cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Characterizing Gaseous Flow in Submicron Chromatography Columns

Enormous interest exists to develop the next generation of an integrated microsystem for chemical and biological analysis (μChemLab™) and to further reduce the volume of the system. One approach is to scale down the size of critical components and to explore any pumping mechanism that can minimize the power requirement. Since the majority of the pumping requirement is to overcome the wall resistance in the gas chromatography (GC) column, our attention is to study the gas flow in this GC column. As the column dimension decreases, the gaseous flow will go from a continuum regime into a non-continuum regime; i.e., slip, transition, and free molecular regimes. Thus it is very important to well characterize the gaseous flow in submicron columns and to understand its flow behavior. Specifically, in this study, our focus is to investigate the effects of viscosity, rarefaction, and compressibility as the column dimension decreases. Both theoretical predictions and experimental results will be presented.Copyright © 2003 by ASME
The Enzyme-Linked Antiglobulin Test

The enzyme-linked antiglobulin test uses red blood cells sensitized with IgG (primary antibody) either in vivo (direct test) or in vitro (indirect test) and an enzyme linked to anti-human IgG (secondary antibody). After the addition of a substrate, the color change, which correlates with the quantity of antibody bound to red cells, is measured with a spectrophotometer. Data generated by numerous workers suggests that the enzyme-linked antiglobulin test is both sensitive and reproducible. This technique has the advantage of being objective and quantitative as compared with conventional serologic techniques used in immunohematology. In addition, the technology used in the enzyme-linked antiglobulin test may have potential applications in an automated system.
Salt-Sensitive Hypertension: Can We Convert Salt-Sensitive State to a Salt- Resistant One?

Hypertension is a complex condition and a full understanding of its pathophysiology is unsatisfactory. It’s often considered to be a state of too much salt or too much renin, with overlap between these two mechanisms possible
Modeling innate immunity in murine skin: utilization of subcutaneous osmotic pumps for inflammatory and fibrotic skin disease.

Abstract Current models for systemic sclerosis have many limitations for mimicking human disease. We have recently described a novel model based on chronic stimulation of skin by poly(I:C), a form of double-stranded RNA known to stimulate innate immune responses. This model shows inflammation and extracellular matrix deposition, and upregulated expression of genes associated with fibrosis and vascular injury. We detail here the methodology for this model, utilizing osmotic pumps to deliver innate immune stimuli to subcutaneous tissue. Subcutaneous osmotic pumps provide a flexible system for studying innate immunity in the skin as well as the affects of other ligands on skin inflammation and fibrosis.
Analysis of an Excessive Partial Discharge Due to the Vice of the End Shield for a 220kV Transformer

A case of on-site excessive partial discharge of a 220kV transformer due to the fault of bushing tap is introduced.The effect of open circuit of bushing tap on the partial discharge test is analyzed.The basic characteristic of this kind of default is concluded,which is important for the suppression of this kind of fault and to ensure the safe and stable operation of power equipment in the future.
Limb Contractures in Progressive Neuromuscular Disease and the Role of Stretching, Orthotics, and Surgery

Contractures are exceedingly common impairments in selected progressive NMD conditions, particularly those with excessive fibrosis and fatty infiltration into muscle (i.e., dystrophic myopathies) and more severe NMD conditions, resulting in significant weakness and wheel-chair reliance, such as SMA. Less than antigravity strength produces an inability to achieve full active range of motion. Static positioning of limbs (generally in flexion) and lack of weight bearing results in fixed contractures. This article has reviewed the prevalence and distribution of contractures in specific NMD conditions. Aggressive rehabilitation strategies, including stretching, positioning, splinting, upright weight bearing, and orthopaedic surgical management may help minimize the degree of disability in NMD patients with contractures.
Necrotizing enterocolitis in infancy.

This article reviews necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC), the most common gastrointestinal emergency in the newborn. Factors responsible for NEC include intestinal ischemia, bacterial overgrowth, and especially, permaturity and enteral feedings. The precise timing of and indications for surgery are unsettled but overall mortality remains at 20% to 40%.
Evil and Good

The account that has been given of the relationships that derive from Mitsein may have made it sound as though they ensured a level of harmony and mutual respect of which, unfortunately, human history shows little trace. If that has happened, this chapter should put things in a more realistic perspective. Mitsein , after all, is not, in the first instance, an ideal; it is an ontological condition – what Heidegger calls an existentiale – and as such its reality cannot simply be abrogated by a violation of whatever normative requirements may turn out to be implicit in it. To put it in a different way, Mitsein is not just the form of our lives insofar as they conform to some ethical standard; it is a necessary condition for wrongdoing and evil as well. This means that the concept of Mitsein must be shown to enable us to give an account of these negative realities of the moral life. The basis for such an account has already been laid. What is fundamentally unjustifiable and therefore wrong is to deny our distinctively human commonality with one another by treating someone as though he or she were not a partner in Mitsein and had no claim to any consideration in decisions we make about how to act.
Comparison of holographic lens and filter systems for lateral spectrum splitting

