cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Probing the Quenching of Quantum Dot Photoluminescence by Peptide-Labeled Ruthenium(II) Complexes

Charge transfer processes with semiconductor quantum dots (QDs) have generated much interest for potential utility in energy conversion. Such configurations are generally nonbiological; however, recent studies have shown that a redox-active ruthenium(II)–phenanthroline complex (Ru2+-phen) is particularly efficient at quenching the photoluminescence (PL) of QDs, and this mechanism demonstrates good potential for application as a generalized biosensing detection modality since it is aqueous compatible. Multiple possibilities for charge transfer and/or energy transfer mechanisms exist within this type of assembly, and there is currently a limited understanding of the underlying photophysical processes in such biocomposite systems where nanomaterials are directly interfaced with biomolecules such as proteins. Here, we utilize redox reactions, steady-state absorption, PL spectroscopy, time-resolved PL spectroscopy, and femtosecond transient absorption spectroscopy (FSTA) to investigate PL quenching in biologic...
Fluorouracil-induced Hyperammonemia in a Patient with Colorectal Cancer

Fluorouracil (5-FU; Adrucil®) is a pyrimidine analog antineoplastic chemotherapy agent which works by interfering with DNA and RNA synthesis. It has an uncommon toxicity called hyperammonemic encephalopathy. This neurotoxicity is associated with a high-dose administration of 5-FU (2,600 mg/m(2)/week), with an incidence rate of 5.7%, and is not normally seen with the current dose of 1,200 mg/m(2) infused over 46 h. The mechanism behind this neurotoxicity is not known but is possibly due to accumulation of fluorocitrate, a byproduct of 5-FU metabolism. This by-product inhibits the Krebs cycle, which causes impairment of the adenosine triphosphate-dependent urea cycle. By impairing this cycle, ammonia is not converted to urea, which in turn this leads to an accumulation of ammonia. The accumulated ammonia in the brain is metabolized to glutamine, which has been suggested to cause an increase in intracranial pressure and cerebral edema. This case report discusses how a 40-year-old male with colorectal cancer experienced 5FU-induced hyperammonemia and was treated for it and how reducing the dose by 50% led to resolution of this symptom from reoccurring.
Physical and emotional stress associated with components of the infertility investigation: perspectives of professionals and patients.

Objective The present study examined patients', nurses', and physicians' perceptions of the physical and emotional difficulty of infertility treatment. Design A mail survey method was used. Patients, Participants Participants included 26 patients, 76 nurses, and 71 physicians from infertility clinics in the United States and Canada. Main Outcome Measures A rating scale measured the physical and emotional difficulty level of 36 components from the infertility investigation. Results Nurses rated the emotional and physical distress of patients higher than did patients and physicians, whereas patients rated their distress higher than did physicians. Older nurses and physicians inferred lower levels of physical and emotional distress than did their younger counterparts. A greater breadth of experience with infertility treatments was associated with higher ratings of emotional distress by nurses and lower ratings by physicians. Conclusions Patients, nurses, and physicians perceive infertility treatment from unique vantage points creating differences in perceptions that have implications for patient care. Factors including era of professional training, stage of life, and changes resulting from advancing technology are viewed as influencing health care professionals' perceptions of infertility distress.
Impact of a regimented aminophylline administration protocol on the burden of regadenoson-induced ischemia detected by SPECT myocardial perfusion imaging

Background In patients undergoing regadenoson SPECT myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI), it is unknown how soon and at which dose intravenous aminophylline can be administered to reverse regadenoson-related adverse effects without blunting stress-induced myocardial ischemia.
Antigenic landscape of the HIV-1 envelope and new immunological concepts defined by HIV-1 broadly neutralizing antibodies

The isolation of HIV-1 broadly neutralizing antibodies (bnAbs) has demonstrated the ability of the human immune system to mount effective antibody responses against the virus. To harness this immune potential to elicit similar antibody responses by vaccination, it is important to understand the immunological processes that produce them. Here we review recent advances in crystal structural determinations of HIV-1 bnAb epitopes that directly portray the antigenic landscape of the HIV-1 envelope glycoprotein. We also summarize new immunological concepts implicated in bnAb sequences and their lineage studies.
Development of a MEMS dual-axis differential capacitance floating element shear stress sensor

A single-axis MEMS wall shear stress sensor with differential capacitive transduction method is produced. Using a synchronous modulation and demodulation interface circuit, the system is capable of making real time measurements of both mean and fluctuating wall shear stress. A sensitivity of 3.44 mV/Pa is achieved, with linearity in response demonstrated up to testing limit of 2 Pa. Minimum detectable signals of 340 μPa at 100 Hz and 120 μPa at 1 kHz are indicated, with a resonance of 3.5 kHz. Multiple full scale wind tunnel tests are performed, producing spectral measurements of turbulent boundary layers in wind speeds ranging up to 0.5 Ma (18 Pa of mean wall shear stress). The compact packaging allows for minimally invasive installation, and has proven relatively robust over multiple testing events. Temperature sensitivity, likely due to poor CTE matching of packaged materials, is an ongoing concern being addressed. These successes are being directly leveraged into a development plan for a dual-axis wall shear stress sensor, capable of producing true vector estimates at the wall.
The Effect of Oral Contraceptives on Micronutrients

