies of Malcolm X and Martin Luther King. In brief, I argue that before and during the time that Martin Luther King and Malcolm X lived, political structures, laws, policies, and programs gave rise to and supported social behaviors and communications of the dominant group that were aimed at humiliating a subjugated, marginalized group—African-Americans. These experiences of political humiliation served to motivate Malcolm X and Martin Luther King to make changes in their religious commitments and attitudes. I argue further that their conversions, while different in a number of ways, cannot simply be understood as religious acts. Rather, their conversions represent political-religious acts that involved a turning away from the individual and social political subjugation to acts of political resistance against the pervasive barrage of humiliations at the hands of whites. Their political-religious acts of resistance also included a redemptive telos, which was a quest for a present and future political, social, and religious realization of human dignity and freedom.
Addition of song‐related neurons in swamp sparrows coincides with memorization, not production, of learned songs

During song learning in birds, neurons are added to some song nuclei and lost from others. Previous studies have been unable to distinguish whether these neural changes are uniquely associated with memorizing a song model (sensory acquisition) or vocal practice (sensorimotor learning). In this study we measured changes in neuron number within song nuclei of swamp sparrows, a species in which the two phases of song learning are nonoverlapping. Male swamp sparrows were collected as hatchlings and tape-tutored from approximately 22 to 62 days of age. Swamp sparrows memorize about 60% of their song material during this period, but do not begin practicing this learned material until approximately 275 days of age. Birds were sacrificed at 23, 41, 61, 71, 274, or 340 days of age. During sensory acquisition, neuron number increased drastically in both the caudal nucleus of the ventral hyperstriatum (HVc) and Area X. The period of sensorimotor learning was not associated with any further changes in neuron number within these regions. We were unable to detect any significant changes in neuron number within the magnocellular nucleus of the neostriatum or the robust nucleus of the archistriatum during either stage of song learning. These results raise the possibility that ongoing addition of HVc and Area X neurons may encourage, and thereby temporally restrict, song acquisition.
Causes of primary graft failure after in situ saphenous vein bypass grafting

In situ saphenous vein bypass grafts originating in the groin were performed in 455 consecutive patients. Primary failure occurred in 92 grafts during follow-up, including 22 (4.8%) with nonocclusive stenosis and 70 (15.4%) with occlusion. The cause for failure could not be determined in seven grafts; 104 contributory causes were identified in the remaining 85 grafts. Among the 104 likely causes, 66 (63%) were intrinsic to the graft itself and contributed to failure of 55 (12.1%) of 455 grafts. These causes included perianastomotic stenosis (48), vein stricture (14), focal vein stenosis (10), valvulotome injury (9), kink (6), retained valve leaflet (4), intimal flap (3), and residual arteriovenous fistula (2). Among these intrinsic causes, 20 were directly related to the in situ technique, contributing to failure of 15 (3.3%) of 455 grafts. Thirty-eight (37%) of the 104 causes were extrinsic to the graft, including compromised inflow (2) or outflow (19), hypercoagulability (9), systemic hypotension (6), and graft sepsis (2). Hypothetically, improvements in technique, patient selection, and perioperative management might have eliminated 46 (44%) of 104 causes of primary graft failure. Delayed graft and anastomotic stenosis and late progression of outflow disease remain resistant to modern therapy.
Selective Precipitation of Proteins

Selective precipitation of proteins can be used as a bulk method to recover the majority of proteins from a crude lysate, as a selective method to fractionate a subset of proteins from a protein solution, or as a very specific method to recover a single protein of interest from a purification step. This unit describes a number of methods suitable for selective precipitation. In each of the protocols that are outlined, the physical or chemical basis of the precipitation process, the parameters that can be varied for optimization, and the basic steps for developing an optimized precipitation are described.
Talent Management: Conceptual Approaches and Practical Challenges

The challenges associated with managing talent in modern labor markets are a constant source of discussion among academics and practitioners, but the literature on the subject is sparse and has grown somewhat haphazardly. We provide an overview of the literature on talent management—a body of work that spans multiple disciplines—as well as a clear statement as to what defines talent management. The new themes in contemporary talent management focus on (a) the challenge of open labor markets, including issues of retention as well as the general challenge of managing uncertainty, (b) new models for moving employees across jobs within the same organization, and (c) strategic jobs for which investments in talent likely show the greatest return. We review the conceptual and practical literature on these topics, outline the evolution of talent management over time, and present new topics for future research.
Biological activities of 7-dehydrocholesterol-derived oxysterols: implications for Smith-Lemli-Opitz syndrome

