cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Functional Dissection of a Poliovirus cis-Acting Replication Element [PV-cre(2C)]: Analysis of Single- and Dual-cre Viral Genomes and Proteins That Bind Specifically to PV-cre RNA

The role of the cis replication element (cre) in the 2C(ATPase) coding region of the poliovirus (PV) genome has been studied with a series of mutants derived from either a PV1 full-length genome or a replicon (P/L) containing the firefly luciferase reporter gene in place of the capsid region. Using the P/L replicon we have inserted cre elements at three different locations in the genome including the 5' nontranslated region and within the open reading frame. The successful recovery of replication of a nonviable P/L (A(5)C) mutant replicon with an artificial cre element as "rescuer," in addition to the results of site-directed mutagenesis and experiments with truncated forms of PV-cre(2C), indicated that (i) the sequence within the upper stem and loop regions contains the minimal cre RNA required for VPg uridylylation in vitro, (ii) the location of the cre RNA in the poliovirus genome is not relevant to RNA infectivity, and (iii) specific binding of 3CD(pro) to PV-cre(2C) occurs within the upper stem region and probably involves several contact residues. The role of a 14-nucleotide conserved "core" sequence among known cre structures in picornaviruses was examined by site-directed mutagenesis of individual nucleotides. In addition to a conserved AAA (4472 to 4474) triplet previously shown to be the primary RNA template for VPg uridylylation by the PV RNA polymerase 3D(pol) (E. Rieder, A. V. Paul, D. W. Kim, J. H. van Boom, and E. Wimmer, J. Virol. 74:10371-10380, 2000), we have now shown that important residues (G(4468) and A(4481)) are contained in a predicted internal bulge at the upper stem-loop of PV-cre(2C). We have further demonstrated that the viral proteins 3CD(pro) and 3C(pro) form stable complexes with a transcript PV-cre(2C) RNA that can be considered critical for VPg uridylylation.
A major advance in elucidating the biology/pathobiology of Chlamydia trachomatis.

Theseveralchlamydialspecieshavebeenrecognizedfordecades as bacterial pathogens of major importance to humans and domestic animals. Chlamydia trachomatis was first identified as the etiologic agent in blinding trachoma in Africa and the Middle East and later was demonstrated to be a genital pathogen of widespreadoccurrenceinbothdevelopedandunderdevelopedareasof theworld.Indeed,thisorganismisnowconsideredtobethemost common sexually transmitted bacterial pathogen in the United States, with more than a million new such infections reported annually to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (1). Significantly, primary genital infection with this organism often engendersseveresequelae,includingfertilityproblemsinwomen, arthritis in both genders, and others (2, 3). Current data indicate that these sequelae involve organisms in an unusual state designated persistence, in which metabolic and genetic activity are modified to yield a largely antimicrobial-refractory organism (3, 4).
Diversity in Compartmental Dynamics of Gene Regulatory Networks: The Immune Response in Primary Influenza A Infection in Mice

Current approaches to study transcriptional profiles post influenza infection typically rely on tissue sampling from one or two sites at a few time points, such as spleen and lung in murine models. In this study, we infected female C57/BL6 mice intranasally with mouse-adapted H3N2/Hong Kong/X31 avian influenza A virus, and then analyzed the gene expression profiles in four different compartments (blood, lung, mediastinal lymph nodes, and spleen) over 11 consecutive days post infection. These data were analyzed by an advanced statistical procedure based on ordinary differential equation (ODE) modeling. Vastly different lists of significant genes were identified by the same statistical procedure in each compartment. Only 11 of them are significant in all four compartments. We classified significant genes in each compartment into co-expressed modules based on temporal expression patterns. We then performed functional enrichment analysis on these co-expression modules and identified significant pathway and functional motifs. Finally, we used an ODE based model to reconstruct gene regulatory network (GRN) for each compartment and studied their network properties.
POL and LDO for Harsh Environment Applications

Harsh Environment approved components/ designs require high reliability as well as availability of power to meet their system needs. The paper will explore the various design constrains imposed on the high temperature designs. Down hole oil and gas industry requires high reliability components that can withstand high temperature. Discrete component selection, packaging and constrains imposed by various specification requirements to meet harsh environment approval are critical aspect of high-temp designs. High temperature PCB material, PCB layout techniques, trace characteristics are an important aspect of high-temperature PCB design and will be explored in the article. Buck Converters are the basic building blocks, but in order to meet system requirements to power FPGA's where low output voltage and high currents are required. Converter must be able to provide wider step down ratios with high transient response so buck converters are used. The paper with explore the various features of a buck-based POL co...
A Comparison Study of Water Pipe Failure Prediction Models Using Weibull Distribution and Binary Logistic Regression