Estrogens and oral contraceptive agents (OCA) are widely used as prophylactic and therapeutic agents in gynecological practice. It is estimated that one out of six women of childbearing age in the United States currently use OCA. These potent pharmacological agents affect many aspects of human metabolism. Alterations in the levels of minerals and vitamins in the plasma as a result of OCA administration has been noted and reviewed by many authors (1, 2, 3). Most of these studies, however, were performed in a small number of subjects and as such were limited in scope. The purpose of this paper is to document the effects of OCA on minerals and vitamin metabolism in a large number of subjects representing different socioeconomic groups. Some of our data have been presented in detail elsewhere (4, 5, 6); as such, only pertinent information will be reviewed in this paper.
Final Report: “Energetics of Nanomaterials”

Nanomaterials, solids with very small particle size, form the basis of new technologies that are revolutionizing fields such as energy, lighting, electronics, medical diagnostics, and drug delivery. These nanoparticles are different from conventional bulk materials in many ways we do not yet fully understand. This project focused on their structure and thermodynamics and emphasized the role of water in nanoparticle surfaces. Using a unique and synergistic combination of high-tech techniques—namely oxide melt solution calorimetry, cryogenic heat capacity measurements, and inelastic neutron scattering—this work has identified differences in structure, thermodynamic stability, and water behavior on nanoparticles as a function of composition and particle size. The systematics obtained increase the fundamental understanding needed to synthesize, retain, and apply these technologically important nanomaterials and to predict and tailor new materials for enhanced functionality, eventually leading to a more sustainable way of life. Highlights are reported on the following topics: surface energies, thermochemistry of nanoparticles, and changes in stability at the nanoscale; heat capacity models and the gapped phonon spectrum; control of pore structure, acid sites, and thermal stability in synthetic γ-aluminas; the lattice contribution is the same for bulk and nanomaterials; and inelastic neutron scattering studies of water on nanoparticle surfaces.
Advances in myelinating glial cell development

In the vertebrate nervous system, the fast conduction of action potentials is potentiated by the myelin sheath, a multi-lamellar, lipid-rich structure that also provides vital trophic and metabolic support to axons. Myelin is elaborated by the plasma membrane of specialized glial cells, oligodendrocytes in the central nervous system (CNS) and Schwann cells (SCs) in the peripheral nervous system (PNS). The diseases that result from damage to myelin or glia, including multiple sclerosis and Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease, underscore the importance of these cells for human health. Therefore, an understanding of glial development and myelination is crucial in addressing the etiology of demyelinating diseases and developing patient therapies. In this review, we discuss new insights into the roles of mechanotransduction and cytoskeletal rearrangements as well as activity dependent myelination and axonal maintenance by glia. Together, these discoveries advance our knowledge of myelin and glia in nervous system health and plasticity throughout life.
Successful STEM mentoring initiatives for underrepresented students: A research-based guide for faculty and administrators

In “Successful STEM Mentoring Initiatives for Underrepresented Students,” author Becky W. Packard takes on the challenge of addressing how mentoring programs can be developed and sustained to effec...
Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia: New Definitions

The National Healthcare Safety Network's new classification characterizes all adverse ventilator-associated events (VAE) into a tiered system designed to shift the focus away from ventilator-associated pneumonia as the only important cause or morbidity in ventilated patients. This new surveillance definition of VAE eliminates subjectivity by using clearly defined criteria and facilitates the automated collection of data. This allows for easier comparison and analysis of factors affecting rates of VAE. Numerous studies have been published that demonstrate its clinical application. This article presents the VAE criteria, contrasts the difference from the previous ventilator-associated pneumonia definition, and discusses its implementation over the past 5 years.
Making Sense of the Ransomware Mess (and Planning a Sensible Path Forward)

It started out as a seemingly isolated event. Reports early during the morning of 12 May 2017 talked about an unknown piece of ransomware attacking systems within the British National Health System (NHS) hospital network. Well over 50,000 NHS systems were infected, forcing affected hospitals to divert pat ients to other facilities. As hours passed, however, it became clear that this event was not isolated, and systems spanning more than 150 countries quickly succumbed to what would come to be known as WannaCry (which is known by multiple names including WanaCry, WannaCrypt, and WannaCrypt0r, among others.)
Protecting against abuses of cryptosystems in particular in the context of verification of peace treaties

Several modern cryptosystems can be abused, or in other words, used for different purposes than intended. Modern signature systems, for example, allow the undersigned to hide an encrypted message in the signature. Avoiding this is crucial in the context of verification of international peace treaties. In this paper we solve the above problem, and in general, demonstrate how one can prevent abuses of cryptosystems.
The transformation of investigative journalism in China: From journalists to activists