Smith-Lemli-Opitz syndrome (SLOS) is a metabolic and developmental disorder caused by mutations in the gene encoding the enzyme 7-dehydrocholesterol reductase (Dhcr7). This reductase catalyzes the last step in cholesterol biosynthesis, and levels of 7-dehydrocholesterol (7-DHC), the substrate for this enzyme, are elevated in SLOS patients as a result of this defect. Our group has previously shown that 7-DHC is extremely prone to free radical autoxidation, and we identified about a dozen different oxysterols formed from oxidation of 7-DHC. We report here that 7-DHC-derived oxysterols reduce cell viability in a dose- and time-dependent manner, some of the compounds showing activity at sub-micromolar concentrations. The reduction of cell survival is caused by a combination of reduced proliferation and induced differentiation of the Neuro2a cells. The complex 7-DHC oxysterol mixture added to control Neuro2a cells also triggers the gene expression changes that were previously identified in Dhcr7-deficient Neuro2a cells. Based on the identification of overlapping gene expression changes in Dhcr7-deficient and 7-DHC oxysterol-treated Neuro2a cells, we hypothesize that some of the pathophysiological findings in the mouse SLOS model and SLOS patients might be due to accumulated 7-DHC oxysterols.
Automation for Operations

*The Automation for Operations (A4O) project, funded by NASA’s Exploration Technology Development Program (ETDP), develops advanced mission operations technology for Constellation, NASA’s plan to return to the Moon in response to the President’s Vision for Space Exploration (VSE). In order to meet the challenges, A4O has developed an evolvable mission operations architecture to automate the operations of manned space vehicles, unoccupied space vehicles, surface assets, and robotic systems. The architecture consists of a small number of modular, interoperable and reconfigurable components, clear component definitions, and interfaces for information exchange. The architecture is designed for the flexibility needed to respond to changing mission needs and improved components. The architecture is designed to offer a variety of configurable automation services, from decision support for human operators and crew, to complete automation of un-crewed or remote systems. The architecture also offers integrated verification and validation (V&V) services to reduce operational costs of revising operations procedures.
Research Note: Recent Chronologically Organized Reference Books Concerning Chinese Indigenous Theater (XIQU)

A recent phenomenon is the increasingly frequent appearance of reference books dealing with indigenous Chinese theater (xiqu 戲曲) that are arranged chronologically. This phenomenon probably relates ...
The relationship of protamine sulfate to nonspecific precipitin reactions in immunodiffusion.

Nonspecific precipitin arcs have been observed in 1% agarose double diffusion tests for Australia antigen (Au). The reactions were found to be due to a complexing of an additive (protamine sulfate) with human serum lipoprotein. It was also noted that heparin and Limulus polyphemus (horseshoe crab) serum formed dense arcs with 0.1 to 10% protamine sulfate. Heparin and Limulus polyphemus serum alone did not precipitate. Sensitivity of tests for particular Au antigen was not reduced by deleting protamine sulfate as an additive.
Studies on the Inability of Rhinovirus to Survive and Replicate in The Intestinal Tract of Volunteers

SummaryFollowing intranasal inoculation with rhinovirus NIH 1059, 9 of 9 volunteers developed a respiratory infection and 7 of 9 had illness ranging from mild rhinitis to febrile upper respiratory tract disease. Only 1 of many stool and rectal swab specimens from these men yielded rhinovirus. No detectable intestinal infection occurred in 3 volunteers who received NIH 1059 in enteric-coated capsules, nor in 5 volunteers inoculated directly into the duodenal lumen via Rehfuss small intestinal tube. Effects of gasitric and duodenal secretions, trypsin, and body temperature (37°C) on growth and survival of NIH 1059 were tested in vitro, and their role in preventing intestinal infection and excretion of rhinoviruses evaluated.Gratitude is expressed to the following: Miss Joan C. Enterline, Mr. Holly Smith, and Mr. Leonard P. Durocher, for technical assistance; Mr. Franklyn Gray, Assistance Supervisor, Normal Volunteer Program, Clinical Center, National Institutes of Health, and officials of the Bureau of Pris...
Genic Evolution, Historical Biogeography, and Systematic Relationships Among Spiny Pocket Mice (Subfamily Heteromyinae)