Spectrum splitting is an approach to increasing the conversion efficiency of a photovoltaic (PV) system. Several methods can be used to perform this function which requires efficient spatial separation of different spectral bands of the incident solar radiation. In this paper several of holographic methods for implementing spectrum splitting are reviewed along with the benefits and disadvantages associated with each approach. The review indicates that a volume holographic lens has many advantages for spectrum splitting in terms of both power conversion efficiency and energy yield. A specific design for a volume holographic spectrum splitting lens is discussed for use with high bandgap InGaP and low bandgap silicon PV cells. The holographic lenses are modeled using rigorous coupled wave analysis, and the optical efficiency is evaluated using non-sequential raytracing. A proof-of-concept off-axis holographic lens is also recorded in dichromated gelatin film and the spectral diffraction efficiency of the hologram is measured with multiple laser sources across the diffracted spectral band. The experimental volume holographic lens (VHL) characteristics are compared to an ideal spectrum splitting filter in terms of power conversion efficiency and energy yield in environments with high direct normal incidence (DNI) illumination and high levels of diffuse illumination. The results show that the experimental VHL can achieve 62.5% of the ideal filter power conversion efficiency, 64.8% of the ideal filter DNI environment energy yield, and 57.7% of the ideal diffuse environment energy yield performance.
Carbonic Anhydrase IX: Biology and Clinical Approaches

CAIX (carbonic anhydrase IX) is a member of the CA family of proteins and its expression is related to hypoxia. Expression observed in a wide variety of tumors is associated with poor histologic features and is an independent predictor of poor disease-specific survival in different malignancies. In clear cell renal cell carcinoma (RCC), its expression is related to alterations in the vhl gene. The majority of clear cell tumors demonstrate diffuse membrane expression of CAIX. Low CAIX expression in metastatic patients is a strong independent predictor of poor outcome. Response to (interleukin-2) IL-2-based systemic therapy appears to be associated with high CAIX expression. As CAIX is the best and most powerful diagnostic and predictor marker for clear cell RCC, those patients with clinico-pathologic predictors of response and high CAIX expression should be offered first-line IL-2 therapy.
Techniques for precise energy calibration of particle pixel detectors

We demonstrate techniques to improve the accuracy of the energy calibration of Timepix pixel detectors, used for the measurement of energetic particles. The typical signal from such particles spreads among many pixels due to charge sharing effects. As a consequence, the deposited energy in each pixel cannot be reconstructed unless the detector is calibrated, limiting the usability of such signals for calibration. To avoid this shortcoming, we calibrate using low energy X-rays. However, charge sharing effects still occur, resulting in part of the energy being deposited in adjacent pixels and possibly lost. This systematic error in the calibration process results in an error of about 5% in the energy measurements of calibrated devices. We use FLUKA simulations to assess the magnitude of charge sharing effects, allowing a corrected energy calibration to be performed on several Timepix pixel detectors and resulting in substantial improvement in energy deposition measurements. Next, we address shortcomings in calibration associated with the huge range (from kiloelectron-volts to megaelectron-volts) of energy deposited per pixel which result in a nonlinear energy response over the full range. We introduce a new method to characterize the non-linear response of the Timepix detectors at high input energies. We demonstrate improvement using a broad range of particle types and energies, showing that the new method reduces the energy measurement errors, in some cases by more than 90%.
The evaluation of the urban parks in Konya province in terms of quality, sufficiency, maintenance, and growth rate

Nowadays, the understanding of physically, socially, and visually sufficient and high-standard outdoor arrangements has begun to appear. The most important ones among this kind of spaces are urban parks which contain many recreational opportunities and facilities together. The aim of this study is to identify the current situation of the urban parks in Konya province and the facilities in the parks in terms of quality, sufficiency, growth rate, and maintenance. The second purpose of the study is to obtain information about the park users' evaluations of the park officers within the context of park visits and information sources of the users related to the parks. Within the context of the study, the questionnaires were conducted by face-to-face interviews with 494 park users. The urban parks in Konya province were evaluated by the park users in terms of quality, sufficiency, maintenance, and growth rate criteria. While 44.1% of the users evaluated the parks as "good" in terms of quality, 4.7% of the users stated that the quality of the parks was "bad." Considering the sufficiency of the urban parks, the findings represent that majority of the users identified the parks as sufficient and 27.9% of them identified insufficient. 44.1% of the users stated that the parks were well maintained and 10.1% considered the parks were badly maintained. The growth rate of the urban parks in Konya was described as "fast" by 48.6% of the users and as "normal" by 29.8% of the users.
Significance of Hemodynamic and Heart Rate Variability in the Acute phase of Spontaneous Intra-Cerebral Hemorrhage (P3.094)