The Transformation of Investigative Journalism in China addresses an important issue in both Chinese media politics and comparative communication studies – activist journalism as a potential altern...
Utility and proposed algorithm of CSF flow cytometry in hematologic malignancies

In patients with hematologic malignancies, multiparameter flow cytometry (FCM) offers greater sensitivity than cytology in detecting malignant cells in the initial cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) specimen. However, the role of FCM in assessment of subsequent specimens is unclear. We developed an algorithm to reduce the number of low-yield FCM tests without significant impact on clinically meaningful results. Patients with hematologic malignancies were studied in a derivation cohort, and the following algorithm was developed: (1) cytology and FCM on all initial samples, (2) cytology on all subsequent samples, and (3) FCM on subsequent samples only if previous FCM was positive. A separate population served as the validation cohort. The derivation cohort included 197 patients representing 1157 cytology and 543 FCM samples. Common malignancies were B-Cell ALL (25.3%), diffuse large B cell lymphoma (29.4%), and Burkitt lymphoma (7.7%). In the derivation cohort, the algorithm yielded a sensitivity of 90.0% (95% CI, 81.2-95.6%) and a specificity of 100% (95% CI, 98.9-100.0%). The validation cohort included 132 patients with 563 cytology and 602 FCM samples. In the validation cohort, the testing algorithm yielded a sensitivity of 87.5% (95% CI, 75.9-94.8%) and a specificity of 100% (95% CI, 99.1-100.0%). Of the 15 samples that were missed by the algorithm, FCM findings did not impact patients' management because of known CNS disease (seven patients) or they were responding to treatment (eight patients). CSF testing in hematologic malignancies using the proposed algorithm presents an evidence-based approach to reduce the number of unnecessary FCM tests of CSF without compromising patient care.
Assessment of Low-Exposure Risk from Carcinogens: Implications of the Knudson-Moolgavkar Two-Critical Mutation Theory

The two-critical-mutation carcinogenesis theory of Knudson and Moolgavkar seems to provide solutions to some of the most contentious problems in cancer risk assessment. It describes a class of agents which increase tumor incidence without being reactive toward DNA: these nongenotoxic agents act through increases in cell birth rate. Because mutations occur when DNA lesions are not repaired before mitosis, increasing the mitotic rate increases the probability that a critical mutation will occur. Agents which affect mitotic rate can act either on normal cells or on those which have undergone one of the two critical mutations (“initiated”). Those acting on initiated cells are identified with the class called “promoters” by experimentalists. No unequivocal examples of agents acting solely on normal cells have yet been reported, although some are postulated.
Factors Influencing Female Caregivers' Appraisals of Their Preschoolers' Behaviors

Abstract Introduction This study used the Resiliency Model of Family Stress, Adjustment, and Adaptation to explore family factors associated with primary female caregivers' appraisals of children's behaviors, distortion of their appraisals, and children's risk of having behavioral problems. Method A cross-sectional, correlational design was used. Data were collected from female caregivers of preschoolers. Instruments measured demographic characteristics, comfort in parenting, appraisal of behaviors, daily and parenting stress, depressive symptoms, social support, ratings of children's behaviors, and distortion in ratings. Analyses included χ2 and simultaneous linear regression. Results Greater parenting discomfort and daily stress were associated with lower appraisals of children's behaviors. Caucasian race and higher distortion in behavioral ratings were associated with higher risk of behavioral problems. Caregiver's appraisal was associated with daily stress level and parenting comfort. Discussion Additional research is needed regarding how these factors affect children's behavior and causes of distorted parental views of children's behaviors.
Late Onset Fabry Disease: A Mimicker of CNS Demyelinating Disease (P2.367)

Objective: To describe a rare case of late-onset Fabry Disease in a woman, mimicking CNS demyelinating disease. Background: Fabry Disease is a rare X-linked lysosomal storage disorder caused by deficient activity of alpha-galactosidase A enzyme, leading to a build-up of globotriaosylceramide throughout the body. Design/Methods: 43-year-old Colombian woman reported a remote history of transverse myelitis and carried a diagnosis of seronegative NMO, presented with years of transient neurological symptoms including intermittent burning dyesthesias, vertigo, weakness, urinary retention and visual obscurations. Her ophthalmologic examination was significant for corneal whorls and optic nerve atrophy. Her neurological exam was normal. Results: A review of serial brain MRIs revealed the progression of T2 hyperintensities within the supratentorial white matter. Interestingly T2 hyperintense lesions developed in the genu of the corpus collusion and left parietal lobe and resolved over time. None of the lesions showed restricted diffusion or enhancement with gadolinium. MRI of the cervical and thoracic spine were normal. Nerve condition studies revealed no evidence of a neuropathy. Gallium scan was negative for sarcoidosis. CBC and metabolic profile were normal. Extensive CSF studies were unremarkable. Vasculitis and hypercoagulable workup were negative. NMO anybody testing was negative in the serum and CSF. Lyme, SLE, Sjogren antibodies were negative. Fabry disease was considered given the presence of corneal whorls and atypical imaging findings. Serum alpha-galactosidase enzyme levels were reduced and genetic testing confirmed a pathological heterozygous mutation in the GLA gene. Conclusions: Fabry Disease is a rare X-linked disorder with varied neurologic manifestations that can develop in female carriers. This condition can mimic CNS demyelinating disease and must remain on the differential diagnosis. The thorough ophthalmic examination was the key to the diagnosis in this case. Disclosure: Dr. Rath has nothing to disclose. Dr. Desai has nothing to disclose. Dr. Meira Benchaya has nothing to disclose. Dr. Imperioli has nothing to disclose.
Management of Status Asthmaticus in Critically Ill Children