Protein variation at 30 presumptive gene loci was examined among 36 populations comprising all species of spiny pocket mice (subfamily Heteromyinae). The bulk of between-sample genic variation involved fixed allelic differences. A distance-Wagner tree divided the heteromyines into two groups, one formed by Heteromys gaumeri and the other composed of all remaining taxa. Within this latter group, species of Heteromys comprising the anomalus species group were genically most similar to members of the genus Liomys . A consensus distance-Wagner tree constructed by use of the jackknifing approach yielded eight unresolved lineages of heteromyines. Genic data support the monophyly of heteromyines relative to other heteromyid rodents, but do not support monophyly of Heteromys and Liomys . Allozyme data were mostly concordant with karyotypic data, but failed to support recent taxonomies based on morphological characters regarding interspecific relationships among species of Heteromys . Genic and karyotypic data indicate that H. desmarestianus is divisible into two moieties in southern Mexico, H. goldmani is not differentiated from geographically adjacent populations of H. desmarestianus , and H. oresterus is not closely allied with H. nelsoni . Based on allozyme data, H. anomalus and H. australis are not closely related. Affinities among species of Liomys derived from allozyme data were in agreement with those based on morphological and chromosomal information, but indicate that L. pictus , as currently constituted, is paraphyletic. The amount of genic divergence within Heteromys from South America most likely precludes the generally accepted view of a recent invasion of South America by these mice.
"The Will to Believe": A Centennial Reflection

IN 1896 WILLIAM JAMES delivered an address entitled "The Will to Believe" before the Philosophical Clubs of Yale and Brown universities. When published later that year along with several other essays on closely related themes, this article became the most famous of James's many philosophical writings and laid the cornerstone of his developing pragmatist outlook. It also became one of the most controversial essays in the history of the philosophical study of religion. Even now, a century later, James's defense of the philosophical legitimacy of religious belief deserves close examination by any serious student of religion. Of the ten essays comprising The Will to Believe volume, four bear directly on the philosophical justification of religious belief: "Reflex Action and Theism" (first published in 1881), "The Sentiment of Rationality (portions first written in 1879 and 1882), "Is Life Worth Living?" (1895), and the title essay "The Will to Believe." The principal theme of these "will to believe" essays is that philosophical criticisms of religion typically utilize notions of rationality that are neither biologically nor psychologically defensible. James relentlessly attacked the pretensions of those who assumed that reason, at its best, was somehow severed from our willing, passional, striving tendencies. According to James, all ideas and all constructions of truth are forged in the service of one or another of our passional tendencies. As early as 1878 in a critique of claims for "scientific objectivity," James had advanced the rather radical thesis that
Surveillance of AIDS Among Female Sex Workers in Chengdu,2011

Objectives To analyze the results of HIV sentinel surveillance among Chengdu female sex workers(FSWs) in 2011,and to explore the risk factors for effective preventive measures.Methods Questionnaires,accompany with HIV and syphilis test,were applied to collect demography and behavior information,though which to comprehend the infected situation and to analyze the risk factors with the single χ2 test.Results Totally 801 FSWs were surveyed,with the HIV incidence of 0.12% and syphilis incidence of 3.12%.The awareness rate of HIV related knowledge was 89.26%.The condom usage rate in the latest intercourse was 80.52%,while the consistently usage rate was 53.18% though the last month.Conclusion The HIV infectious rate is relatively low among FSWs in Chengdu;nevertheless,the condom consistent usage rate is to be elevated.
Superacid-promoted synthesis of polychlorinated dibenzofurans

Abstract Polychlorinated dibenzofurans have been prepared in one step by the condensations of o -chloranil with arenes in triflic acid. A mechanism is proposed involving formation of a monoprotonated quinone (carboxonium ion), electrophilic attack at the arene, and cyclization of a carbocation intermediate. The chemistry is further examined by spectroscopic and theoretical studies.
New rules for audits of partnership returns

Effective for audits of partnership returns beginning after 2017, the IRS will use a centralized audit system that requires partnership adjustments to be determined at the partnership level and any tax attributable to the adjustments to be assessed and collected at the partnership level. These new rules allow for a small-partnership opt-out and an elective alternative to “push out” the audit adjustments made and tax paid to the partners. The audit process will be streamlined by limiting the right to notices and participation in the audit to one “partnership representative.” This article presents the new rules and existing guidance that consists of a report by the Joint Committee on Taxation and temporary regulations on an early opt-in to the rules prior to their effective date.
Patients' Attitudes Regarding Lung Cancer Screening and Decision Aids. A Survey and Focus Group Study.