OBJECTIVE: We hypothesize that increase hemodynamic and Heart rate variability in the acute phase of spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage (sICH) is associated with worst outcome despite targeted blood pressure control. BACKGROUND: Systolic Blood pressure guided management of sICH has been demonstrated to be safe and feasible. Inadequate cerebral auto-regulation results in perilesional ischemia resulting to secondary injury. METHODS: Retrospective review of patients with sICH admitted from June 2010-2011 at the Neuro-critical care unit of the University Hospital. Clinical data were compared in patients with or without 30 day mortality including Blood Pressure and Heart rate variability. Non-parametric bivariate analysis and logistic regression with a level of significance of p < 0.05 was used. RESULTS: In 80 patients (mean age 69, 47.5[percnt] males), 61[percnt] were hypertensive and 18.75[percnt] were taking anticoagulation. All patients met an SBP<140mmHg target within 24 hours. In 29 patients (36.3[percnt]) who had 30 days mortality, a higher ICH score at admission (2.9 vs 1 p < 0.001), higher variability in the first 24 hours for systolic blood pressure (1041.5 vs 666.5 p = 0.021), diastolic blood pressure (384.7 vs 249.8 p=0.01), MAP (2743 vs 1732.6 p=0.014) and heart rate (254.6 vs. 121.4 p=0.004) were observed. On logistic regression, ICH score on admission is an independent predictor for mortality regardless of the hemodynamic and heart rate variability. CONCLUSIONS: A higher ICH score on admission strongly influences outcome of patients. There was a trend of higher hemodynamic and Heart rate variability for worst outcome. A smoother control of hemodynamics and Heart rate may reduce secondary injury in the acute phase. A Small population size, and withdrawal of care are the limitations of this study. Disclosure: Dr. Mendoza has nothing to disclose. Dr. Sharma has nothing to disclose. Dr. Latorre has nothing to disclose.
Interdisciplinary Management of Pediatric Obesity: Lessons Learned in the Midsouth:

The Healthy Lifestyle Clinic (HLC) is an interdisciplinary weight management clinic conceived to address alarming rates of pediatric obesity and related comorbidities in the midsouth region of the United States. The clinical cohort presented is a subset of the 609 patients evaluated during the first 2 years of the HLC and comprises 380 patients with a minimum of 6 months of follow-up. The primarily non-Hispanic black (67.1%) cohort presented with severe obesity ( MzBMI = 2.52 ± 0.41) and particularly high rates of insulin resistance, among other comorbidities. This article offers insight into the challenges of intervening with a cohort of youth and their families, many with limited resources to support intensive behavioral and lifestyle changes. Our experiences implementing a weight management clinic with a diverse clinical cohort provide guidance for emerging programs and impetus to investigate environmental and cultural factors that contribute to high attrition in the treatment of pediatric obesity.
Using Social Stories with Students with Social, Emotional, And Behavioral Disabilities: The Promise and the Perils

Social skills are necessary for success in school as they facilitate peer acceptance and student-teacher relationships and promote academic achievement. One social skills intervention that has rece...
Probing Intermolecular Vibrational Symmetry Breaking in Self-Assembled Monolayers with Ultrahigh Vacuum Tip-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy.

Ultrahigh vacuum tip-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (UHV-TERS) combines the atomic-scale imaging capability of scanning probe microscopy with the single-molecule chemical sensitivity and structural specificity of surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy. Here, we use these techniques in combination with theory to reveal insights into the influence of intermolecular interactions on the vibrational spectra of a N-N′-bis(2,6-diisopropylphenyl)-perylene-3,4:9,10-bis(dicarboximide) (PDI) self-assembled monolayer adsorbed on single-crystal Ag substrates at room temperature. In particular, we have revealed the lifting of a vibrational degeneracy of a mode of PDI on Ag(111) and Ag(100) surfaces, with the most strongly perturbed mode being that associated with the largest vibrational amplitude on the periphery of the molecule. This work demonstrates that UHV-TERS enables direct measurement of molecule–molecule interaction at nanoscale. We anticipate that this information will advance the fundamental understanding of the m...
CBT for Pediatric Migraine: A Qualitative Study of Patient and Parent Experience

Objective The goal of this study was to determine which cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT-HA) treatment components pediatric headache patient stakeholders would report to be most helpful and essential to reducing headache frequency and related disability to develop a streamlined, less burdensome treatment package that would be more accessible to patients and families. Background Pediatric migraine is a prevalent and disabling condition. CBT-HA has been shown to reduce headache frequency and related disability, but may not be readily available or accepted by many migraine sufferers due to treatment burden entailed. Research is needed to determine systematic ways of reducing barriers to CBT-HA. Methods Qualitative interviews were conducted with 10 patients and 9 of their parents who had undergone CBT-HA. Interviews were analyzed using an inductive thematic analysis approach based upon modified grounded theory. Patients were 13-17.5 years of age (M = 15.4, SD = 1.63) and had undergone CBT-HA ∼1-2 years prior to participating in the study. Results Overall, patients and their parents reported that CBT-HA was helpful in reducing headache frequency and related disability. Although patients provided mixed reports on the effectiveness of different CBT-HA skills, the majority of patients indicated that the mind and body relaxation skills of CBT-HA (deep breathing, progressive muscle relaxation, and activity pacing in particular) were the most helpful and most frequently used skills. Patients and parents also generally reported that treatment was easy to learn, and noted at least some aspect of treatment was enjoyable. Conclusions Results from these qualitative interviews indicate that mind and body CBT-HA relaxation skills emerged as popular and effective based on patient and parent report. Future research examining the effectiveness of streamlined pediatric migraine nonpharmacological interventions should include these patient-preferred skills.
New Models of Healthcare Delivery