Asthma is one of the most prevalent chronic diseases in childhood. Status asthmaticus, the most severe form of asthma exacerbation, is one of the most common admission diagnoses in the pediatric intensive care unit. Airway inflammation causing increased airway resistance and air trapping is the central pathophysiology of status asthmaticus. Children with status asthmaticus require continuous cardiopulmonary monitoring and frequent assessments of their respiratory and neurological status, with careful attention to signs of impending respiratory failure. Though bedside asthma scores can facilitate communication of disease progression, they are not validated, and many of the variables included depend on subjective evaluation. There is substantial variability in pharmacological treatment and mechanical support across pediatric intensive care units, denoting lack of consensus. Use of intermittent or continuous inhaled albuterol and systemic corticosteroids therapy as a first-line therapy for status asthmaticus, however, is widely accepted and thus not controversial. Evidence also supports the use of inhaled anticholinergic treatment (i.e., ipratropium bromide) and intravenous magnesium sulfate, both of which have been shown to consistently decrease rates of hospital admission when administered early in the course of the disease process. Other adjunctive therapies such as aminophylline, terbutaline, and heliox may be helpful in select patients, with aminophylline likely representing the most cost-efficient option for refractory status asthmaticus. Recent compelling data supports the use of noninvasive positive-pressure ventilation (NIPPV) as a means of avoiding the need for endotracheal intubation and mechanical ventilation. For some patients, status asthmaticus will worsen despite these therapies, for which mechanical ventilation will be required. In these cases, pressure-regulated volume control ventilation is a reasonable approach, with continuous assessment of plateau and positive end-expiratory pressures.
Functional Multipotency of Stem Cells and Recovery Neurobiology of Injured Spinal Cords

This invited concise review was written for the special issue of Cell Transplantation to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the American Society for Neural Therapy and Repair (ASNTR). I aimed to present a succinct summary of two interweaved lines of research work carried out by my team members and collaborators over the past decade. Since the middle of the 20th century, biomedical research has been driven overwhelmingly by molecular technology-based focal endeavors. Our investigative undertakings, however, were orchestrated to define and propose novel theoretical frameworks to enhance the field's ability to overcome complex neurological disorders. The effort has engendered two important academic concepts: Functional Multipotency of Stem Cells, and Recovery Neurobiology of Injured Spinal Cords. Establishing these theories was facilitated by academic insight gleaned from stem cell-based multimodal cross-examination studies using tactics of material science, systems neurobiology, glial biology, and neural oncology. It should be emphasized that the collegial environment cultivated by the mission of the ASNTR greatly promoted the efficacy of inter-laboratory collaborations. Notably, our findings have shed new light on fundamentals of stem cell biology and adult mammalian spinal cord neurobiology. Moreover, the novel academic leads have enabled determination of potential therapeutic targets to restore function for spinal cord injury and neurodegenerative diseases.
Chapter 40 – Hypercalciuria

Publisher Summary In men, low bone mass and fracture have several etiologies. Bone loss with hypercalciuria and normal serum calcium may result from primary and secondary hypogonadal states. This chapter focuses on idiopathic hypercalciuria (IH), a common cause of low bone mass and the most common cause of Ca oxalate nephrolithiasis. Hypercalciuria was implicated in the pathogenesis of kidney stones in the 1930s when Flocks reported a high frequency of hypercalciuria among stone formers. In the 1950s, Albright and colleagues first described IH as consisting of hypercalciuria, normal serum Ca and the absence of the known systemic hypercalciuric disorders. Five percent of men in the adult population have hypercalciuria and, of them, about 10% will form a kidney stone. IH accounts for 50% of all Ca oxalate nephrolithiasis and is thought to contribute to stone formation by creating a urine supersaturated with respect to Ca and either oxalate or phosphate. A variety of non-invasive techniques have been used to quantify bone density in IH patients, however dual energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA), which measures bone mineral density (BMD) at the lumbar spine, proximal femur and forearm, has been used most extensively. DXA scans are highly sensitive to small changes in BMD and are sufficiently reproducible to track changes in bone mass over time.
Interdependent integrated network design and scheduling problems with movement of machines

