cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Hygrothermal Effect on the Compressive Strength of Uniaxial Fiber-Reinforced Polymer Matrix Composites

Effect of temperature, moisture, and temperature and moisture combined (i.e., hygrothermal) on the compressive strength of four types of uniaxially fiber-reinforced polymer matrix composites (PMCs) have been evaluated using the theoretical model [12] of fibers microbuckling as the cause of failure under compression. The purpose is to show the severity of reduction in compressive strength of PMCs caused solely due to plasticization of the matrix, when the geometrical and material imperfection factors, which are almost unavoidable and cause further reduction in strength, are not incorporated and accounted for in the analysis.
Cost of Reliability Analysis Based on Stochastic Unit Commitment

This paper presents a model for calculating the cost of power system reliability based on the stochastic optimization of long-term security-constrained unit commitment. Random outages of generating units and transmission lines as well as load forecasting inaccuracy are modeled as scenario trees in the Monte Carlo simulation. Unlike previous reliability analyses methods in the literature which considered the solution of an economic dispatch problem, this model solves an hourly unit commitment problem, which incorporates spatial constraints of generating units and transmission lines, random component outages, and load forecast uncertainty into the reliability problem. The classical methods considered predefined reserve constraints in the deterministic solution of unit commitment. However, this study considers possible uncertainties when calculating the optimal reserve in the unit commitment solution as a tradeoff between minimizing operating costs and satisfying power system reliability requirements. Loss-of-load-expectation (LOLE) is included as a constraint in the stochastic unit commitment for calculating the cost of supplying the reserve. The proposed model can be used by a vertically integrated utility or an ISO. In the first case, the utility considers the impact of long-term fuel and emission scheduling on power system reliability studies. In the second case, fuel and emission constraints of individual generating companies are submitted as energy constraints when solving the ISO's reliability problem. Numerical simulations indicate the effectiveness of the proposed approach for minimizing the cost of reliability in stochastic power systems.
Identification of dithiolethione-inducible gene-1 as a leukotriene B4 12-hydroxydehydrogenase: implications for chemoprevention.

Cancer chemoprevention is inhibition of neoplastic disease by naturally occurring or synthetic chemical agents. Dithiolethiones inhibit production of experimentally produced tumors by elevating the expression of several genes that encode for known cytoprotective enzymes. In an effort to discover additional molecular mechanisms mediating chemoprevention, cDNA clones representing a gene that is transcriptionally activated by dithiolethiones, hence named dithiolethione-inducible gene-1 (DIG-1), were isolated from rat liver via differential hybridization screening. The deduced amino acid sequence of DIG-1 was found to have 80% identity with the human liver enzyme leukotriene B 4 (LTB 4 ) 12-hydroxydehydrogenase. DIG-1, purified >400-fold from the liver of rats dosed with 1,2-dithiole-3-dithiolethione, possessed an NADP + -dependent activity to convert LTB 4 to 12-oxo-LTB 4 . Kinetic analysis of DIG-1 revealed apparent K m and V max values of 28 mM and 8.1 nmol 12-oxo-LTB 4 formed/min/mg purified protein respectively. Since LTB 4 is a potent chemotactic factor and stimulator of production of reactive oxygen species from neutrophils, the effects of DIG-1 on these LTB 4 -mediated processes were examined. Pre-incubation of LTB 4 with purified rat hepatic DIG-1 greatly diminished LTB 4 -stimulated migration of neutrophils. In addition, pre-incubation of LTB 4 with purified rat hepatic DIG-1 reduced LTB 4 -stimulated production of superoxide anions in neutrophils, as evidenced by decreased lucigenin-derived chemi-luminescence. These results suggest that DIG-1-catalyzed dehydrogenation of LTB 4 to 12-oxo-LTB 4 inhibits the pro-inflammatory actions of LTB 4 . Consequently, elevation of LTB 4 catabolism via enhanced DIG-1 activity may suppress inflammatory processes implicated in tumorigenesis.
Accelerating the Development of Novel Molecular Imaging Probes: A Role for High-Throughput Screening

Molecular imaging is a rapidly emerging research tool and clinical discipline aimed at noninvasive, quantitative visualization of in vivo molecular processes occurring at cellular and subcellular levels. At present, advancement of the molecular imaging field is driven by the development of improved imaging hardware for use in preclinical and clinical settings, the identification and validation of new, biologically relevant imaging targets, and the development of improved imaging probes derived from novel chemistries. Of these 3 essential facets, which comprise a majority of current molecular imaging research, hardware development and novel target discovery significantly outpace the development and clinical advancement of new molecular imaging probes, particularly with respect to cancer imaging.
Illness representation after acute myocardial infarction: impact on in-hospital recovery.