The aging water infrastructure is one of the main causes of the increasing water pipe breaks nationwide, resulting in significant social and economic costs. To sustain water infrastructure assets in good condition, it requires a proactive decision making process for capital improvement project planning, maintenance, rehabilitation and replacement. Because physical inspections involve extensive labor and financial resources, it is not always a feasible option to cover entire water pipe inspection and condition assessment. This paper presents two statistical water pipe failure prediction models developed for water system managers to assist their long-term decision making process using Weibull distribution and binary logistic regression. The models presented are developed based on water pipe failure data from approximately 100 years old cast iron pipes from a municipality in the Midwest, United States.
Evaluation of a Small-Scale Peanut Sheller

ABSTRACT Small-scale peanut shelling equipment has been designed and used to meet various needs and scales. A laboratory-scale sheller has been used by researchers to approximate the shelling outturns of a commercial shelling plant using 2 to 10 kg samples. A single commercial-sized sheller will have a shelling capacity up to 23 MT/hr. Commercial shelling operations utilize multiple shellers, each designed to shell a narrow range of peanut sizes. There are enterprises such as small seed processors or manufacturers in developing countries that need shelling equipment capable of processing 100 to 1000 kg of peanuts per hour with the capability of mechanically separating the hulls from the shelled material. A three-stage sheller was designed, fabricated, and tested to determine its throughput (kg/h), the efficiency of separating the hulls from the shelled peanut kernels, and sizing the shelled peanut kernels. The sheller had a maximum shelling rate in the first shelling stage of 1087 kg/h operating at 252 rp...
Workshop on financial risk analytics

The recent global financial crisis has made risk management and financial stability a foremost concern of regulatory agencies and corporations worldwide. In financial institutions, the scope of risk management extends beyond assessing potential losses due to adverse market or credit events, to encompass the effects of operational failures and a lack of liquidity. The greater visibility of the risk management function within the organization has been accompanied by an increasing awareness of the potential limitations of existing risk models. Overcoming such limitations poses numerous challenges for risk researchers in industry and academia.
Transcatheter Electrocautery as an Aid in the Percutaneous Insertion of a Ureteral Stent

A technique of transcatheter electrocautery to facilitate insertion of a ureteral stent is described. Electrocautery was used to cut through a localized obstruction at the ureterovesical junction. The stiff end of a standard angiographic guide wire was used to push through a second blockage at the ureterovesical junction on the opposite side in the same patient.
Palliative care is an integral part of comprehensive cancer care.

Palliative care for patients and their families across the cancer disease trajectory—from diagnosis, through survivorship, to end of life—is essential for quality cancer care.
Survival, Tag Retention, and Growth of Spot and Mummichog following PIT Tag Implantation

AbstractWe conducted three laboratory studies to determine the effects of surgically implanted, passive integrated transponder (PIT) tags on survival, tag retention, and growth in two abundant estuarine fishes. The effects of the 12.5-mm PIT tags were examined in Spot Leiostomus xanthurus, and the effects of the 12.5-mm and 8.4-mm tags were examined in Mummichog Fundulus heteroclitus. For each experiment, Spot and Mummichogs were divided into three size-groups: small, medium, and large. Tagged Spot had lower survival rates than the untagged conspecifics with the exception of the larger Spot, where there was no difference in survival rates. Large Spot also had the highest tag retention (86%) and tagging “success” (i.e., 80% survived and retained their tag). There was no significant difference in the survival rate between the 12.5-mm tagged and untagged Mummichogs; there was no significant effect of Mummichog size on survival, tag retention, or success; and success for all 12.5-mm tagged Mummichogs was 87%....
Defending the People: Third-Party Interests in the Debate over Reproductive Rights

Chapter 4 examines the legislative protections of third-party actors in the abortion process, beginning in 1973 through 2015. The most common legislative protections include conscience clauses, established in the Church Amendment, and taxpayer restrictions, established in the Hyde Amendment. The passage of the ACA, and especially the opposition to the HHS employer mandate that requires the coverage of all FDA-approved contraceptive devices that was the focus of the Hobby Lobby ruling, represents a turning point in the approach of the pro-life movement to third-party issues. However, and despite the increased attentions to this issue, the analysis of legislative proposals surrounding the ruling reveals that the pro-life legislation concerning third-party actors remains focused on taxpayers, on the one hand, and religious liberty of individuals, on the other.
The Magnetic Hamiltonian

Most of the magnetic properties that we shall consider arise from electrons. In this chapter we shall develop the Hamiltonian which pertains to the magnetic behavior of a system of electrons. It has been found experimentally that the electron possesses an intrinsic magnetic moment, or spin. The existence of such a moment follows directly from relativistic considerations. Therefore it is essential that we look for a relativistic description of the motion of an electron. The Dirac wave equation offers just such a description. We shall limit our discussion of the Dirac equation to the origin of the spin and the form of the spin-orbit interaction (for a more thorough treatment see [2.1]).
Economics, Behaviorism, and Utilitarianism

Behaviorism and utilitarianism lie at the heart of economic theory and welfare economics as they are practiced today. The reasons for this are both historical and methodological. To be described mathematically, individual behavior has to be expressed through a functional form that converts the consumption or uses of ‘goods’ to a numerical measure of satisfaction — well-being or ‘utility.’ Cognitive processes are reduced to calculations of how to maximize the utility function given the constraints of an individual’s wealth, income, and endowments of goods, talents, and capital. This is behaviorism on steroids; the ‘stimuli’ provided by prices are transformed into the ‘responses’ of the individual in choosing the bundle of goods that maximize utility.
Aid and Development