Abstract We consider the problem of restoring services provided by an interdependent set of infrastructures after they were disrupted from an extreme event. Specifically, we select the set of damaged infrastructure arcs for immediate restoration and schedule these on a set of machines (work crews). Our novel contribution is that when we determine the selection and scheduling of these damaged arcs, we explicitly consider the movement of machines through a damaged transportation network that is currently being restored. Previous works failed to consider how machine movement greatly influences the ability to conduct timely restoration due to the interdependence on the transportation network. To model this restoration construct, we propose an interdependent integrated network design and scheduling problem with movement of machines (IINDS-MM). In an IINDS-MM problem, we have a base transportation network and at least one additional infrastructure network layer. For each network layer, we determine what damaged arcs are selected for restoration, which machine will conduct the restoration, and the sequence of tasks assigned to each machine when explicitly considering machine movement through the changing transportation network. We propose a mixed integer programming formulation of the IINDS-MM problem and solve it using a rolling horizon solution procedure. Using realistic data representing Juan Diaz, Panama and the customizable artificial community CLARC data set, we simulate different storm surge levels and possible damage scenarios. We then solve the IINDS-MM problem and deduce insights about machine starting locations, machine capabilities, and the performance of IINDS-MM compared to existing restoration models.
Quantitative Fundus Autofluorescence in HCQ Retinopathy.

Purpose To increase our understanding of the mechanisms underlying hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) retinopathy, analyses by quantitative fundus autofluorescence (qAF) and near-infrared fundus autofluorescence (NIR-AF) were compared to results obtained by recommended screening tests. Methods Thirty-one patients (28 females, 3 males) were evaluated with standard automated perimetry and spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT); 28 also had multifocal electroretinography (mfERG). Measurement of short-wavelength fundus autofluorescence (SW-AF) by qAF involved the use of an internal fluorescent reference and intensity measurements in eight concentric segments at 7° to 9° eccentricity. For semiquantitative analysis of NIR-AF, intensities were acquired along a vertical axis through the fovea. Results Four of 15 high-dose (total dose >1000 g, daily dose >5.0 mg/kg) patients and one of 16 low-dose (total dose <1000 g, daily dose 4.4 mg/kg) patients were diagnosed with HCQ-associated retinopathy based on abnormal 10-2 visual fields, SD-OCT, and SW-AF imaging. Three of the high-dose patients also had abnormal mfERG results. Of the five patients exhibiting retinopathy, two had qAF color-coded images revealing higher intensities inferior, nasal, and lateral to the fovea. The abnormal visual fields also exhibited superior-inferior differences. Mean NIR-AF gray-level intensities were increased in four high-dose patients with no evidence of retinopathy. In two patients with retinopathy, NIR-AF intensity within the parafovea was below the normal range. One high-dose patient (6.25 mg/kg) had only abnormal mfERG results. Conclusions These findings indicate that screening for HCQ retinopathy should take into consideration superior-inferior differences in susceptibility to HCQ retinopathy.
A Highly Sensitive Capacitive Based Dual-Axis Accelerometer for Wearable Applications

A novel highly sensitive miniaturized accelerometer was developed for wearable applications using microelectromechanical system (MEMS) based silicon-on-glass (SOG) technology. The accelerometer, with an overall dimension of 2 x 2 x 0.6 mm, consists of four narrow meander beams that supports the proof mass which is capable of moving in both the x and y- axis, and was designed for measuring accelerations up to 53 g. The capacitive based accelerometer was modeled and simulated in COMSOL Multiphysics® software for voltages varying from 0 to 10 V and a relative capacitance change of 1300% was observed. The experimental results of the fabricated accelerometer revealed a capacitance change from 100 pF to 1,300 pF for the applied voltages ranging from 0 to 10 V resulting in a capacitance change of 1200%. Further, a 2 mm × 2 mm readout circuit based on the E/D NMOS technology was fabricated for the MEMS-based accelerometer. A gain of 5.3 was measured for the readout circuit.
Customary International Law and U.S. Judicial Power: From the Third to the Fourth Restatements

This chapter describes specific points of divergence between the Third and Fourth Restatements of the Foreign Relations Law of the United States regarding how U.S. courts should engage with customary international law. The Third Restatement, adopted in 1987, envisioned U.S. courts fluent in and engaged with international law, deploying a U.S. foreign relations jurisprudence in dialogue with international law and lawyers. Customary international law was a central feature of this vision because it was the prime pathway for human rights litigation in federal courts when U.S. treaty-based human-rights initiatives had stalled. Appearing thirty years later, the Fourth Restatement exhibits a fundamentally different orientation toward customary international law. Customary international law is no longer embraced as it was in the Third Restatement as an opportunity to play offense, to advance the international law of human rights. That vision inspired a reaction among some U.S. legal scholars who questioned the U.S. federal law status of customary international law and the legitimacy of U.S. judges advancing the customary international law of human rights. The Fourth Restatement seeks a middle ground by defending against this revision of customary international law’s status role in the United States, concerned that the revisionist view might encourage and provide cover for U.S. courts to dismiss cases and claims with foreign policy ramifications that they should be adjudicating. The approaches of the two Restatements, taken together, have contributed to the disengagement of U.S. judges from customary international law altogether, to the detriment of U.S. conduct of foreign policy and contrary to the original constitutional specification of the judicial power of the United States as reflected in Article III, the Judiciary Act of 1789 that established the federal courts, and early historical practice.
Effects of tilt on the orientation dynamics of the large-scale circulation in turbulent Rayleigh-Bénard convection