• BACKGROUND Despite significant progress in the treatment of coronary artery disease, myocardial infarction is still the leading cause of death in the United States. As suggested by Leventhal’s Self-Regulation Model of Illness, the continued high morbidity and mortality may be due to a failure to address the role of psychosocial factors such as illness representation, depression, and anxiety in recovery. • OBJECTIVE To determine the relationship between illness representation of myocardial infarction and the occurrence of in-hospital complications and if anxiety and depression mediate this relationship. • METHOD A prospective correlational design was used to measure illness representation, depression, and anxiety 24 to 48 hours after admission for myocardial infarction in 49 patients and the frequency of complications during the acute event. Logistic regression was used to determine the likelihood of experiencing a complication. • RESULTS When demographic and clinical variables were controlled for, the more negative the representation of illness, the greater were the odds of experiencing a complication (χ 2 = 16.9, df = 6, P = .01). The odds of experiencing a complication increased 5.1% for each 1 unit increase in the score on the Illness Preparation Questionnaire (B = 0.05, Wald = 4.442, Exp(B) = 1.051, 95% CI = 1.003-1.1010). Neither anxiety (χ 2 = 3.0, df = 1, P = .09) nor depression (χ 2 = 2.5, df = 1, P = .11) were significant predictors of the occurrence of complications. • CONCLUSION In these patients, illness representation was predictive of the likelihood of experiencing a complication. Thus, illness representation appears to be an important psychosocial factor in acute recovery from myocardial infarction. (American Journal of Critical Care. 2004;13:136-145)
Radiation dosimetry and spectrometry with superheated emulsions

Abstract Detectors based on emulsions of overexpanded halocarbon droplets in tissue equivalent aqueous gels or soft polymers, known as “superheated drop detectors” or “bubble (damage) detectors”, have been used in radiation detection, dosimetry and spectrometry for over two decades. Recent technological advances have led to the introduction of several instruments for individual and area monitoring: passive integrating meters based on the optical or volumetric registration of the bubbles, and active counters detecting bubble nucleations acoustically. These advances in the instrumentation have been matched by the progress made in the production of stable and well-specified emulsions of superheated droplets. A variety of halocarbons are employed in the formulation of the detectors, and this permits a wide range of applications. In particular, halocarbons with a moderate degree of superheat, i.e. a relatively small difference between their operating temperature and boiling point, can be used in neutron dosimetry and spectrometry since they are only nucleated by energetic heavy ions such as those produced by fast neutrons. More recently, halocarbons with an elevated degree of superheat have been utilised to produce emulsions that nucleate with much smaller energy deposition and detect low linear energy transfer radiations, such as photons and electrons. This paper reviews the detector physics of superheated emulsions and their applications in radiation measurements, particularly in neutron dosimetry and spectrometry.
Subaortic obstruction : intraoperative echocardiography as an adjunct to operation

Abstract Fourteen patients undergoing operation for subaortic obstruction (membranous obstruction in 11 patients, tunnel obstruction in 2 patients, obstruction due to reduplicated mitral valve tissue in 1 patient) were evaluated by intraoperative epicardial echocardiography. In all 9 patients with "discrete" obstruction who underwent prebypass epicardial echocardiography, the septal and lateral attachments of the lesion were correctly demonstrated. The precise extent of tunnel stenosis was seen in both patients. The lateral attachment of the membrane in 4 patients and multiple extensions in another 2 were identified by the epicardial study (having been missed on precordial echocardiography). The discrete membrane was enucleated in 10 of the 11 patients and was partially resected in 1. One tunnel obstruction was completely relieved; the other was partially relieved. Reduplicated mitral valve tissue in the remaining patient was completely resected. Epicardial imaging after bypass showed remnants of the membrane in 2 patients. Intraoperative Doppler echocardiography and color flow imaging confirmed the absence of clinically significant residual gradients (less than 20 mm Hg) in all but 1 patient with tunnel obstruction. Epicardial imaging provided excellent morphological information about obstructive lesions of the left ventricular outflow tract and enabled immediate assessment of surgical repair.
Face hallucination VIA sparse coding

In this paper, we address the problem of hallucinating a high resolution face given a low resolution input face. The problem is approached through sparse coding. To exploit the facial structure, non-negative matrix factorization (NMF) is first employed to learn a localized part-based subspace. This subspace is effective for super-resolving the incoming low resolution face under reconstruction constraints. To further enhance the detailed facial information, we propose a local patch method based on sparse representation with respect to coupled overcomplete patch dictionaries, which can be fast solved through linear programming. Experiments demonstrate that our approach can hallucinate high quality super-resolution faces.
Language learnability and specific language impairment in children

Theories of language learnability have focused on “normal” language development, but there is a group of children, termed “specifically language-impaired,” for whom these theories are also appropriate. These children present an interesting learnability problem because they develop language slowly, the intermediate points in their development differ in certain respects from the usual developmental stages, and they do not always achieve the adult level of language functioning. In this article, specifically language-impaired children are treated as normal learners dealing with an input that is distorted in principled ways. When the children are viewed from this perspective, Pinker's (1984) theory can account for many of the features of their language.
INTERPERSONAL ORIENTATION AND LIVING GROUP PREFERENCES: A VALIDITY CHECK ON FIRO-B