The United States is in the midst of a bold experiment. The transformation of the healthcare system has stimulated numerous alternative payment models and many new models of care. There is an array of new healthcare delivery models with varying scope and magnitude of risk for providers. Quality metrics are the outcome measures by which these new models are evaluated.
Using Canals in Southern Florida to Measure Impacts of Urbanization on Herpetofaunal Community Composition

Abstract Urban ecosystems provide habitat for a variety of amphibian and reptile species, but in most places, these communities are understudied. Gradients of urbanization have been used to examine how herpetofaunal communities respond to anthropogenic disturbance. We used visual-encounter surveys along human-made canals that track a gradient of urbanization as a system to examine changes in aquatic and semiaquatic herpetofauna. We found substantial changes in herpetofaunal community composition along the urbanization gradient, primarily driven by the association of exotic invasive amphibians with canals adjacent to urban areas relative to canals adjacent to natural areas.
Ultra High Temperature Ceramic Composites

Ceramic borides, carbides and nitrides are characterized by high melting points, chemical inertness and relatively good oxidation resistance in extreme environments, such as conditions experienced during reentry. This family of ceramic materials has come to be known as Ultra High Temperature Ceramics (UHTCs). Some of the earliest work on UHTCs was conducted by the Air Force in the 1960’s and 1970’s. Since then, work has continued sporadically and has primarily been funded by NASA, the Navy and the Air Force. This article summarizes some of the early works, with a focus on hafnium diboride and zirconium diboride-based compositions. These works focused on identifying additives, such as SiC, to improve mechanical or thermal properties, and/or to improve oxidation resistance in extreme environments at temperatures greater than 2000°C.
Growing ‘good food’: urban gardens, culturally acceptable produce and food security

With food security increasingly seen as an urban concern, urban agriculture (UA) has emerged as one strategy for improving access to healthy, affordable food within cities in the Global North. This research evaluates the contributions of three types of urban gardens in Santa Clara County, California, to food security. Survey, interview and harvest data were collected from home gardeners, community gardeners and gardeners participating in community food security (CFS) programs, which provide low-income families with the materials and training to grow their own vegetables. To assess food security we use a multi-dimensional framework that encompasses food availability, accessibility, nutritional adequacy and cultural acceptability as well as agency within the food system. Over the summer of 2015, median garden production ranged from 26 kg for participants in CFS programs to 56 kg for home gardeners. All garden types produced enough produce for at least one adult to consume the number of cups of vegetables recommended by federal nutritional guidelines. Gardening also increased some low-income gardeners’ access to healthy food, allowing them to have the diet they wanted—one high in organically grown vegetables—but could not otherwise afford to purchase. Interviews showed that gardeners do not think of cultural acceptability strictly in terms of the presence of certain types of cultural crops; they also articulated a broader set of values concerning the environmental and social conditions of food production. At all income levels, gardeners frequently described a set of food values related to knowledge, control, trust, freshness, flavor, organic production methods and sharing, which they were able to enact through gardening. Taken together, these findings demonstrate the nutritional contributions that urban gardens make but also highlight the importance that low-income gardeners place on having food that aligns with their cultural and ethical values and being able to exercise greater autonomy in making food choices. In conclusion, we suggest that more robust, holistic assessments of UA's contributions to food security will include the subjective aspects of food as well as quantitative measures related to food production.
Teaching-Learning Strategy for Promoting Student Success: Asynchronous Post-Exam Reflections.

Students who actively engage in reflection and receive guidance from faculty may assume accountability for learning and adjust study habits based on academic performance. The literature supports a ...
RULE-BASED UNDERSTANDING OF SIGNALS1

SU/X and SU/P are knowledge-based programs that employ pattern-invoked inference methods. Both tasks are concerned with the interpretation of large quantities of digitized signal data. The task of SU/X is to understand “continuous signals,” that is, signals that persist over time. The task of SU/P is to interpret protein X-ray crystallographic data. Some features of the design are (1) incremental interpretation of data employing many different pattern-invoked sources of knowledge, (2) production rule representation of knowledge, including high-level strategy knowledge, (3) “opportunistic” hypothesis formation using both data-driven and model-driven techniques within a general hypothesize-and-test paradigm, and (4) multilevel representation of the solution hypothesis.
Anatomical Step-by-Step Dissection of Complex Skull Base Approaches for Trainees: Surgical Anatomy of the Retrosigmoid Approach.