Rationale: Little is known about vulnerable patients’ perceptions and understanding of, and preferences for, lung cancer screening decision aids.Objectives: To determine, in a low-income, racially diverse population, (1) participants’ experience, preferences, and reactions to web-based and paper decision aids, and (2) their understanding of harms and benefits of lung cancer screening.Methods: We enrolled outpatients at an urban county hospital in six focus group discussions that included review of a web-based and a paper-based lung-cancer screening decision aid. Participants completed surveys before and after the focus groups.Measurements and Main Results: Forty-five patients participated (mean age, 61 yr; 76% current smokers; 24% former smokers); 27% had not completed high school; 50% had an annual income not exceeding $15,000; 42% were nonwhite; and 96% reported chronic illness requiring at least three health care visits yearly. Comparing the proportion with correct answers on pre- and postsurveys, part...
Impact of competitive strategy and cost-focus on global supplier switching (reshore and relocation) decisions

AbstractThis study analyzes how global supplier switching decisions (reshore and relocate) are influenced by the buyers’ cost-focus and competitive strategies. Comprehensive survey data were gathered from US textile and apparel industry. The analysis revealed that the buyers with distinct competitive strategies such as Made-in-USA, speed-to-market are likely to have significantly higher proportions of reshoring activities. Furthermore, large companies and retailers are shown to be more cost-focused than small and manufacturing companies, respectively. Finally, cost-focused companies are shown to be more likely to switch their international suppliers. By analyzing the buyer side of supplier-switching and identifying the common features of companies engaging in reshoring or relocation, our analysis enables us to better interpret international supplier-switching. While other studies have regarded the superior performance of the prospective supplier or the external issues as the main factors, we emphasize the...
Single Unit Red Blood Cell Transfusion Is a Safe and Effective Alternative to Double Unit Transfusion in Hematologic Malignancies

Abstract Introduction Blood products are a valuable resource associated with infectious and immunological adverse effects, hence the ongoing efforts for blood conservation. Evidence supports the use of restrictive Hemoglobin (Hb) triggers as safe and effective. Nevertheless, transfusion practice remains based largely on physician preference. The use of single-unit (SU) rather than double-unit (DU) transfusions per transfusion episode may be another strategy. Scant retrospective data from the 1960's discarded this idea as being ineffective in treating anemia.A recent European study demonstrated that using a SU transfusion protocol led to a 25% reduction in red blood cell usage amongst patients with hematologic malignancies(Berger et al; Haematologica, 2012). There have been no comparative studies done in the US population outside the orthopedic population which yielded similar benefit (Ma et al; Transfusion Medicine, 2005). Clinical Decision Support Systems (CDSS) are protocols shown to be effective in standardizing practice. At our academic institution, a CDSS was initiated for admissions to the Malignant Hematology and Transplantation Service. From September 2014, a protocol amendment prompted providers to order SU red blood cells (RBCs) for transfusion for Hb Methods Retrospective chart review was performed on all adult patients admitted to the Malignant Hematology and Transplantation Service who received routine RBC transfusions from 9/1/2013- 8/31/2014 (DU-gp) and 9/1/2014 to 8/31/2015 (SU-gp). Patients with active bleeding were excluded. The primary endpoint for this study was median RBC units transfused per admission. Analysis was limited to RBC products only. Chi-square test and t-test were used in the data analysis for categorical variables and continuous variables, respectively. A mixed model was used for repeated measurements. Results 147 patients in 201 admissions in DU-gp and 126 patients in 170 admissions in SU-gp were analyzed. Baseline characteristics are presented in Table 1 with no significant differences noted between groups. Excellent adherence to the CDSS protocol was noted in both the DU (97%) and SU (92%) groups. Baseline admission Hb was similar, but Hb at discharge was significantly higher in DU-gp 9.4 g/dL vs 8.8 g/dL in SU-gp (P=0.005). The median number of transfusion episodes (each time RBC orders were placed) per admission in the DU-gp and SU-gp was 2 (range, 1-16) and 3 (range, 1-27), respectively (P Conclusions Our data show that implementing a CDSS, transfusing single-unit RBCs instead of double-units for Hb Download : Download high-res image (148KB) Download : Download full-size image Download : Download high-res image (129KB) Download : Download full-size image Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.
Patient-centered outcomes of breast reconstruction in the setting of post-mastectomy radiotherapy: A comprehensive review of the literature