Construct validity of Schutz's FIRO-B was tested in terms of correlation with a Living Group Questionnaire developed to assess the interpersonal preferences of 123 students in an experimental college. After controlling for the intercorrelation of FIRO-B subscales, some Living Group Questionnaire items still appeared to tap more than one dimension of interpersonal need, but sex differences were found to account for the overlap. Results were seen as generally substantiating the validity of the FIRO-B.
Modification of properties of long monopole antennas using dielectric and magnetic beads

Loading of electrically long monopoles with magnetic and dielectric beads is demonstrated to be an effective means of modifying and controlling currents. The loading can effectively modify the circuit and radiation properties of an electrically long monopole to emulate those of a much smaller resonant element.
Bit-Flipping Equalizer and ML Search-Space Analysis in Ultra-Wideband MIMO Channels

In this paper, we propose a low-complexity equalizer whose performance approaches that of the optimum maximum-likelihood (ML) estimator, in ultra-wideband (UWB) multiple- input multiple-output (MIMO) channels. Although the ML estimation offers the excellent performance, it is generally of high complexity due to the large size of searching space. Through a theoretical search-space analysis, we reveal that local searching algorithms may approximate the ML estimator when a large number of diversity branches is available. Based on the analysis, we develop a novel equalizer with simple bit-flipping for severely frequency-selective fading in UWB-MIMO channels.
NMR Structure of the HWE Kinase Associated Response Regulator Sma0114 in Its Activated State

Bacterial receiver domains modulate intra- cellular responses to external stimuli in two-component systems. Sma0114 is the first structurally characterized representative from the family of receiver domains that are substrates for histidine-tryptophan-glutamate (HWE) kinases. We report the NMR structure of Sma0114 bound by Ca 2+ and BeF3 − , a phosphate analogue that stabilizes the activated state. Differences between the NMR structures of the inactive and activated states occur in helix α1, the active site loop that connects strand β3 and helix α3, and in the segment from strand β5 to helix α5 of the 455 (α4-β5-α5) face. Structural rearrangements of the 455 face typically make receiver domains competent for binding downstream target molecules. In Sma0114 the structural changes accompanying activation result in a more negatively charged surface for the 455 face. Coupling between the 455 face and active site phosphorylation is usually mediated through the rearrangement of a threonine and tyrosine residue, in a mechanism called Y−T coupling. The NMR structure indicates that Sma0114 lacks Y−T coupling and that communication between the active site and the 455 face is achieved through a conserved lysine residue that stabilizes the acyl phosphate in receiver domains. 15 N-NMR relaxation experiments were used to investigate the backbone dynamics of the Sma0114 apoprotein, the binary Sma0114·Ca 2+ complex, and the ternary Sma0114·Ca 2+ ·BeF3 − complex. The loss of entropy due to ligand binding at the active site is compensated by increased flexibility in the 455 face. The dynamic character of the 455 face in Sma0114, which results in part from the replacement of helix α 4b y aflexible loop, may facilitate induced-fit recognition of target molecules.
Advances in Otoscopy

Ear disease is a common condition in dogs and cats, and otoscopy should be performed on every case. Video-otoscopy is an incredible tool for the diagnosis, treatment, and management of ear disease. It may serve as a form of positive reinforcement, because the client can readily see progress made with treatment. This article focuses on the proper use of video-otoscopy for the diagnosis, treatment, and management of ear diseases in dogs and cats. Proper anatomy, equipment, and diagnostic understanding are required to minimize the risk of recurrent or chronic otitis, which is a source of discomfort for the patient and frustration for the owner and the clinician.
Shift in interictal relative gamma power as a novel biomarker for drug response in two mouse models of absence epilepsy

Summary Objective Two monogenic mouse models of childhood absence epilepsy, stargazer and tottering, differ strikingly in their response to N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptor blockade. We sought to evaluate the change in interictal relative gamma power as a reliable biomarker for this gene-linked antiepileptic drug (AED) response. Methods The effects of AEDs on absolute and relative (to the total) power of frequencies between 2 and 300 Hz were analyzed within the interictal electroencephalogram (EEG) and correlated with antiseizure efficacy in awake behaving stargazer, tottering, and wild-type (WT) littermate control mice. Results At baseline, we found a significant absolute as well as relative augmentation of 16–41 Hz power in stargazer compared to both tottering and WT mice. In stargazer, the NMDA receptor–antagonist MK-801 (0.5 mg/kg) paradoxically exacerbates absence seizures but normalizes the augmented beta/gamma band of power to WT levels, suggesting that the elevation in 16- to 41-Hz power is an NMDA receptor–mediated network property. In contrast, ethosuximide (200 mg/kg) and 4-aminopyridine (2.5 mg/kg) reduce seizure activity and increase relative power within the gamma range in both stargazer and tottering mice. Intraperitoneal saline injection had no significant effect on either seizure frequency or relative gamma power. Along with results using carbamazepine and flupirtine, there was a strong inverse relationship between relative change in seizure duration and change in peak relative gamma power (r2 = 0.726). Significance In these two models of absence epilepsy, drugs that reduce relative gamma power are associated with an increase in seizures, whereas drugs that augment relative gamma power reduce seizures. Therefore, drug-induced modulation of relative gamma power may serve as a biomarker for AED efficacy in absence epilepsy. Given the relationship between gamma power and fast-spiking interneurons, these results also suggest that a drug's effect may in part be determined by its impact on specific inhibitory networks.
Monte Carlo Renormalization Group Analysis of the Classical Heisenberg Model in Two-Dimensions