Introduction Although numerous anatomical and operative atlases have been published, those that have focused on the skull base either have provided views that are quite difficult to achieve in the operating room to better depict surgical anatomy or are written at the level of an audience with considerable knowledge and experience. Methods Five sides of three formalin-fixed latex-injected specimens were dissected under microscopic magnification. A posterior petrosectomy approach was performed by three neurosurgical residents at different training levels with limited previous experience in anatomical dissection mentored by the senior authors (C. L. W. D. and M. J. L.) and a clinical skull base fellow with additional anatomical dissection experience (M. P. C.). Anatomical dissections were performed until the expected level of dissection quality was achieved to demonstrate each important step of the surgical approach that would be understandable to all trainees of all levels. Following dissection education, representative case applications were reviewed. Results The posterior petrosectomy (also known as presigmoid retrolabyrinthine approach) affords excellent access to cranial nerves III to XI and a diverse array of pathologies. Key steps include positioning and skin incision, scalp and muscle flaps, burr holes, craniotomy flap elevation, superficial mastoidectomy, otic capsule exposure and presigmoid dura decompression, primary presigmoid durotomy, inferior temporal durotomy, superior petrosal sinus ligation, tentorium sectioning, and final exposure. Conclusion The posterior petrosectomy is a challenging approach; thorough operative-style laboratory dissection is essential to provide trainees with a suitable guide. We describe a comprehensive approach to learning this technique, intended to be understandable and usable by a resident audience.
Utilization of Fertility Preservation Services By Patients Aged 18-40 Prior to Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation

Introduction Survivors of hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) often face infertility later in life due to preparative conditioning regimens that are harmful to reproductive function. Current American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) clinical guidelines on fertility preservation (FP) recommend that all patients who are at risk for infertility due to medical treatment should be referred to a fertility specialist for counseling following diagnosis and preferably prior to the start of treatment. Despite HCT physicians' awareness of standard-of-care services for preserving fertility and the psychosocial sequelae resulting from patients losing their fertility, anecdotal evidence indicates that few patients actually receive FP services. National utilization of FP services prior to HCT is currently unknown. Objective The goal of this retrospective descriptive analysis is to understand commercially insured and covered FP utilization among HCT recipients and describe patterns of engagement in FP services prior to HCT. Methods FAIR Health's national claims database was used to identify HCT recipients and the subgroup of patients who received FP services prior to HCT. Secondary analysis of the FP subgroup included the creation of patient-specific clinical journey timelines that included dates of services associated with diagnosis and procedure codes relevant to HCT and FP (Figure 1). Results There were 411 patients aged 18-40 who received HCT. Only 7.1% (N=29) of the HCT cohort had claims for FP services after diagnosis and prior to receiving HCT. Utilization of FP was most common in younger HCT patients, with 69% (N=20) of the FP subgroup being under age 26. The median time between FP services and HCT was 102 days and patients undergoing autologous HCT had longer intervals between FP services and HCT than allogeneic HCT patients (Figure 2). Conclusion Despite ASCO guidelines addressing the importance of FP options for cancer patients, results from this administrative claims analysis confirm that utilization of FP services by HCT patients is low. The longitudinally-linked claims allowed for detailed analysis of the FP subgroup which helped inform when patients receive FP services relative to their HCT as well as which FP services are utilized. Analysis of the FP subgroup also showed that the timing between diagnosis, FP services, and HCT may depend on the type of transplant. However, more research is needed to understand the barriers to FP prior to HCT so that targeted tools can be used to increase utilization and improve quality of life for HCT survivors. Future FP service cost and utilization research with an expanded population would be informative for policy-makers, payers, providers and patients. More work is needed to address the difficulty in quantifying FP service utilization that is not processed through commercial payers and as such not included in administrative claims data.
MIP/MTMR14 and muscle aging