Summary Background The impact of post-mastectomy radiotherapy (PMRT) on patient-centered outcomes of breast reconstruction remains unclear. This comprehensive review aims to consolidate the available data regarding aesthetic outcomes, patient satisfaction, and the BREAST-Q © following breast reconstruction in the setting of PMRT to facilitate the informed consent and shared decision-making process. Materials and methods A systematic search of the literature published from 2000 to 2016 in the PubMed/MEDLINE database was performed to identify all manuscripts reporting aesthetic outcome, patient satisfaction, or BREAST-Q © scores of patients undergoing PMRT and breast reconstruction. Results The initial search identified 1604 potential titles. Ultimately, 29 manuscripts fit inclusion criteria and were included in this review. A total of 21 studies reported measures of aesthetic outcomes (1611 patients). Positive aesthetic outcomes ("good" or "better") widely varied in patients with prosthetic reconstruction and ranged from 36% to 100%. In addition, positive aesthetic outcomes following autologous reconstruction ranged from 70% to 90%. Measures of patient satisfaction were evaluated in eight studies (722 patients). Satisfaction rates ranged from 41% to 90% following prosthetic reconstruction and 74%–75% following autologous reconstruction. BREAST-Q © findings were reported in four studies (575 patients), all evaluating outcomes following prosthetic reconstruction. The range of satisfaction with breasts was 48.9–57.2; satisfaction with outcome, 63.8–70.2; psychosocial well-being, 63.9–72.3; sexual well-being, 45.4–55.4; and physical well-being, 71.7–75.1. Conclusions Breast reconstruction in the setting of PMRT is associated with poorer outcomes. However, the majority of studies indicate that acceptable rates of positive aesthetic outcomes and patient satisfaction can be achieved in the setting of PMRT.
High Levels of Cotton Pollen Collection Observed for Honey Bees (Hymenoptera: Apidae) in South-Central Louisiana

Honey bees, Apis mellifera L., typically reject pollen of upland cotton, Gossypium hirsutum L., as a resource. This study evaluated the potential of stimulating bees for enhanced pollen collection ...
Elasticity and failure of liquid marbles: influence of particle coating and marble volume

When coated with microscale hydrophobic particles, macroscopic liquid droplets can become non-wetting liquid marbles that exhibit an array of fascinating solid-like properties. Specifically, the force required to uniaxially compress liquid marbles depends on their volume, but it is unclear if the particle coating plays a role. In contrast, the failure of marbles upon compression does depend on the particle coating, but the conditions for failure do not appear to change with marble volume. Here, we experimentally study the elastic deformation and failure of liquid marbles and, by applying a doubly truncated oblate spheroid model to quantify their surface area, explore the role of marble volume and particle composition. First, we find that the work required to compress liquid marbles agrees with the product of the core fluid surface tension and the change in the marble surface area, validating that the elastic mechanics of liquid marbles is independent of the particle coating. Next, we study marble failure by measuring their ductility as quantified by the maximum fractional increase in marble surface area prior to rupture. Not only does marble ductility depend on the particle coating, but it also depends on marble volume with smaller marbles being more ductile. This size effect is attributed to an interaction between marble curvature and particle rafts held together by interparticle forces. These results illuminate new avenues to tailor the rupture of liquid marbles for applications spanning smart fluid handling and pollution mitigation.
Hidden complexities in the reaction of H2O2 and HNO revealed by ab initio quantum chemical investigations