Monte Carlo renormalization-group methods were applied to the classical three-component Heisenberg model on a two-dimensional lattice. Expectation values of local correlations of spins and various sized block spins were computed using traditional Monte Carlo methods. By matching quantities at different length scales generated by different Monte Carlo Hamiltonians we directly determined the renormalization of the nearest-neighbor coupling. Using these data and the results of high-temperature expansions and low-temperature renormalization-group calculations we have determined that this model does not have a phase transition. We have also obtained the amplitude for the low-temperature divergence of the susceptibility and the correlation length.
Hypoglycemia selectively abolishes hypoxic reactivity of pial arterioles in piglets: role of adenosine

Episodes of hypoxia often occur in hypoglycemic newborns, but it is not known whether dysfunctions in cerebrovascular regulation contribute to brain injury incurred by these affected neonates. We tested the hypotheses that 1) perinatal hypoglycemia impairs cerebrovascular responses to hypoxia and 2) a reduced vascular smooth muscle sensitivity to adenosine accounts for this impairment. Responses of 25- to 50-mu m-diam pial arterioles were determined using the cranial window technique in isoflurane-anesthetized newborn piglets < 5 days of age. Hypoxia (arterial PO2 = 28 +/- 1 mmHg) caused a 47 +/- 5% increase (P = 0.0008) in arteriolar diameter, 89% of which could be blocked by prior superfusion of the window space with the preferential A2-adenosine receptor antagonist 3,7-dimethyl-1-propargylxanthine (DMPX; 50 microM). Insulin-induced hypoglycemia (blood glucose = 18 +/- 1 mg/dl without isoelectric electroencephalogram) caused a 31 +/- 5% increase (P = 0.002) in arteriolar diameter; however, no additional dilatative response to hypoxia (arterial PO2 = 28 +/- 1 mmHg) could be elicited in these animals. Arteriolar dilation of 41 +/- 6% (P = 0.002) induced by superfusion of 20 microM adenosine under normoglycemic conditions was also completely abolished after the animals were rendered hypoglycemic. Unlike the response to hypoxia and adenosine, hypoglycemia only attenuated prostanoid-dependent dilations to hypercapnia (arterial PCO2 = 68 +/- 3 mmHg) by 55 +/- 9%. These results indicate that, in the newborn, hypoglycemia selectively abolishes hypoxic reactivity through an impairment in adenosine-mediated cerebrovascular dilation.
Seeing/Being Orange: Perceptions and the Politics of Religion in County Armagh, Northern Ireland

We each of us focus on our own perceptions (anthropologists included) and often remain ignorant of the affect inherent in others’ perceptions. In Northern Ireland, perceptions are often shaped by shared memories and histories of violence, as well as by shared concepts of ancestry and homeland—but these perceptions are shaped on either side of the bicommunal divide between the two majority communities, Catholic-Irish-Nationalists and Protestant-British-Unionists. In this article, I draw on my early experiences collecting data in County Armagh at the Orange Order’s July Twelfth parades to analyze the interplay between such perceptions of politics and religion. Framing my preliminary data through Veena Das’s (2007) study of how violence influences daily life and Anthony Smith’s (2009) arguments on the role of ethno-symbolism in nationalism, I reveal how the continued every-day divide between Northern Ireland’s two largest communities shapes not only how members of the Protestant community who support the Orange Order “be” in everyday life and during the rituals of the Twelfth, but also how others “see” them. For while being is ordinary-- whether cultural and/or religious-- seeing is risky, controversial, and threatening. Through this distinction, we understand that the political possibilities of violence are still a part of everyday religious life in Northern Ireland.
Extension of quasiisometric embeddings of jordan curves

A homeomorphism f of a set f of a set is said to be an L-quasiisometry of for all and if whenever ∞ ∈ E. Next f is said to have an M-quasiisometric extension to F ⊂ R 2 if there exists an M-quasiisometry g of E ∪ F such that g|E=f Suppose next that D is a Jordan domain in R 2 with boundary C and that ϕ is an L-quasiisometry of C. This paper contains complete solutions to the following Schoenflies type extension problems. Problem A. Given a domain D for which quasiisometries ϕ of C does ϕ have a quasiisometric extension g to D? Problem B. For which domains D does each quasiisometry ϕ of C have a quasiisometric extension g to D? It turns out that when C ⊂ R 2, each quasiisometry ϕ of C has a quasiisometric extension to D if and only if D is a quasidisk.
Double-bundle ACL reconstruction with use of a single tibial tunnel: a technique or an anatomic concept?