We experimentally test the effects of tilting a turbulent Rayleigh–Benard convection cell on the dynamics of the large-scale circulation (LSC) orientation θ0. The probability distribution of θ0 is measured and used to obtain a tilt-induced potential acting on θ0, which is used in a low-dimensional model of diffusion of θ0 in a potential. The form of the potential is sinusoidal in θ0 and linear in tilt angle for small tilt angles, which is explained by a simple geometric model of the vector direction of the mean buoyancy force acting on the LSC. However, the magnitude of the tilt-induced forcing is found to be two orders of magnitude larger than previously predicted. When this parameter is adjusted to match the values obtained from the probability distribution of θ0, the diffusive model can quantitatively predict the effects of tilt on θ0. In particular, tilt causes a change in potential barrier height between neighboring corners of a cubic cell, and changes in the barrier-crossing rate for θ0 to escape a corner are predicted with an accuracy of ±30%. As a cylindrical cell is tilted, the tilt-induced potential provides a restoring force that induces oscillations when it exceeds the strength of damping; this critical tilt angle is predicted within 20%, and the prediction is consistent with the measured oscillation frequencies. These observations show that a self-consistent low-dimensional model can be extended to include the dynamics of θ0 due to tilt. However, the underprediction of the effect of tilt on θ0 warrants revisiting the predicted magnitude.
Architecture for VLSI Design of Reed-Solomon Encoders

In this correspondence the logic structure of a universal VLSI chip called the symbol-slice Reed-Solomon (RS) encoder chip is presented. An RS encoder can be constructed by cascading and properly interconnecting a group of such VLSI chips. As a design example, it is shown that a (255, 223) RS encoder requiring around 40 discrete CMOS IC's may be replaced by an RS encoder consisting of four identical interconnected VLSI RS encoder chips. Besides the size advantage, the VLSI RS encoder also has the potential advantages of requiring less power and having a higher reliability.
The intersection of sociopolitical trends and Aging Network training: an analysis of national conference proceedings

The Aging Network provides services to over 11 million older adults and their caregivers annually. Three national conferences (AIRS, n4a, and NASUAD) support the diffusion of critical information t...
Monitoring the phenology of the wood frog breeding season using bioacoustic methods

Abstract The breeding phenology of wood frogs (Lithobates sylvaticus) in subarctic ecosystems is closely tied to the weather conditions at the onset of spring. With climate change occurring at an accelerated rate at high latitudes, we expect changes in the timing of the onset of spring to impact the timing of wood frog breeding. Wood frogs in the subarctic emerge from hibernation just after the snow melts and ambient air temperatures increase, but local and regional drivers of breeding phenology are not well understood and are difficult to study due to the relative inaccessibility of the region. We deployed passive acoustic monitors at multiple sites from 2011 to 2017 to track the timing of wood frog breeding based on calling activity and determine how this activity relates to environmental conditions. We developed a semi-automated approach for detecting wood frog calls, including the manual removal of false positives, and show that these estimates of activity are closely related to the timing of snowmelt and ambient air temperature. Our results suggest that wood frog breeding phenology in subarctic and arctic ecosystems will likely change in response to warming conditions, and we conclude that passive acoustic monitoring paired with semi-automated detection of wood frog calling provides an accurate and efficient method for tracking changes in population-scale wood frog breeding in this challenging and rapidly changing ecosystem.
Determining patterns of genetic diversity and post-glacial recolonization of western Canada in the Iowa golden saxifrage, Chrysosplenium iowense (Saxifragaceae), using inter-simple sequence repeats

Chrysosplenium iowense Rydb. (Saxifragaceae) is a southern Canadian boreal forest species with a small number of disjunct populations occurring in the Driftless Area of northeastern Iowa and southeastern Minnesota. This disjunction is attributed to the actions of glacial movement and climate change during the Pleistocene. Populations within each of these distributions may have been isolated for 115 000 years or more and, although levels of genetic divergence between these regions may be significant, there is no morphological or cytological variation associated with this geographic break. We employed inter-simple sequence repeat (ISSR) markers to determine patterns of genetic diversity within 12 populations (six Canadian; six Iowan) of C. iowense and elucidate the routes of post-glacial recolonization for the species. Despite finding relatively high levels of genetic divergence (θII = 0.383, θII = 0.299) between Driftless Area and Canadian populations, there is no conclusive evidence of a speciation event within C. iowense. Analyses show moderate levels of genetic diversity within the species (HT = 0.188), the majority of which is partitioned among individuals within populations (68.18%), which were similar across the northern (HT = 0.234, HT = 0.28) and southern (HT = 0.189) ranges. Finally, the patterns of genetic diversity within C. iowense suggest that the Canadian range was established by migrants originating in now extinct refugial populations that existed outside the Driftless Area. © 2008 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2008, 95, 815–823.
What you get is not what you saw: exploring the impacts of misleading hotel website photos.