Many Asian economies were gradually catching up to the ‘First World’ before the recent East Asian financial crisis slowed their growth. Most Latin American countries, after losing considerable ground in the 1980s, started to grow again in the 1990s. Africa, particularly sub-Saharan Africa, remains very poor and has continued to lose ground. After fifty years of successes and failures with economic development and development aid, what have we learned about the future possibilities for international cooperation, development and growth?
Factorized covariance intersection for scalable partial state decentralized data fusion

We propose a new conditionally factorized covariance intersection (CI) algorithm for performing partial state decentralized data fusion (DDF). This is relevant for sensor networks where platforms must deal with mixed heterogeneous state estimation problems, e.g. due to coupling between uncertainties in shared subsets of externally monitored process states and private platform states. Our approach enables scalable robust conservative DDF in ad hoc networks through fusion only of external process state estimates that are jointly monitored by neighboring platforms, while still enabling updates to private platform state information via conditional inference. We also propose an additional enhancement to factorized CI which helps to minimize unnecessary local information losses due to conservative data fusion. A networked multi-platform target tracking simulation is provided to demonstrate the proposed approach, which can be extended to other Bayesian DDF applications involving networked fusion of heterogeneous state vectors.
Randomized controlled trial of a computerized opioid overdose education intervention.

Abstract Background Opioid overdose (OD) has become a significant public health problem in need of effective interventions. The majority of existing educational interventions target provision of naloxone and are conducted in-person; these elements present logistical barriers that may limit wide-spread implementation. This study developed and evaluated an easily disseminated opioid OD educational intervention and compared computerized versus pamphlet delivery Methods Participants (N = 76) undergoing opioid detoxification were randomly assigned to receive OD education via a Pamphlet (N = 25), Computer (N = 24), or Computer + Mastery (N = 27) with identical content for all delivery modalities. Primary outcomes were changes from pre- to post-intervention in knowledge of opioid effects, opioid OD symptoms, and recommended opioid OD responses, as well as intervention acceptability. Also assessed at 1 and 3-month follow-ups were retention of knowledge and change in reported OD risk behaviors. Results Knowledge increased following all three intervention-delivery modalities with few between-group differences observed in knowledge gain or acceptability ratings. Largest gains were in the domain of opioid OD response (from 41.8% to 73.8% mean correct responses; p Conclusion Opioid overdose education delivered by computer or written pamphlet produced sustained increases in knowledge and reduction in a key behavioral risk factor. Results Results support further evaluation of this educational intervention that can be used alone or to complement naloxone-training programs.
A note on the value of diversity in organisations

Diversity's value lies in recognising the potential opportunity and capitalising on it by preparing for a new organisational context. Diversity in the workforce provides benefits that have resonance with the globalised market including the interaction between new and different points of view that can result in innovation, differentiation, and a competitive advantage. Further, diversity is unavoidable as demographic factors converge to increase the diversity of the labour pool. While a prepared labour pool is critical, this paper investigates what leaders must do to prepare the organisation. Diversity can represent a new competitive advantage as confirmed by research, but so is the potential for adverse impacts. Adverse effects can occur given the potential for diverse teams to fail to mesh, but they can be mitigated or even avoided altogether with planning. The analysis shows that human resource professionals have a critical role in preparing organisations for this new reality by ensuring that the organisation and resulting workforce recognises the value of diversity and knows how to embrace it. Organisations who are not proactive in planning for diversity, or alternately implement diversity strategies without understanding the underlying factors may not reap the advantages.
If I ran a journalism school, I'd shake things up

I am jealous of my students, and of all students who study journalism. They will be entering a work force that, yes, is full of uncertainty; they will not be likely to have the kind of career that I enjoyed in more than 20 years as a reporter, editor and columnist for major newspapers in America. But there has never been such an open field of opportunity - to create the next version of journalism and the business models that will pay for it - as exists today.
Finished Whole-Genome Sequences of Clostridium butyricum Toxin Subtype E4 and Clostridium baratii Toxin Subtype F7 Strains.

ABSTRACT Clostridium butyricum and Clostridium baratii species have been known to produce botulinum toxin types E and F, respectively, which can cause botulism, a rare but serious neuroparalytic disease. Here, we present finished genome sequences for two of these clinically relevant strains.
Psychometric Testing of the Personal Workplace Safety Instrument for Emergency Nurses.