Despite good outcomes reported after traditional anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction techniques, a substantial number of patients have been found to develop osteoarthritis in mid-to-long-term follow-up studies1,2 as the dynamic function of the knee was not reestablished after surgery3. As a consequence, in the past decade, the debate regarding the importance of restoring native anatomy in ACL reconstructions has led to a school of thought that suggests the solution to avoid degenerative changes following an ACL rupture could rest on reestablishing the anatomic characteristics of the ligament. As part of this recent debate, Ahn et al. presented a well-designed, retrospective study with the purpose of reporting the clinical outcomes of double-bundle ACL reconstruction with use of a single tibial tunnel and its correlation with graft appearance in a second-look arthroscopy. The assessment parameters included outcome scores such as the Lysholm knee score, International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) evaluation, side-to-side anterior laxity measured with use of a KT-2000 arthrometer, rotational stability graded by the pivot-shift test, and degenerative changes graded on anteroposterior and lateral weight-bearing radiographs. The overall results showed a substantial improvement after surgery in the outcome scores, …
Low temperature performance of laboratory produced asphalt rubber (AR) mixes containing polyoctenamer

Abstract The use of the additive polyoctenamer (PO) in asphalt rubber (AR) binders helps to improve their storage stability and to reduce their stickiness and tackiness, while not affecting the low temperature performance of the AR binders and mixes. The objective of this paper was to determine if the use of PO had any impact over the low temperature performance of laboratory mixes produced with AR binders that were also laboratory produced. The low temperature performance of the laboratory produced asphalt rubber (AR) mixes were evaluated by means of the semicircular bend geometry test, utilizing two types of ground tire rubber (ambient and cryogenic) at two different percentages of polyoctenamer (PO). Stiffness, fracture toughness and fracture energy for the mixes were obtained in order to statistically evaluate how the variables influence their low temperature performance. Overall, the laboratory test results indicate that the use of PO at the dosage utilized and the rubber types at the percentage employed will not adversely impact the low temperature performance of AR mixes; furthermore the use of PO can increase the fracture toughness of AR mixes, making the pavements less brittle at lower temperatures.
Paths to the City: Regional Migration in Nineteenth-Century France

Paths to the City presents a study of migration from rural areas to the industrializing city of Nimes in the 19th century. With unusual technical skill, Moch is able to reconstruct the lives of migrants in their villages and in the cities. She is able to separate them into separate streams of migrations; trace the work, marriage, and child-bearing patterns of migrants back to their rural roots; and compare migrants with people who did not move. She is also able to augment the demographic patterns she outlines with portraits of what happened to real individual people.
Living Beijing: Encountering the Asian City through Digital Storytelling

More college students than ever are heading to Chinese cities to spend weeks or months learning Chinese history, culture, and language. And more than ever they and their instructors are bringing with them an array of digital devices, from still cameras to video cameras to laptop computers. Whether on campus or while studying abroad, many of these students will learn about China by analyzing examples of Chinese cinema. But with digital recording and editing equipment right at their fingertips, why not invite them to plunge into China’s history and culture firsthand as they produce their own digital stories right in the midst of the country itself?
DIGITAL DESIGN FOR BODY OF PASSENGER CAR

In light of relevant regulations about design,body configuration of passenger car were designed,and corresponding digital model was not only programmed by means of CATIA V 5 and but also was simplified.Furthermore,the digital model was inputted to ANSYS12.1 workbench software.Under the condition of bending and emergency braking,the strength and stiffness with the digital model were detected based on finite element method.Under the condition of bending,the result of strength and stiffness was outputted.In the conceptual design of body of passenger car,the adoption of digital design technique with the bond of configuration design and finite element analysis will reduce the design cycle and cost.
The U-Machine: A Model of Generalized Computation

We argue that post-Moore’s Law computing technology will require the exploitation of new physical processes for computational purposes, which will be facilitated by new models of computation. After a brief discussion of computation in the broad sense, we present a model of generalized computation, and a corresponding machine model, which can be applied to massively-parallel nanocomputation in bulk materials. The machine is able to implement quite general transformations on a broad class of topological spaces by means of Hilbert-space representations. Neural morphogenesis provides a model for the physical structure of the machine and means by which it may be configured, a process that involves the definition of signal pathways between two-dimensional data areas and the setting of interconnection strengths within them. This approach also provides a very flexible means of reconfiguring of the internal structure of the machine.
Cyber Conflicts in International Relations: Framework and Case Studies