Nitroxyl (HNO) and hydrogen peroxide have both been implicated in a variety of reactions relevant to environmental and physiological processes and may contribute to a unique, unexplored, pathway for the production of nitrous acid (HONO) in soil. To investigate the potential for this reaction, we report an in-depth investigation of the reaction pathway of H2O2 and HNO forming HONO and water. We find the breaking of the peroxide bond and a coupled proton transfer in the first step leads to hydrogen nitryl (HNO2) and an endogenous water, with an extrapolated NEVPT2 (multireference perturbation theory) barrier of 29.3 kcal mol-1. The first transition state is shown to possess diradical character linking the far peroxide oxygen to the bridging, reacting, peroxide oxygen. The energy of this first step, when calculated using hybrid density functional theory, is shown to depend heavily on the amount of Hartree-Fock exchange in the functional, with higher amounts leading to a higher barrier and more diradical character. Additionally, high amounts of spin contamination cause CCSD(T) to significantly overestimate the TS1 barrier with a value of 36.2 kcal mol-1 when using the stable UHF wavefunction as the reference wavefunction. However, when using the restricted Hartree-Fock reference wavefunction, the TS1 CCSD(T) energy is lowered to yield a barrier of 31.2 kcal mol-1, in much better agreement with the NEVPT2 result. The second step in the reaction is the isomerization of HNO2 to trans-HONO through a Grotthuss-like mechanism accepting a proton from and donating a proton to the endogenous water. This new mechanism for the isomerization of HNO2 is shown to have an NEVPT2 barrier of 23.3 kcal mol-1, much lower than previous unimolecular estimates not including an explicit water. Finally, inclusion of an additional explicit water is shown to lower the HNO2 isomerization barrier even further.
Nebivolol, But Not Metoprolol, Treatment Improves Endothelial Fibrinolytic Capacity in Adults With Elevated Blood Pressure

BackgroundVascular endothelial fibrinolytic function is impaired in adults with prehypertension and hypertension and plays a mechanistic role in the development of atherothrombotic events. The infl...
Coloring Jupiter's clouds: Radiolysis of ammonium hydrosulfide (NH4SH)

Abstract Here we present our recent studies on the color and spectral reflectance changes induced by ∼0.9 MeV proton irradiation of ammonium hydrosulfide, NH4SH, a compound predicted to be an important tropospheric cloud component of Jupiter and other giant planets. Ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy was used to observe and identify reaction products in the ice sample and digital photography was used to document the corresponding color changes at 10–160 K. Our experiments clearly show that the resulting color of the sample depends not only on the irradiation dose but also the irradiation temperature. Furthermore, unlike in our most recent studies of irradiation of NH4SH at 120 K, which showed that higher irradiation doses caused the sample to appear green, the lower temperature studies now show that the sample becomes red after irradiation. However, comparison of these lower temperature spectra over the entire spectral range observed by HST shows that even though the color and spectrum resemble the color and spectrum of the GRS, there is still enough difference to suggest that another component may be needed to adequately fit spectra of the GRS and other red regions of Jupiter's clouds. Regardless, the presence of NH4SH in the atmosphere of Jupiter and other gas giants, combined with this compound's clear alteration via radiolysis, suggests that its contribution to the ultraviolet-visible spectra of any of these object's clouds is significant.
Chapter 12 Drug Delivery Applications

Publisher Summary Liposomes have become an attractive vehicle to target drugs to a specific site. The rationale is to prepare liposomes that are stable and targetable but that will readily destabilize upon reaching the desired target and release their contents. It is assumed that this targeted drug delivery would result in drug being concentrated at the desired location and reduce unwanted toxicity to other areas of the body. One of the principle ingredients in these targetable liposomes is a phospholipid that can exist in a stable bilayer as well as a nonbilayer structure to disrupt the liposome structure. Because of the fine balance between stability and instability of liposomes containing dioleoylphosphatidylethanolamine (DOPE), many researchers have been able to produce a stable liposomal delivery system that can destabilize upon demand. This is done by understanding and controlling the transformation of DOPE from the lamellar phase to the hexagonal phase. Nonbilayer-forming phospholipids have been shown to be excellent candidates for drug delivery and drug targeting. As more research is performed and the destabilizing transitions are better understood and controlled, it can be expected that nonbilayer-forming lipids may play an increasing role in the field of liposome research.
Emotional feeding as interpersonal emotion regulation: A developmental risk factor for binge-eating behaviors