BACKGROUND Patient-visitor violence (PVV) committed against nurses is a worldwide problem. Registered nurses in emergency departments (EDs) are particularly susceptible. The frequency and severity of PVV against emergency nurses (ENs) internationally is well documented. Little is known about factors that make ENs feel safe from PVV. AIM Examine the psychometric properties of the Personal Workplace Safety Instrument for Emergency Nurses (PWSI-EN), developed to measure ENs' perceptions of safety from PVV. METHODS Instrument development was based on a literature review, input from ENs, and expert opinion. An online version of the PWSI-EN was distributed to a convenience sample of ENs practicing in EDs across the United States. Psychometric testing included measures of internal consistency reliability, construct validity to support subscales, and comparisons on demographic variables. RESULTS Three-hundred and five (N = 305) ENs from 16 hospitals responded to the original 31-item PWSI-EN. Based on item analysis and exploratory factor analysis (EFA), the instrument was reduced to 23 items with Cronbach's α = .912. EFA delineated six subscales relevant to perception of safety from PVV with factor loadings from .342 to .879. Low to moderate subscale correlations showed a degree of independence for concept domains. Known groups approach for construct validity revealed statistically significant differences (p < .05) for five subscales and the total score between community and academic or teaching hospitals. Hospital type, organizational confidence, and fear for patient safety were significant predictors of greater perceptions of safety from PVV. LINKING EVIDENCE TO ACTION The PWSI-EN is a valid and reliable survey instrument to assess EN perceptions of safety. ED and hospital leaders can use this instrument to determine specific areas to focus efforts in order to improve ENs' perception of safety from PVV. Researchers exploring interventions aimed at improving perceptions of safety from PVV for ENs may find the PWSI-EN useful.
Development of a Semi-Quantitative Assay to Detect Full-Length CYP2C19 RNA

Cytochrome P450 2C19 (CYP2C19) is the enzyme responsible for the metabolism of a number of drugs, including anticonvulsants and antidepressants. We have developed a semi-quantitative competitive RT...
My surgical heroes.

I would like to thank all of you for the great honor and privilege of serving as your president this year. It is a tremendous honor to be included in the list of presidents of this great organization. In 1979, Willie Nelson sang a song entitled “My Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys.” I have changed this somewhat to my heroes have always been surgeons and educators. In this address, I briefly discuss the nature of heroes, introduce you to my wonderful family, and look at my surgical heroes from medical school, surgical training at Baylor University Medical Center at Dallas, and M. D. Anderson Hospital in Houston, Texas. Then, I review how two of the progenitors of my heroes laid the groundwork for my surgical heroes. In a brief conclusion, I look at today's heroes.
CYP450 and Ethnicity

The CYP450 enzymes are the primary phase I enzymes responsible for metabolizing approximately 75% of drugs. Most of this metabolism is mediated by the xenobiotic-metabolizing hepatically expressed CYP450 isoforms CYP1A2, CYP2C8/9/19, CYP2D6, CYP2E1, and CYP3A4/5. Early researchers identified differences in CYP450-mediated metabolism among racial/ethnic groups. Identification of the genetic determinants of these differences spawned the field of pharmacogenetics. Today we continue to identify the genetic and environmental determinants of drug response variability on both individual and group levels. Although race is a social construct, racial stratification is often a necessity in population genetic studies involving CYP450 genes. However, the contribution of interethnic genetic variation is minimal compared to interindividual variation. Still, unstable genes linked to environmental circumstances such as CYP450 vary dramatically among different races and ethnicities. Many examples of racial/ethnic differences in CYP450 allele frequencies and haplotype blocks have been identified. Not surprisingly, variant metabolic phenotype prevalences, such as poor or rapid metabolizers, differ among racial/ethnic groups. The wealth of pharmacogenetic data accumulated thus far regarding CYP450 isoforms has led to many drug-labeling notices and/or dosing recommendations for individuals with variant metabolic phenotypes who may be taking specific drugs. As more data is gathered and as understanding of individual pharmacogenetic information such as metabolic phenotype becomes more widespread, personalized medicine becomes more a reality. Enhanced understanding of drug- and patient-specific pharmacogenetic data will allow prescribers to maximize drug efficacy for their patients while minimizing risks for toxicity and side effects.
The role of the adrenal glands in the hyperandrogenism associated with polycystic ovarian syndrome

The magnitude of adrenal versus ovarian or peripheral contributions to the hyperandrogenemia of polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is controversial. Evidence for an adrenal origin of circulating androgens has been studied in prepubertal, adult, and postmenopausal women who will have, do have, or have had PCOS. Many girls who have premature adrenarche with increased circulating levels of adrenal steroid DHEA-S or those diagnosed with precocious puberty go on to develop PCOS in adolescence. Some adults with PCOS demonstrate increased DHEA and DHEA-S levels after ACTH stimulation test. Alternatively, or in addition, in many women with PCOS who have elevated DHEA or DHEA-S, these steroids may be suppressed by exogenous corticosteroid administration. In some PCOS women (20 %), long-term suppression of ovarian steroidogenesis to castrate levels with the use of GnRH agonists fails to suppress hyperandrogenemia, suggesting an adrenal source. Approximately 30–50 % of PCOS patients can be shown by these maneuvers to be producing excessive amounts of adrenal androgens. Increased activity of P450C17α can contribute to excessive production of both adrenal (DHEA) and ovarian (androstenedione) androgens. Alternatively, excess androgen production may occur as an ancillary phenomenon during processes that can result in cortisol overproduction (e.g., Cushing syndrome) or increased degradation of cortisol. The normal decline in adrenal androgen production with menopause is blunted in women who have PCOS and postmenopausal women with a history of PCOS demonstrate an exaggerated androgen response to exogenous ACTH. While the exact mechanisms remain unclear, these observations suggest that adrenal steroidogenesis may be under different control in women with PCOS.
Who Represents Me? Race, Gender, Partisan Congruence, and Representational Alternatives in a Polarized America:

The belief among citizens that their views are represented is essential to the legitimacy of American democracy, but few studies have explicitly examined which political actors Americans feel best ...
A Novel Model Demonstrates Variation in Risk-Adjusted Mortality Across Pediatric Cardiac ICUs After Surgery.

Objective To develop a postoperative mortality case-mix adjustment model to facilitate assessment of cardiac ICU quality of care, and to describe variation in adjusted cardiac ICU mortality across hospitals within the Pediatric Cardiac Critical Care Consortium. Design Observational analysis. Setting Multicenter Pediatric Cardiac Critical Care Consortium clinical registry. Participants All surgical cardiac ICU admissions between August 2014 and May 2016. The analysis included 8,543 admissions from 23 dedicated cardiac ICUs. Interventions None. Measurements and main results We developed a novel case-mix adjustment model to measure postoperative cardiac ICU mortality after congenital heart surgery. Multivariable logistic regression was performed to assess preoperative, intraoperative, and immediate postoperative severity of illness variables as candidate predictors. We used generalized estimating equations to account for clustering of patients within hospital and obtain robust SEs. Bootstrap resampling (1,000 samples) was used to derive bias-corrected 95% CIs around each predictor and validate the model. The final model was used to calculate expected mortality at each hospital. We calculated a standardized mortality ratio (observed-to-expected mortality) for each hospital and derived 95% CIs around the standardized mortality ratio estimate. Hospital standardized mortality ratio was considered a statistically significant outlier if the 95% CI did not include 1. Significant preoperative predictors of mortality in the final model included age, chromosomal abnormality/syndrome, previous cardiac surgeries, preoperative mechanical ventilation, and surgical complexity. Significant early postoperative risk factors included open sternum, mechanical ventilation, maximum vasoactive inotropic score, and extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. The model demonstrated excellent discrimination (C statistic, 0.92) and adequate calibration. Comparison across Pediatric Cardiac Critical Care Consortium hospitals revealed five-fold difference in standardized mortality ratio (0.4-1.9). Two hospitals had significantly better-than-expected and two had significantly worse-than-expected mortality. Conclusions For the first time, we have demonstrated that variation in mortality as a quality metric exists across dedicated cardiac ICUs. These findings can guide efforts to reduce mortality after cardiac surgery.
Ehlers-Danlos syndrome with infective endocarditis: A case report with literature review.

Abstract We report a patient with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome and mitral valve infective endocarditis. The case was complicated due to multiorgan involvement and initially diagnosed as hand-foot-and-mouth disease. The patient was transferred to our hospital with cerebral septic emboli and bilateral lower extremity emboli requiring early surgery. Complications of this syndrome and surgical risks are discussed in this report.
Current concepts of bilirubin metabolism in jaundice.

According to recent and current concepts, the biological behavior of bilirubin under various circumstances is due to chemical differences resulting in part from conjugation to form monoglucuronides and diglucuronides, sulfates, and other compounds. The physiological interrelationships of these fractions and their clinical significance have been discussed, including a review of the common forms of jaundice. Recent advances in problems related to icterus of the newborn and in the types of jaundice presumed due to congenital defects in bilirubin metabolism have also been presented. Finally, it should be emphasized that more new problems and avenues of future research have resulted than answers gained.
Assessing Repetitive Work When Processing Chinese, Japanese, and Korean Materials

This article looks at the repetitive tasks faced by East Asian Studies Librarians and considers how to automate them. By confirming the most repetitive tasks in East Asian Librarianship, the author...
Dispersive Vs Ftir Photometric Accuracy - Can it Be Measured?

ABSTRACT The rotating-sector primary standard, used for determining photometric accuracy of dispersive infrared spectrometers, cannot be used for FTIR instruments; in fact we know of no primary standard of photometric accuracy usable with an FTIR spectrometer. The use of secondary standards, calibrated on dispersive instruments, has been described by Bertie et al; however, this doubles the risk of errors due to second order effects. The photometric accuracy of both dispersive and FTIR instruments is influenced by a large number of secondary factors; many of these are common to both types of instrument, but there are others specific to FT. This paper discusses briefly the effects in the former category and considers in more detail the latter - especially those effects which are inherent to FT rather than the result of instrument ‘imperfections’. Finally, ways of overcoming these are suggested, together with some confirmatory checks.
Simultaneous recovery of ammonium, potassium and magnesium from produced water by struvite precipitation