Twenty years ago, the possibility of having an international conflict extend into the cyber domain was distant. Since then much has changed. Today cyber conflict is not considered particularly unusual. But considerable uncertainties remain about the nature, scale, scope and other features of such conflicts. This paper addresses these issues using a re-analysis of the case studies presented in A Fierce Domain recently published by the Atlantic Council. In addition, we draw upon other materials (academic and media) to expand our understanding of each case, and add several cases to the original collection resulting in a data set of seventeen cyber conflict, spanning almost three decades (1985-2013). Cuckoo's Egg, Morris Worm, Solar Sunrise, EDT, ILOVEYOU, Chinese Espionage, Estonia, Russo-Georgian war, Conficker, NSA-Snowden, WikiLeaks and Stuxnet are some of the major cases included. This study presents each case in terms of (a) its socio-political context, (b) technical features, (c) the outcome and inferences drawn in the sources examined. The profile of each case includes the actors, their actions, tools they used and power relationships, and the outcomes with inferences or observations. Emphasis is placed on characteristics of cyberspace visible on conflicts. Findings include: Distributed Denial of Service is the most common offensive action; accountability is difficult in cyberspace, particularly with international conflicts; outcomes of each instance have been variable, and economic impact is hard to estimate; the private sector has been a key player in cybersecurity; size of an actor, and countries' ICT infrastructure, influence the nature of the cyber conflicts.
Which Is Most Sustainable? Using Everyday Objects to Examine Trade-Offs Among the “Three Pillars” of Sustainability

In everyday conversation, the term “sustainability” is used so frequently and in so many different contexts that, for some, it has lost precise meaning. For others, it simply means environmental sustainability. Because of its conceptual fuzziness, it is important for students to carefully think about what they mean when they say something is “sustainable.” The activity described in this chapter introduces students to the “three-pillar” conceptualization of sustainability that includes social, economic, and environmental aspects. It also illustrates the difficulty of operationalizing this concept, especially when weighing potential trade-offs among these three pillars. Through ranking and discussion of a number of common household items, this activity encourages students to articulate their assumptions about what makes something more or less sustainable and challenges them to think about sustainability in a multifaceted way. After completing the activity, students should be able to (1) explain the “three-pillar” concept of sustainability, (2) question their previous assumptions about the meaning of sustainability, (3) articulate their own analysis of why an object is or is not sustainable, and (4) describe the difficulty of weighing potential trade-offs among social, environmental, and economic aspects of an object’s sustainability.
Toilet Habits and Continence in Children: An Opportunity Sampling in Search of Normal Parameters

AbstractAn opportunity sampling of 1,192 children regarding parameters of toilet training and elimination status was obtained by interview and questionnaire. Toilet training ages ranged from 0.75 to 5 years, with a mean of 2.4 ± 0.6 years (standard deviation). Voiding frequency was inversely related to age; most children between 3 and 12 years old urinated 5 to 6 times per day. Influences of gender, urinary infections and parental recall were investigated. Nocturnal and diurnal enuresis was reported in 18% and 10% of our sample, respectively. Bowel movements per week ranged from 1 to 21, with a mean of 6.8 ± 2.5.
Case 1: Prolonged Nasal Discharge and Facial Pain in a 17-year-old Girl

1. Elizabeth Ninan, MD* 2. Stefan Hagmann, MD, MSc* 1. *Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx-Lebanon Hospital Center, Bronx, NY. A 17-year-old girl who has a history of asthma and chronic allergic rhinitis presents with a 12-month history of persistent nasal congestion, rhinorrhea, facial pain, and headache. The diagnosis of asthma had been established at age 8 years and chronic allergic rhinitis at age 12 years. Her routine home medications include albuterol, nasal corticosteroids, antihistamines, and topical nasal decongestants. Her symptoms worsened over the last several months, and an 8-week course of oral antibiotics followed by oral corticosteroids for 2 weeks did not lead to notable symptomatic relief. At initial presentation, she is afebrile (36.9°C [98.5°F]), with a heart rate of 96 beats per minute, respiratory rate of 18 breaths per minute, blood pressure of 96/62 mm Hg, and oxygen saturations of 99% in room air. On physical examination she is a BMI of 24.5 and appears uncomfortable. Head and neck examination reveals a nasal crease, allergic “shiners,” bilateral nasal polyps, and frontal and maxillary sinus tenderness. On auscultation, clear breath sounds without any added sounds are audible over both lungs. Findings of the remainder of the physical examination are unremarkable. Laboratory studies reveal a white blood cell count of 6,200/μL (6.2 × 109/L), with 8.4% eosinophils on the differential cell count. Computed tomography (CT) scan of …
Indirect ignition of energetic materials with laser-driven flyer plates