It is well known that the human aging process is associated with a progressive loss of muscular strength. Characteristic of this decline in muscle performance is the loss of skeletal muscle mass (sarcopenia) that occurs even in the healthy elderly. Indeed, humans can lose as much as 40% of their muscle mass from age 20 to 60. This significant loss of muscle mass and strength has important health and social implications as muscle weakness can contribute to an increased risk of falls and a loss of independence. Therefore, improving our understanding of the mechanisms responsible for sarcopenia and the age-related loss of muscle strength is important. The report by Romero-Suarez et al. [1] provides important new information regarding a potential cellular mechanism that may contribute to sarcopenia. These investigators used a combination of experimental approaches to phenotypically compare wild type old mice with mature mice lacking a novel muscle specific inositide phosphatase (MIP/MTMR14) that plays an important role in muscle calcium homeostasis. Interestingly, the mature MIP/MTMR14 knockout mice displayed phenotypes that closely resembled the muscles of old animals. Indeed, these relatively young knockout mice displayed impaired muscle calcium homeostasis, depressed muscle contractile force production and a loss of muscle mass that is commonly observed in senescent animals. Interestingly, the old wild type mice also displayed impaired muscle calcium homeostasis and decreases in muscle size and contractile function. Importantly, these old mice also possessed reduced muscle levels of MIP/MTMR14. The authors concluded that these findings were consistent with the hypothesis that an age-related loss in MIP/MTMR14 may be a contributory factor to sarcopenia. The findings of Romero-Suarez et al. [1] are exciting and set the stage for future experiments to further examine the molecular role that MIP/MTMR14 plays in the age-related decline in skeletal muscle mass and function. Prior studies by Shen, et al. [2] suggest that MIP/MTMR14 deficiency elevates PtdIns(3,4)P2 and PtdIns(3,5)P2 levels in the sarcoplasmic reticulum. These phosphoinositide derivatives appear to promote calcium leak, contractile dysfunction, and protein catabolism. It remains to be seen whether PtdIns(3,4)P2 and PtdIns(3,5)P2 accumulate in the SR of aged muscles. This is an intriguing possibility. A detailed understanding of the cellular function of MIP/MTMR14 and the molecular events leading to saropenia may lead to clinical countermeasures to slow the age-related loss of muscular strength.
MILITARY FAMILY RESEARCH: METHODOLOGICAL LESSONS LEARNED, OFTEN THE HARD WAY

Some of the advantages and the pitfalls of planning and conducting military family research are discussed. Family theory remains critical to research on military families but needs to be combined with detailed knowledge of the issues faced by military families. The military’s concerns about family privacy can lead to tensions with the researcher’s need to define population and sample characteristics, as well as to obtain high response rates through systematic follow-up of potential survey respondents. Researchers may find an easier path to publication for research that sounds like “good news”, while research that seems like “bad news” may be suppressed, disguised, or managed in a variety of ways. Because of the complexities of military life and military family life it may be very useful to bring military personnel or veterans into your research group when developing and testing theories about military family life.
Rejecting "Understanding": An Ethical Proposal Whose Time Has Come.

“Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.”–(mis)attributed to Albert EinsteinGood faith efforts to improve informed consent forms and processes are not ...
Analysis of how compliant layers and encapsulation affect power generated from piezoelectric stacked composites for bone healing medical devices

Use of piezoelectric materials to harvest energy from human motion is commonly investigated. Traditional piezoelectric materials are inefficient at low frequencies but composite structures can increase efficiency at these frequencies. Compliant layer adaptive composite stack (CLACS) is a new piezoelectric PZT (lead zirconate titanate) structure designed for orthopedic implants to use loads generated during walking to provide electrical stimulation for bone healing. The CLACS structure increases power efficiency and structural properties as compared to PZT alone. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of compliant layer and encapsulation thicknesses on strain-related parameters for CLACS predicted by finite element models. Percent changes in strain as compliant layer thickness increased were compared to percent changes in power experimentally produced by CLACS given similar geometries and loading conditions. Percent changes in PZT z-strain matched the trends for increases in experimental power, but was not directly proportional. PZT z-strain and radial strain increased as compliant layer and top and bottom encapsulation thickness increased. PZT z-strain and radial strain decreased as side encapsulation thickness increased for a normalized distributed force on the PZT. The overall goal of this study was to inform future design decisions regarding CLACS structures specifically for use in orthopedic implants.
Stereoconvergent Conjugate Addition of Arylboronic Acids to α-Angelica Lactone Derivatives: Synthesis of Stereochemically Complex γ-Butyrolactones

Catalyzed stereoconvergent 1,4-additions to unsaturated carbonyls are rare but of high potential value. This letter details the development of enantioselective arylation reactions of boronic acids and β,γ-butenolides. These reactions are catalyzed by commercially available hydroxy[(S)-BINAP]-rhodium(I) dimer to afford stereochemically complex γ-butyrolactone derivatives. The reaction products provide functionality amenable to further manipulation and can lead to products with up to three contiguous stereocenters. The reaction proceeds under a dynamic kinetic resolution manifold by isomerizing the achiral starting material into an interconverting mixture of enantiomeric conjugate acceptors, followed by catalyst-controlled, enantiomer-selective 1,4-addition. Base-promoted racemization of the intermediate α,β-butenolide is possible due to the high kinetic and thermodynamic acidity of the γ-proton.
Molecular biology and immunology of gastric cancer peritoneal metastasis

Peritoneal metastases occur in 55-60% of patients with gastric cancer (GC) and are associated with a 2% 5-year overall survival rate. There are limited treatment options for these patients, and no targeted therapy or immunotherapy is available. Rational therapeutic targets remain to be found. In this review, we present the published literature and our own recent experience in molecular biology to identify important molecules and signaling pathways as well as cellular immunity involved in the peritoneal metastasis of GC. We also suggest potential novel strategies for improving the outcomes of GC patients with peritoneal metastasis.
Microbiological Factors of Peri-Implantitis: Characteristics and Significance