Abstract Unconventional oil and gas industries generate huge amounts of produced water (PW) containing high concentrations of potentially hazardous organic and inorganic contaminants. This study demonstrated the feasibility of simultaneously recovering NH4+, K+ and Mg2+ from PW by struvite precipitation after calcium pretreatment with Na2CO3 addition or CO2 stripping. Without pretreatment, calcium exhibited strong competition for phosphate through the formation of Ca3(PO4)2 precipitate. The pretreatment with a Ca2+:CO32− molar ratio of 1:1.2 achieved a relatively low loss rate of Mg2+ (31.3%) and high Ca2+ removal efficiency (95.9%). The results also revealed that the Mg/N/P molar ratio and solution pH had a remarkable effect on the struvite precipitation, while the seeding dosage and Na+ slightly influenced struvite formation. The combination of pH = 9.5 & Mg/N/P molar ratio = 1.5:1:1.5 was ideal for struvite recovery from PW, resulting in NH4+, K+ and Mg2+ recovery efficiencies of 85.9%, 24.8% and 96.8%, respectively. The results of X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy further confirmed that the precipitates generated at this optimal condition were orthorhombic struvite. Moreover, along with the struvite recovery, no accumulation of heavy metals and organic contaminants was observed, indicating that the struvite quality was sufficient for field application. Furthermore, struvite recovery process was able to reduce the Microtox toxicity of PW towards Vibrio fischeri by 60%. Considering the low cost and relatively simple technology, struvite precipitation process has the potential to be used for large-scale applications for produced water treatment and resource recovery.
High Power Indium Phosphide Photonic Integrated Circuit for Pulse Position Modulation Free Space Optical Communications

In this work, a high-power indium phosphide photonic integrated circuit was investigated for pulse position modulation free space optical communications. The integrated transmitter was fabricated with a novel high-power platform. 16-ary pulse position modulation was demonstrated at a data rate of 1.25 Gbps with an extinction ratio of 9.6 dB.
A Study of Multi-Phase Injection on Accelerating Crystal Oscillator Start-Up

As a widely used reference signal generator in communication systems, a crystal oscillator (XO) exhibits an unduly long start-up time $T_{S}$ . External signal injection is an effective method to kick-start the XOs. However, the deviation from ideal injection frequency, which easily occurs and is hardly controllable, limits its effectiveness. This work analyzes the XO start-up behavior when differentially excited by an external oscillator and introduces a multi-phase signal injection method to mitigate the shortcomings of conventional injection techniques. Simulation results of an XO designed in a 180 nm CMOS process show that the proposed technique is capable of lowering $T_{S}$ close to minimum theoretical limit.
Long-Term Independence in Older Patients with Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage in the Barrow Ruptured Aneurysm Trial.

Objective Older patients have a higher risk for poor neurological outcomes following aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH). This study compared functional independence in older versus younger patients with aSAH and compared endovascular coiling with microsurgical clipping in the older cohort. Methods Patients enrolled in the Barrow Ruptured Aneurysm Trial (BRAT) with confirmed aSAH were analyzed. Patients were grouped by age: older (≥65 years old) or younger ( 80 at 6-year follow-up. A second analysis was performed comparing functional independence in older patients treated with endovascular coiling versus microsurgical clipping. Results Of 405 patients with aSAH enrolled in BRAT, 77 (19%) were ≥65 years old, and 328 (81%) were 80) at 6-year follow-up (42.0% [29/69] vs. 82.2% [217/264]; P Conclusions Patients ≥65 years old with aSAH are at increased risk for poor neurological outcomes compared with younger patients. Greater independence was observed in older patients after microsurgical clipping than after endovascular coiling at long-term follow-up.
Experimental and Thermodynamic Study of Alkali-Activated Waste Glass and Calcium Sulfoaluminate Cement Blends: Shrinkage, Efflorescence Potential, and Phase Assemblages

AbstractUrban waste glass powder (GP) has been identified as the Si-rich (>70%) but Ca- and Al-deficient precursor material for use in alkali-activated materials (AAMs). To facilitate the recycling...
K-Centers Clustering Protocol over Heterogeneous Wireless Sensor Networks

This paper introduces a K-Centers clustering protocol for heterogeneous wireless sensor networks. Energy consumption is an important issue for wireless sensor networks, and sensor nodes consume most of their energy with data delivery. The energy needed to transmit data is proportional to the distance between sensor nodes and either cluster heads or a base station. Clustering is an efficient technique for saving energy and extending network life. The authors' protocol uses a K-centers clustering algorithm to alter the network, topology and establish data routing. The result is k cluster heads which accommodate the distribution of sensor nodes and achieve minimum maximum intra-cluster distances. Their simulations show that their algorithm will outperform K-Means under many but not all conditions. The authors' always produce better minimum maximum intra-cluster distances compared to K-means.
Scanning Tunneling Microscopy