Purpose – This research aims to investigate the impacts of misleading hotel website photos on consumers’ brand trust, emotional responses and negative word-of-mouth (WOM) intention. The magnitude of these impacts in different contexts was examined. Design/methodology/approach – This study employed a 2 (hotel segment: economy vs upscale) × 2 (expected product experience: hedonic vs utilitarian) scenario-based experimental design. A total of 240 consumers participated in this study. Findings – The study results show that, in the case of misleading hotel website photos, brand trust was lower for the upscale hotel. Consumers experienced greater anger and regret in the upscale hotel situation and were most angry if they stayed at an upscale hotel for a hedonic purpose. The eWOM intention was higher in the upscale hotel situation. In addition, it was found that hotel physical environment was more important for female and married consumers. Research limitations/implications – A hypothetical brand name was used i...
The End of Another Era: Reflections On Daimler and its Implications for Judicial Jurisdiction in the United States

The Supreme Court’s decision in Daimler AG v. Bauman confirmed what the Court hinted at in its earlier decision in Goodyear Dunlop Tires v. Brown — that a corporation must be sued “at home” unless the claims being asserted relate to the corporation’s activity in the forum state. Together, the decisions put an end to an era of general jurisdiction jurisprudence in the United States. Professor Silberman highlights the impact of these decisions in both interstate and international cases. She examines related areas of jurisdictional doctrine that are likely to be affected, including new ways of defining and interpreting specific jurisdiction. She notes the developing case law raising constitutional challenges to corporate registration statutes that purport to confer general jurisdiction on the basis of the corporation’s consent. She also identifies problems created for recognition and enforcement of foreign country judgments and awards if the Daimler standard is applied in that context. Professor Silberman concludes with the observation that more comprehensive approach to jurisdiction may be called for, including possible legislative solutions.
Exchange‐Rate Risk and Japanese–Thai Industry Trade

Over the past decade, many papers have studied the effects of exchange-rate volatility on international trade, particularly at the bilateral level for large numbers of individual industries. This is necessary because the underlying theory is ambiguous and because earlier papers failed to uncover significant results at a higher degree of aggregation. This paper examines the case of Japan and Thailand over the period from 1970 to 2010. We find that slightly more than half of 117 export industries and 54 import industries are affected by volatility in the short run. In the long run, 6 export and 2 import industries are affected positively, and 22 export and 9 import industries are affected negatively. Small Japanese export industries are more likely to be negatively affected, while imports show no differences regarding industry size. In a sectoral analysis, we find some evidence that Japanese exports of manufactures and certain machinery and transport equipment might be relatively more affected by the exchange-rate risk. Raw material imports are least affected. These findings therefore suggest which industries might benefit most by a policy promoting a stable yen.
Voyager investigations of the Saturnian System

A brief review of the objectives and capabilities of the Voyager mission at Saturn is provided. In addition to a description of the eleven Voyager investigations and the Saturn encounter geometry, the scientific capabilities are discussed in the areas of atmospheric, satellite, magnetospheric, and ring studies.
Non-invasive Assessments of Adipose Tissue Metabolism In Vitro

Adipose tissue engineering is a diverse area of research where the developed tissues can be used to study normal adipose tissue functions, create disease models in vitro, and replace soft tissue defects in vivo. Increasing attention has been focused on the highly specialized metabolic pathways that regulate energy storage and release in adipose tissues which affect local and systemic outcomes. Non-invasive, dynamic measurement systems are useful to track these metabolic pathways in the same tissue model over time to evaluate long term cell growth, differentiation, and development within tissue engineering constructs. This approach reduces costs and time in comparison to more traditional destructive methods such as biochemical and immunochemistry assays and proteomics assessments. Towards this goal, this review will focus on important metabolic functions of adipose tissues and strategies to evaluate them with non-invasive in vitro methods. Current non-invasive methods, such as measuring key metabolic markers and endogenous contrast imaging will be explored.
Technologies for improving the dependability of software-intensive systems: review of NASA experience

Software is central to the mission of many NASA systems. It is also a major source of failure. Fortunately, techniques such as best current practice, complexity measurement, fault tolerance, formal methods, and software reliability exist to mitigate the risk of system failure because of software. Unfortunately, these techniques have become disciplines of their own with very little integration, resulting in a lack of support from project managers. NASA SR&QA should develop a strategy to integrate the techniques into the agency reliability plan. >
Kinetic Behavior and Mechanism of Inhibition in the Maillard Reaction. II. Mechanistic Considerations in the Reaction Between D-Glucose and Glycine