The impact of laser-driven flyer plates on energetic materials CL-20, PETN, and TATB has been investigated. Flyer plates composed of 25 μm thick Al were impacted into the energetic materials at velocities up to 1.3 km/s. The flyer plates were accelerated by means of an Nd:YAG laser pulse. The laser pulse generates rapidly expanding plasma between the flyer plate foil and the substrate to which it is adhered. As the plasma grows, a section of the metal foil is ejected at high speed, forming the flyer plate. The velocity of the flyer plate was determined using VISAR, time of flight, and high-speed video. The response of the energetic material to impact was determined by light emission recorded by an infrared-sensitive photodiode. Following post-impact analysis of the impacted energetic material, it was hypothesized that the light emitted by the material after impact is not due to the impact of the flyer itself but rather is caused by the decomposition of energetic material ejected (via the shock of flyer plate impact) into a cloud of hot products generated during the launch of the flyer plate. This hypothesis was confirmed through schlieren imaging of a flyer plate launch, clearly showing the ejection of hot gases and particles from the region surrounding the flyer plate launch and the burning of the ejected energetic material particles.
Pulling Levers to Prevent Violence: “The Boston Miracle,” Its Adaptations, and Future Directions for Research

In the early 1990s, crime—and violent crime in particular—peaked in many cities across the USA. This left many cities across the nation searching for new ways to combat violent crime. We describe one of the most prominent strategies used to address this increase in violence, initially referred to as “pulling levers,” the “Boston Gun Project” or “Operation Ceasefire.” Implemented in Boston in the mid-1990s, this approach has grown in popularity and been operationalized in different forms around the world. In this chapter, we first describe the origin of this strategy and its theoretical underpinnings. Thereafter, we discuss the replications of the original initiative, its subsequent divide into two differing types of initiative (criminal justice-based and public health-based), and the results of empirical evaluations of each. Following this review, we discuss the different program components, paying particular attention to those areas requiring further empirical inquiry. We argue that the currently available empirical evidence suggests that criminal justice-based programs demonstrate stronger adherence to the original Boston Ceasefire model, incorporate more evidence-based practices, and as a result, have greater violence reduction effects. As such, they currently present a more promising avenue through which to address violence in the short term than their public health-based counterparts.
446. Stable Correction of Alkylator Resistance in Fanconi Anemia Cells By a Mitotically Replicating Non-Integrating Lentiviral Vector

Fanconi anemia (FA) is an inherited multisystem disorder leading to symptomatic hematopoietic defects by early school age in most patients. Observations of lymphoid mosaicism and spontaneous intragenic correction of stem cells leading to clonal hematopoiesis in a small number of patients indicate that phenotypically corrected cells enjoy a survival advantage over FA deficient cells. Accordingly, FA is a leading genetic disorder target for HSPC directed gene therapy. However, reports over the insertional complications of commonly used integrating vectors continue to raise concerns, while available non-integrating lentivectors (NILVs) are generally lost from dividing hematopoietic stem cells. We recently showed that the incorporation of human Scaffold/Matrix Attachment Region (S/MAR) sequences in NILVs results in the cellular retention of NILV episomes in actively dividing cell lines and HSPCs without selection. Southern analysis, Alu PCR and episome specific PCR all confirmed long-term episomal existence of this vector without genomic integration (NAR. 2014; PMID: 24474068). Here, we designed and tested an episome lentivector to phenotypically correct FA cells (aNILV GFP-FANCC). Results showed the vector expressing the human FANCC ORF fused with GFP could be readily packaged, with stable persistence of vector episomes and sustained GFP expression. Taking advantage of the selective expansion of phenotypically corrected cells, we transduced a FANCC -deficient human cell line pD331 by using aNILV-GFP-FANCC vector. Exaggerated sensitivity to DNA alkylating agents (e.g. Mitomycin C, MMC) is a hallmark of FA deficient cells and can be used as a selection agent. At week 2, we observed 15% retention of GFP expressing cells in MMC treated pD331-aNILV-FANCC population versus 3% retention in non-treated pD331-aNILV-FANCC cells. Long-term maintenance of cells up to 6 weeks under MMC selection resulted the enrichment of corrected cells up to 95% that is comparable to the enrichment observed by integrating LV expressingGFP-FANCC in pD331 cells under MMC selection. Molecular studies of aNILV episomes from long-term cultures by episome specific PCR revealed LTR episome persistence. Integration analysis by Alu-PCR from the bulk population with Southern analysis of clones is ongoing. We already reported that episomal S/MAR NILV transduced short-term murine hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells and are currently characterizing this vector in a murine model of Fanconi Anemia. In conclusion, epsiome maintenance under selective pressure and reversal of canonical alkylator sensitivity in FA cells make this novel aNILV-GFP-FANCC vector a consideration for expanded preclinical exploration.
Active target defense using first order missile models

In this note the active target defense scenario is analyzed. This entails a Target aircraft being pursued by an Attacker missile while a Defender missile is launched by the Target or by a Target-friendly platform to intercept the Attacker missile. The missiles are modeled using first order dynamics and implement Pure Pursuit guidance laws but are subject to turning rate constraints. The Targets optimal heading is obtained such that the Defender intercepts the Attacker and the terminal Target/Attacker separation is maximized. This work offers more realistic results compared to previous work where simple motion kinematics were used, that is, it was assumed that the missiles are able to turn infinitely fast.
Thermal Study of Hybrid Photovoltaic-Thermal (PVT) Solar Collectors Combined with Borehole Thermal Energy Storage Systems