The importance of dental biofilms in the etiology of peri-implantitis has been extensively studied. Although peri-implant disease has similarities to periodontal disease, the microbiome composition isolated in peri-implantitis and periodontitis are distinctly different. Peri-implantitis represented a heterogeneous infection of more complexity predominantly composed of non-cultivable Gram-negative species compared with periodontitis. The microbiota presents in peri-implantitis is more diverse and a large proportion is composed of gram-negative bacteria species. Peri-implantitis was shown to be associated with certain pathogens (e.g. Gram-negative anaerobic periopathogens and opportunistic microorganisms). In this chapter, microbiological characteristics in 1. Healthy implants vs healthy natural teeth, 2. Peri-implant mucositis vs gingivitis, 3. Periodontitis vs peri-implantitis, as well as the progression of the disease from healthy implants to peri-implant mucositis and peri-implantitis will be discussed. In addition, implant surface characteristics, the implant-abutment interface, and the internal compartment of the implants are all areas that should be considered as when targeting foci to reduce bacterial load and in the treatment of peri-implantitis.
How Secure are our Computer Systems Courses

Introductory computer systems courses teach students how a single program is executed inside a computer, providing them with their first exposure to the logical internals of computing systems. This is one of the first introductory courses where students can learn about security and the need for robust coding. However, currently, these courses are taught with a focus on functionality and efficiency only, ignoring security almost entirely. In this paper, we provide a basic security analysis of computer systems courses from 16 of the top 20 CS undergraduate programs at R1 universities in the US. We collected more than 760 thousand lines of C/C++ code written by 253 students and used by instructors in lectures and for assignments. We found students frequently use unsafe functions such as strcpy, strcat, and system, many of which can lead to serious security vulnerabilities. These unsafe functions are present in course materials such as in lecture slides and textbooks, and even in the code provided by instructors. We also show a high correlation between the unsafe functions used by students with those used by their instructors.
The Self-Simplifying Machine: Exploiting the Structure of Piecewise Linear Neural Networks to Create Interpretable Models.

Today, it is more important than ever before for users to have trust in the models they use. As Machine Learning models fall under increased regulatory scrutiny and begin to see more applications in high-stakes situations, it becomes critical to explain our models. Piecewise Linear Neural Networks (PLNN) with the ReLU activation function have quickly become extremely popular models due to many appealing properties; however, they still present many challenges in the areas of robustness and interpretation. To this end, we introduce novel methodology toward simplification and increased interpretability of Piecewise Linear Neural Networks for classification tasks. Our methods include the use of a trained, deep network to produce a well-performing, single-hidden-layer network without further stochastic training, in addition to an algorithm to reduce flat networks to a smaller, more interpretable size with minimal loss in performance. On these methods, we conduct preliminary studies of model performance, as well as a case study on Wells Fargo's Home Lending dataset, together with visual model interpretation.
People-to-People Sports Diplomacy: “Israel Start-Up Nation” in the 2020 Tour de France

In 2020 Israeli-based cycling team “Israel Start-Up Nation” (ISN) participated in the Tour de France for the first time. In recent years, Sylvan Adams, the co-owner of ISN, has been investing in Is...
Evaluation of peanut tolerance to mid-season applications of PPO-Inhibitor herbicides mixed with different surfactants

Abstract Protoporphyrinogen oxidase (PPO) inhibitor herbicides are being increasingly used to control acetolactate synthases (ALS) inhibitor-resistant weeds in peanuts (Arachis hypogaea L.). However, PPO-inhibitor herbicides can injure the crop under certain application conditions, especially under abiotic stress and surfactants may exacerbate this injury. The objectives of this study were to 1) investigate the effect of PPO-inhibitor based treatments on dryland peanut growth and yield when applied at three timings in mid-season, 2) evaluate the interactions of surfactants, chloroacetamide herbicides, and PPO-inhibitors, and 3) assess the level of correlation of normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) readings to traditional visible injury rating. Field studies were conducted in Henry and Escambia counties in Alabama, U.S. during 2018, and 2019. Up to 55% of visible peanut injury was observed with acifluorfen, lactofen, and carfentrazone-ethyl treatments. In general, the NDVI readings correlated significantly with traditional visible injury ratings. A tank mixture of chloroacetamide herbicides (pyroxasulfone, S-metolachlor, dimethenamid-P) with lactofen did not lead to more injury or yield loss than lactofen applied alone. Yield losses up 27% were observed with carfentrazone-ethyl plus a high surfactant oil concentrate (HSOC) at 75 and 90 days after planting (DAP) as compared to the non-treated check (NTC). Overall, treatments with HSOC and/or carfentrazone-ethyl were more likely to cause significant injury and yield loss than treatments with acifluorfen or lactofen plus nonionic surfactant (NIS). Peanuts are more sensitive to PPO-inhibitor herbicides at 75 DAP. NDVI did provide additional plant health information to subjective injury ratings, however, neither of these measurements are reliable predictors of peanut yield loss.
Israel’s Palestinians: The Conflict Within