The scanning tunneling microscope is a new tool for determining surface topography on a sub-atomic scale. It uses the measurement of the quantum mechanical tunneling current from a sharp tip to a sample through a vacuum gap in order to plot a topographic map of the surface with vertical resolution as high as 0.1A and horizontal resolution as high as 2A. We will discuss the technique and its instrumentation as developed by Binnig et al.1–5 at IBM Zurich Research Laboratory. We will also discuss the instrument which is presently operating at ~2A vertical resolution in our laboratory. The technique has been shown to apply to samples consisting of metals, semiconductors, and adsorbates on metals. Examples of high resolution surface profiles from published results of the Zurich group, including gold, silicon, and oxygen on nickel, will be shown. Applications to rougher surfaces in poor vacuum, such as gold sputtered on silicon and silver evaporated on mica, will also be demonstrated.
Plasmasphere Modeling with Ring Current Heating

Coulomb collisions between ring current ions and the thermal plasma in the plasmasphere will heat the plasmaspheric electrons and ions. During a storm such heating would lead to significant changes in the temperature and density of the thermal plasma. This was modeled using a time- dependent, one-stream hydrodynamic model for plasmaspheric flows, in which the model flux tube is connected to the ionosphere. The model simultaneously solves the coupled continuity, momentum, and energy equations of a two-ion (H(+) and O(+) quasineutral, currentless plasma. Heating rates due to collisions with ring current ions were calculated along the field line using a kinetic ring current model. First, diurnally reproducible results were found assuming only photoelectron heating of the thermal electrons. Then results were found with heating of the H(+) ions by the ring current during the recovery phase of a magnetic storm.
Evidence for a midgastric transverse band in humans

When the solid fraction of a standardized meal is labeled with technetium 99m-sulfur colloid-labeled chicken liver and fed to human subjects, linear regions of decreased radioactivity that have the appearance of a band are identified on the scintillation camera images of the stomach. The band is not a peristaltic contraction because it persists in individual subjects after 4 h of imaging. The band has also been identified in the dog, pig, and monkey. It is transverse and midgastric in location. William Beaumont noted a similar band in his observations on Alexis St. Martin in 1833, and a transverse band was noted in autopsy specimens of food-filled human stomachs in 1919. However, the finding has been ignored in current gastrointestinal or radiologic textbooks because the band cannot be identified with conventional barium sulfate meals. The anatomic basis for the band and its role in regulating gastric emptying remain unclear.
THE SCHEDULING OF A MULTI-PRODUCT FACILITY

We are concerned with obtaining the optimal schedule of N products over a single facility in the finite and infinite horizons. This is a generalization of the classical cyclical “Economic Manufacturing Quantity” formulations. Through number-theoretic arguments we discuss questions of feasibility, the existence of communicating classes, and sensitivity to “saturation”. In the finite horizon case, we present an algorithm that generates the production plan, and another algorithm that generates the production schedule through a shortest-path interpretation. In the infinite horizon case, we do likewise: the optimal production plan is a Turnpike cycle. Due to the immensity of the state space, approximate procedures are also discussed.
Integrating Remote Sensing Data on Evapotranspiration and Leaf Area Index with Hydrological Modeling: Impacts on Model Performance and Future Predictions

AbstractUsing the Connecticut River basin as an example, this study assesses the extent to which remote sensing data can help improve hydrological modeling and how it may influence projected future hydrological trends. The dynamic leaf area index (LAI) derived from satellite remote sensing was incorporated into the Variable Infiltration Capacity model (VIC) to enable an interannually varying seasonal cycle of vegetation (VICVEG); the evapotranspiration (ET) data based on remote sensing were combined with ET from a default VIC simulation to develop a simple bias-correction algorithm, and the simulation was then repeated with the bias-corrected ET replacing the simulated ET in the model (VICET). VICET performs significantly better in simulating the temporal variability of river discharge at daily, biweekly, monthly, and seasonal time scales, while VICVEG better captures the interannual variability of discharge, particularly in the winter and spring, and shows slight improvements to soil moisture estimates. ...
The Founding of the Harvard-Yenching Library

Three separate events, spanning almost half a century, made possible the creation of an East Asian collection at Harvard which was to develop into a preeminent library for East Asian research in the West. They were the introduction of Chinese in Harvard's curriculum in 1879, the decision of A. Kaiming Chiu to come to Harvard for graduate study in 1925, and the establishment of the Harvard-Yenching Institute in 1928.
Viruses: Making Friends with Old Foes

The study of viruses has traditionally focused on their roles as infectious agents and as tools for understanding cell biology. Viruses are now finding a new expanded role as nanoplatforms with applications in materials science and medicine. Viruses form highly symmetrical monodisperse architectures and are ideal templates for engineering multifunctionality, including multivalent display of surface ligands and encapsulation of inorganic and organic materials. These developments assure that viruses will find applications as versatile nanoscale materials.
Studies in Sickle Cell Anemia.

Children with sickle cell anemia drink large amounts of fluid, have serum of low osmolality, and void large quantities of urine of low osmolality. These findings may be explained on the basis of habitual ingestion of excessive amounts of fluid rather than renal damage.
Fixed-point pure gauge action using b = √3 RGT

Abstract We present a status report on the construction of the classical perfect action using the b = √3 renormalization group transformation (RGT) [1]. We investigate finite volume corrections and map the locality of the fixed-point action by tuning the RGT parameter, κ. We compare results with the previous calculation for b = 2 RGT [2].
Rhinologic manifestations of ectodermal dysplasia.