Abstract This article reports on the evaluation of the short and long-term electrical performance of a photovoltaic-thermal (PVT) system coupled with borehole thermal energy storage (BTES). This assessment was conducted using a computer simulation of a PVT system installed on a small office building in two extreme climate zones in the United States. In each climate, two different scenarios were considered: (i) a PVT system coupled to a BTES with no ground-coupled heat pump (GCHP), and (ii) a PVT system coupled to a BTES with a GCHP. The system simulation results reveal significant improvements in PVT cell efficiency in the system without a GCHP compared with conventional PV panels. These improvements were reported to be as high as 4.1 and 4.7% in cold and hot climates, respectively. Moreover, a coupling GCHP showed a negligible impact on the PVT cell performance, which implies the feasibility of coupling the two technologies to the same BTES.
Evaluating Pulp and Paper Sludge as a Substitute For Peat Moss in Container Media

Abstract Pulp and paper sludge from a newsprint mill was composted for 6 weeks and evaluated as a substitute for peat moss in container media. One-year-old seedlings of lilac (Syringa vulgaris L.) and amur maple (Acer tataricum L. ssp. ginnala (Maxim.) Wesm.) as well as rooted cuttings of cistena plum (Prunus × cistena Hansen) were planted in #1 plastic pots that contained a pine bark and sand mixture (2:1 by vol) or pine bark and sand amended with either 25% or 50% peat moss or composted paper sludge. A 75% compost medium that consisted of composted paper sludge and sand (3:1 by vol) was also used in the study. Plant height was measured every 4 weeks. After 14 weeks of growth, shoot dry weight and final plant height were measured. All plants in compost-amended media grew as well as or better than those in peat-amended media, regardless of the species grown. Lilac plants in 25% compost produced almost double the amount of shoot dry weight and were 80% taller than plants in the bark: sand or 25% peat media...
Hippo pathway in lung development.

The mammalian lung is a highly branched organ for oxygen exchange with carbon dioxide in the cardiovascular system. Multiple signaling pathways, including the Wnt, bone morphogenetic protein (Bmp), and fibroblast growth factor (Fgf) pathways, are implicated in regulating lung specification, branching and patterning (1).
Providing Antismoking Socialization to Children After Quitting Smoking: Does It Help Parents Stay Quit?

Purpose:To test whether an antismoking parenting program provided to parents who had quit smoking for ≥24 hours increased parents’ likelihood of remaining abstinent 2 and 3 years postbaseline.Desig...
Developmental evidence for continuity from action to gesture to sign/word

What is linguistic communication and what is it not? Even if we often convey meanings through visible bodily actions, these are rarely considered part of human language. However, co-verbal gestures have compositional structure and semantic significance, while highly iconic structures are essential in sign languages. This paper offers a review of major studies conducted in our lab on the continuity from actions to gestures to words/signs in development. After a brief introduction, we show how gestures may bridge the gap between actions and words and how this interrelationship extends beyond early childhood and across cultures. We stress the role of sign language and multimodal communication in the study of language as a form of action and present recent research on motoric aspects of human communication. Studying the visible actions of speakers and signers leads to a revision of the traditional dichotomy between linguistic and enacted , and to the development of a new approach to embodied language.
The role of adhesion molecules in inflammatory bowel disease in children. Assessment of the possible risk of cardiovascular complications.

Introduction Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) are chronic diseases that proceed with exacerbation and remission phases. Adhesion molecules play a significant role in inflammatory processes. The same adhesion molecules play an important role in atherogenesis. Aim To assess the risk of atherosclerosis in IBD in children. Material and methods The study included 40 patients with IBD (25 with Crohn's disease - CD and 15 with ulcerative colitis - UC) aged 4-17 years. In the study group, concentrations of selected adhesion molecules (intracellular adhesion molecule - ICAM, vascular cell adhesion molecule - VCAM, E-selectin) and selected parameters of lipid metabolism in serum were assessed. Results No statistically significant differences between CD and UC patients and in the control group, in mean values of selected adhesins were obtained. Average variable VCAM was significantly lower in patients with CD than in patients with UC in the active stage of the diseases. Significantly higher average levels of triglycerides (TG) and high density lipoproteins (HDL) were found in the control group than in patients with CD. Significantly higher levels of total cholesterol (CHL) and HDL were noticed in the control group patients than in the patients with UC. The HDL/CHL was significantly higher in controls than in patients with UC. Conclusions No increased risk of developing atherosclerosis was found in children with IBD. Decreased risk in patients during exacerbation of inflammatory bowel disease was revealed, which may result from malnutrition typical for acute disease phase.