SUMMARY The mechanism of the initial Maillard reaction was investigated in kinetic, autoradiographic, spectroscopic, and model studies. Results indicate that the initial reaction involves the formation of glucosylglycine from aldehydic glucose and the free amino group of glycine, followed by base-catalyzed conversion of glucosylglycine into a, βunsaturated aldimine, with the steady-state concentration of the latter accumulated during the induction period and undergoing subsequent reactions to yield melanoidins. Evidence to support this mechanism is presented and discussed. Also proposed is a possible mechanism for the melanoidin formation in the reaction. Side reactions giving rise to products of “browning reaction”, such as from hydroxymethyl furfural, were not considered.
Communication and Information Systems Infrastructure

A better conceptualization of a communication and information system’s infrastructure will help campus leaders plan more effectively.
The Choose-Get-Keep Model of Psychiatric Rehabilitation: A Synopsis of Recent Studies

Objective: Comprehensive review of studies using the choose– get– keep (CGK) process model of psychiatric rehabilitation. Also, other studies are identified that have demonstrated methodologies useful in future research on the CGK model. Intervention Model: The CGK process is conceptualized as the phases through which people with psychiatric disabilities proceed as they engage in psychiatric rehabilitation. Conclusion: The CGK model is a potentially useful psychiatric rehabilitation intervention that can be implemented in a variety of service settings and that focuses on the activities of the practitioner and the service recipient. The CGK model warrants further empirical study to examine its effectiveness.
Multifold Sonicated Dilutions of Albumin With Fifty Percent Dextrose Improve Left Ventricular Contrast Videointensity After Intravenous Injection in Human Beings

An intravenous injection of a onefold dilution of sonicated albumin with 50% dextrose improves echocardiographic left ventricular cavitary opacification in dogs compared with sonicated albumin. The objective of this study was to determine whether sonicated dilutions of albumin with dextrose would improve left ventricular videointensity after intravenous injection in humans and to delineate what ratio of albumin with dextrose results in optimal left ventricular cavitary opacification. We gave intravenous injections (randomized) of sonicated albumin and three different dilutions of albumin with 50% dextrose sonicated at different time intervals (onefold, threefold, and sevenfold dilutions sonicated albumin for 40 seconds and threefold and sevenfold dilutions sonicated albumin for 80 to 100 seconds) to 10 healthy human volunteers. End-diastolic and end-systolic videointensity and mean transit time from the mid-left ventricular cavity were compared after an 8.0 ml intravenous injection of all six samples. The threefold and sevenfold dilutions sonicated for 80 to 100 seconds produced microbubble concentrations similar to those of sonicated albumin but with significantly larger (5.6 µm versus 4.7 µm for sonicated albumin) size. These dilutions produced significantly higher end-diastolic and end-systolic videointensity, area under the time-intensity curve, and mean transit time compared with sonicated albumin or any of the dilutions sonicated for 40 seconds (p ≤ 0.005). These data suggest that multifold dilutions of albumin with dextrose produce improved ultrasound contrast.
Some physics and chemistry of hot-wire deposition

Abstract Although hot-wire chemical vapor deposition (HWCVD) involves far fewer species than plasma enhanced CVD, ‘some physics and chemistry’ has been used in the title because less is known than unknown regarding the hot-wire deposition processes, even for pure silane. I will concentrate on intrinsic a-Si:H deposition from SiH 4 or SiH 4 /H 2 vapors, since this is the simplest and most studied system, and it has considerable practical importance. I will start with the reactions on the hot wire, a metal filament, then discuss the radical-vapor reactions and finally, the surface reactions that produce the film and its properties. This is not a review, and I will not attempt to cover all work that has been done to elucidate these processes.
Evaluating the role of CRM1-mediated export for adenovirus gene expression.

Abstract A complex of the Adenovirus (Ad) early region 1b 55-kDa (E1b-55kDa) and early region 4 ORF6 34-kDa (E4-34kDa) proteins promotes viral late gene expression. E1b-55kDa and E4-34kDa have leucine-rich nuclear export signals (NESs) similar to that of HIV Rev. It was proposed that E1b-55kDa and/or E4-34kDa might promote the export of Ad late mRNA via their Rev-like NESs, and the transport receptor CRM1. We treated infected cells with the cytotoxin leptomycin B to inhibit CRM1-mediated export; treatment initially delays the onset of late gene expression, but this activity completely recovers as the late phase progresses. We find that the E1b-55kDa NES is not required to promote late gene expression. Previous results showed that E4-34kDa-mediated late gene expression does not require an intact NES (J. Virol. 74 (2000), 6684–6688). Our results indicate that these Ad regulatory proteins promote late gene expression without intact NESs or active CRM1.
Endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration and Trucut biopsy in thoracic lesions: When tissue is the issue

Background Endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration (EUS FNA) has a high accuracy in the evaluation of mediastinal lesions. The use of a core biopsy needle for EUS guided biopsy (EUS TCB) may further improve the yield of EUS. The aims of this study are to evaluate the safety of EUS TCB in thoracic lesions and to compare the diagnostic accuracy of TCB with FNA and FNA + TCB.