Emotional feeding is an interpersonal emotion regulation strategy wherein people provide food to others as a means of influencing the recipient's emotional response. Parental emotional feeding has been linked to higher levels of emotional eating in children and adolescents using cross-sectional, retrospective, and prospective designs; however, there is little research on emotional feeding as a developmental risk factor for emotional eating and binge-eating behaviors in adolescence and adulthood. This Idea Worth Researching article explores the rationale for studying emotional feeding as a lifespan construct and its potential implications for understanding eating disorder pathology. Specifically, it offers suggestions for examining emotional feeding as a predictor of emotional eating and binge-eating behavior across the lifespan, assessing potential intergenerational transmission pathways, and researching similarities in feeding styles and emotional eating across a variety of relationships beyond the parent-child dyad.
Knowledge and Blameworthiness.

Blameworthiness of an agent or a coalition of agents is often defined in terms of the principle of alternative possibilities: for the coalition to be responsible for an outcome, the outcome must take place and the coalition should have had a strategy to prevent it. In this article we argue that in the settings with imperfect information, not only should the coalition have had a strategy, but it also should have known that it had a strategy, and it should have known what the strategy was. The main technical result of the article is a sound and complete bimodal logic that describes the interplay between knowledge and blameworthiness in strategic games with imperfect information.
Single-Conformation Spectroscopy of Capped Aminoisobutyric Acid Dipeptides: The Effect of C-Terminal Cap Chromophores on Conformation

Aminoisobutyric acid (Aib) oligomers are known to form racemic mixtures of enantiomeric left- and right-handed structures. The introduction of a chiral cap converts the enantiomeric structures into diastereomers that, in principle, afford spectroscopic differentiation. Here, we screen different C-terminal caps based on a model Aib dipeptide using double resonance laser spectroscopy in the gas phase to record IR and UV spectra of individual conformations present in the supersonic expansion: NH-benzyl (NHBn) as a reference structure because of its common use as a fluorophore in similar studies, NH- p-fluorobenzyl (NHBn-F), and α-methylbenzylamine (AMBA). For both the NHBn and NHBn-F caps, a single conformer is observed, with infrared spectra assignable to an enantiomeric pair of type II/II' β-turns in these molecules lacking a chiral center. The higher oscillator strength of the NHBn-F cap enabled UV-UV hole burning, not readily accomplished with the NHBn cap. The AMBA-capped structure, with its chiral center, produced two unique conformers, one of which was a nearly identical left-handed type II β-turn, while the minor conformer is assigned to a C7-C7 sequential double ring, which is an emergent form of a 27-ribbon. Although not observed, the type II' β-turn diastereomer, with opposite handedness, is calculated to be 11 kJ/mol higher in energy, a surprisingly large difference. This destabilization is attributed primarily to steric interference between the C-terminal acyl oxygen of the peptide and the chirality-inducing methyl of the AMBA group. Last, computational evidence indicates that the use of an N-terminal aromatic cap hinders the formation of a 310-helix in Ac-Aib2 dipeptides.
Exploring the Effects of Class-Specific Augmentation and Class Coalescence on Deep Neural Network Performance Using a Novel Road Feature Dataset

The identification of nodal road network features in remote sensing imagery is an important object detection task due to its versatility of application. A successful capability enables urban sprawl tracking, automatic or semi-automated map accuracy validation and updating, and macro-scale infrastructure damage evaluation and tracking just to name a few. We have curated a custom, novel dataset that includes nodal road network features such as bridges, cul-de-sacs, freeway exchanges and exits, freeway overpasses, intersections, and traffic circles. From this curated data we have evaluated the use of deep machine learning for object recognition across two variations in this image dataset. These variations are expanded versus semantically coalesced classes. We have evaluated the performance of two deep convolutional neural networks, ResNet50 and Xception, to detect these features across these variations of the image datasets. We have also explored the use of class-specific data augmentation to improve the performance of the models trained for nodal road network feature detection. Cross-validation performance of the models evaluated on four variations of this nodal road network feature dataset range from 0.81 to 0.96 (F1 scores). Coalescing highly specific, semantically challenging classes into more semantically generalized classes has a significant impact on the accuracy of the models. Our analysis provides insight into if and how these techniques can improve the performance of machine learning models, facilitating application to broad area imagery analysis in numerous application domains.