BackgroundThe Ectodermal Dysplasias (ED) are a group of uncommon genetic disorders characterized by deficient development of tissues derived from ectoderm and mesoderm. Abnormalities of the respiratory epithelium prevent normal mucociliary function. We explored the prevalence and severity of sinonasal features in affected individuals.MethodsThirty-four subjects with ED were evaluated. A focused history and thorough nasal examination including flexible nasopharyngoscopy were performed. Patients and caregivers rated the severity of rhinologic symptoms with a standard scale. Standardized smell tests were also performed.ResultsThe study included 21 males and 13 females whose mean age was 18.8 years (range, 4 months to 85 years). The majority (79%) had Hypohydrotic ED. Nearly half of the individuals evaluated reported moderate to severe nasal obstruction. Allergic symptoms were present in 44% of individuals whereas 41% had a history of sinusitis. Nasal concretions were significantly more troublesome in those a...
Anesthetic Considerations for Aortocoronary Bypass Graft Surgery

Between 1964 and 1978, aortocoronary bypass graft procedures were performed in more than 300,000 patients, and the number seems to increase every year. Nevertheless, the procedure itself can result in perioperative myocardial infarction leading to death. Greater understanding of and constant attention to the myocardial oxygen (O2) supply and demand may reduce the incidence of perioperative myocardial infarction. Some of the factors influencing supply and demand can be controlled pharmacologically. Drugs such as nitroglycerin, nitroprusside, and propranolol can reduce the myocardial O2 demand. Unfortunately, there are few data to elucidate the relationship between myocardial O2 demand and supply as influenced by anesthetic drugs, especially in patients with myocardial ischemia. However, enthusiasm for aortocoronary bypass graft operations has given enormous impetus to laboratory and clinical studies of this subject. Recent developments in anesthetic management afford better means for protection of the ischemic myocardium during and after operation.
Structure of (chloranilato)bis(tri-n-butylphosphine)palladium(II)

(Chloranilato)bis(tri-n-butylphosphine)palladium(II), [Pd(C6Cl2O4){P(C4H9)3}2] (chloranilic acid=2,5-dichloro-3,6-dihydroxy-p-benzoquinone): FW=718.02,P21/c,a=21.729(6),b=17.293(5),c=21.010(9) A,β=112.62(3)°,V=7287.42 A3,Z=8,D c=1.309mg m−3, Mo, λ=0.710730 A,μ=0.76 mm−1,F(000)=3008, finalR=0.087, 2594 observed reflections. Palladium is ligated by a distorted square planar P2O2 coordination sphere in the title compound. The two molecules per asymmetric unit differ in the arrangement of phosphine n-butyl chains, yielding two unique metal centers.
Dissolution of rubbery and glassy polymers

A mathematical model is formulated for solvent dissolution of rubbery and glassy polymers. An exact solution to the problem is derived for the constant diffusivity case, and a weighted residual solution is developed for the case of a concentration-dependent diffusion coefficient. The solution is used to calculate concentration profiles, dissolution curves, dissolution half-times, and pseudointerface positions at various times. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J. Polym. Sci. B Polym. Phys. 36: 2607–2614, 1998
Examining the Impact of Interpersonal Cohesiveness on Group Accuracy Interventions: The Importance of Matching versus Buffering

Abstract Despite the wealth of research on group process interventions, there is still little known about how fundamental group characteristics influence the effectiveness of these techniques. The present study examined how one important group characteristics, interpersonal cohesiveness, influences the relative effectiveness of two distinct group decision interventions. Two competing principles (Matching versus Buffering) are presented as a guide to specific hypotheses about the relative effectiveness of two interventions under varying levels of cohesiveness. After experimentally manipulating interpersonal cohesiveness, groups discussed a series of quantitative estimation questions and were then given instructions specific to one of two strategic interventions. The interventions consisted of additional instructions to either “Share information” or “Try to identify the most accurate member” as groups discussed each question and formed a group estimate. Results provide support for the proposition that groups are more effective if there is a “match” between the existing orientation of the group (i.e., how much they feel like a group as manipulated by cohesiveness) and the strategy they have been given. There was also some evidence that the gender composition of the group moderated this effect with same-sex groups showing evidence of matching, while mixed-sex groups were more accurate regardless of experimental condition. Exploratory analyses revealed that the superiority of mixed-sex groups was not the result of existing knowledge differences, leaving open the possibility that there may be a group process advantage in mixed-sex groups. These results, in conjunction with the support for the matching principle, are discussed within a framework that emphasizes the importance of examining how differences in groups may influence the success of various group interventions.
Signaling in regulation of podocyte phenotypes.

The kidney podocyte is a terminally differentiated and highly specialized cell. The function of the glomerular filtration barrier depends on the integrity of the podocyte. Podocyte injury and loss hav