Introduction: the other Palestinian problem Part I. The Conflict Within: 1. Palestinians in Israel: separate and unequal 2. Palestinian politics in a Jewish state 3. A radicalized minority? 4. The Jewish majority and the Arab 'other' Part II. Managing the Conflict: 5. The formation of the Jewish Republic 6. Alternatives to ethnic hegemony 7. Neither ethnocracy nor binationalism: seeking the middle ground 8. Israel's challenge: moving from hegemony to equality Conclusion: a comprehensive resolution of the Palestinian problem.
The Identification of Polyester Fibers in Forensic Science

A polyester fiber is by definition one composed of linear macromolecules comprising at least 85% (by mass) of the chain of an ester of a diol and terephthalic acid [1]. In 1941 it was discovered in the laboratories of the Calico Printers Association in Lancashire, England that fibers could be spun from polyethlene terephthalate (PET). I.C.I. Ltd. began production in 1948 under the name “Terylene,” and production was expanded to a large scale in 1955. DuPont began to produce a polyester known as Fiber V in the U.S.A. in 1950. This fiber subsequently became known as Dacron® and was produced in quantity from 1953 onwards [2].
Structural-perturbation approaches to thermodynamics of site-specific protein-DNA interactions.

Publisher Summary This chapter presents the structural-perturbation approaches to thermodynamics of site-specific protein-DNA interactions. The conceptual foundation of structural perturbation methods derives from the idea of a thermodynamic cycle, referred to as a pseudocycle because some of the constituent steps represent imaginary chemical transformations. In structural-perturbation methods, values of Kobs are determined for the normal DNA site and for one or more modified DNAs or modified proteins. As an introduction to the kinds of information that may be derived from structural-perturbation methods, the energetic factors that may contribute to the interaction between a protein and its DNA recognition site is enumerated. The set of structural perturbation methods discussed, when used in concert with a variety of measures of thermodynamic, kinetic, and structural parameters, allows gaining significant insights into the behavior of protein- DNA complexes. Determination of either thermodynamic or kinetic parameters of DNA-protein interactions requires accurate knowledge of the molar concentration of active protein.
Poststructuralism as a Historical Condition

Contested Terrains and Constructed Categories: Contemporary Africa in Focus. George Clement Bond and Nigel C. Gibson. eds. Boulder: Westview Press, 2002. 474 pp. Intervention and Transnationalism in Africa. Thomas Callaghy. Ronald Kassimir. and Robert Latham. eds. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2002. 322 pp. Postcolonial Subjectivities in Africa. Richard Werbner. ed. New York: Palgrave, 2002. 244 pp.
Japanese American Caregivers of Individuals with Dementia: An Examination of Japanese Cultural Values and Dementia Caregiving

Abstract As the population of the United States continues to live longer than in previous years, a larger number of older adults are being diagnosed with dementia or other memory-related conditions. The individuals who experience a tremendous amount of stress and burden are the caregivers for the individual with dementia. The majority of the dementia caregiver research has been conducted on Caucasian caregivers, and to a lesser extent on Latino and African American caregivers. However, there is a paucity of research based on Japanese American care-givers. An understanding of how Japanese culture often affects Japanese American caregivers will assist clinicians in providing culturally competent health care to this group of caregivers. The authors provide an overview of the Japanese caregiver literature, followed by a discussion of traditional Japanese cultural values as they apply to a case example that illustrates the interaction of Japanese cultural values and dementia care-giving.
A new method for calculating non-ideal point defect induced electronic structure: Application to GaAs1−xPx:O∗☆

Abstract We report a new method for calculating non-ideal defect induced electronic structure in crystalline semiconductors. The method is based upon solving the Dyson equation using the transfer matrix technique. The method allows us to include realistic distortions around defects (impurities, vacancies, etc.) in solving for the electronic structure. Results are presented for the system GaAs 1− x P x :O in which oxygen replaces the anion. Several different distortions are considered and the results are found to agree remarkably well with experiments.
A typical video-based framework for counting, behavior and safety analysis at intersections

This work presents a framework to analyze traffic intersections by counting vehicles and pedestrians and assessing their behavior and safety. The major reason of developing this framework is to facilitate manual analyses from the video recordings by only providing detection files, typical paths, distance and conflict points. After tracking and recognizing paths, pedestrian and vehicle trajectories are extracted and their counting, behavior and safety information are estimated. Experimental results include estimated speed profile, turning movement count, waiting time, Time to Intersection (TTI) and Time To Collision (TTC) for two highly cluttered videos of Las Vegas intersections. The accuracy of 90%, 99% and 90% were obtained for vehicles waiting time, turning movement count and pedestrians crossing count. The semi-automatic system is a comprehensive solution for video based behavior, safety and counting analyses at intersections with high accuracy.