cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
(Re-)Forming Freedom: Reflections “after Veritatis splendor” on Freedom's Fate in Modernity and Protestantism's Antinomian Captivity

This essay unfolds in four steps. First, it sketches the way the fate of freedom in modernity – the freedom of the Promethean self – has set the stage for Protestantism's antinomianism as well as for the theological intervention of Veritatis Spendor. The essay focuses here on Kant, Fichte, Nietzsche. Secondly, it shows how Veritatis Spendor overcomes modernity's autonomist conception of freedom. The essay, thirdly, turns to Protestantism “after Veritatis Spendor” and argues that the encyclical's vision of freedom puts into clear relief the antinomian captivity of contemporary Protestantism. Here, the essay also offers a fresh perspective on Luther's largely unknown opposition to antinomianism. It concludes with ten theses “after the Promethean self” that point the way forward, intimating how freedom will need to be rethought theologically in order to overcome the antinomian captivity of contemporary Protestantism.
The Careflow architecture. A case study in medical transcription

The Careflow architecture uses Java and CORBA to streamline transcription at many hospitals and clinics. In this article, I explore the evolution of this middleware solution for automating the archiving, versioning and routing of documents in transcription. After a brief overview of transcription, I explain the project's architectural goals and describe three successive versions that our team developed. Finally, I explore lessons learned and reasons for changes to the system over the past decade.
Investigation of a Lorentz force biomagnetometer

This work evaluates an approach to the noninvasive measurement of small ionic current flows by a technique of Lorentz force magnetometry. An instrument was constructed that is basically a very sensitive force-balance that can measure Lorentz forces experienced by ionic currents flowing in small objects when exposed to strong oscillating magnetic fields. For objects that can fit on a microscope slide, the system is sensitive to ion current dipole moments as low as 180 pA-m. Images were made of ionic currents flowing in thin profiles by a process of scanning a localized magnetic field over the object, measuring generated Lorentz forces, and using a computer to reconstruct images. It can be shown that this method of Lorentz magnetometry has an immunity to ambient magnetic noise and has system characteristics that might suggest its possible use in biomagnetometry of small thin specimens.
Low-level RF system design for the Next Linear Collider damping rings

The design current for the Next Linear Collider (NLC) damping rings is an order of magnitude higher than existing damping rings. As opposed to storage rings, damping rings are required to operate at a high repetition frequency. Transient beam loading is therefore particularly severe. The NLC design calls for a full current fill pattern consisting of up to 4 trains of 90 bunches for a total DC current of 1.2 A. However, using conventional filling techniques, with a rapid current ramp the ring energy acceptance could decrease due to transient loading and the beam might not be captured. In this paper we describe two features of the low-level RF system design. The first avoids any reduction of duty cycle while the second ensures beam capture and regulation of the cavity voltages and beam phase.
Tabu Search Foundations: Short Term Memory

Tabu search can be applied directly to verbal or symbolic statements of many kinds of decision problems, without the need to transform them into mathematical formulations. Nevertheless, it is useful to introduce mathematical notation to express a broad class of these problems, as a basis for describing certain features of tabu search. We characterize this class of problems as that of optimizing (minimizing or maximizing) a function f(x) subject to x ∈ X, where f(x) may be linear or nonlinear, and the set X summarizes constraints on the vector of decision variables x. The constraints may include linear or nonlinear inequalities, and may compel all or some components of x to receive discrete values. While this representation is useful for discussing a number of problem solving considerations, we emphasize again that in many applications of combinatorial optimization, the problem of interest may not be easily formulated as an objective function subject to a set of constraints. The requirement x ∈ X, for example, may specify logical conditions or interconnections that would be cumbersome to formulate mathematically, but may be better be left as verbal stipulations that can be then coded as rules.
Riverboat Gambling and Crime in Indiana: An Empirical Investigation:

Despite the proliferation of riverboat gambling, few studies have rigorously investigated a link between riverboat gambling and crime. Literature regarding routine activities theory and resort and traditional casino tourism suggests that offenses may increase with the enhanced opportunities for crime provided by the influx of gamblers. Focusing on Indiana communities, this study explored the connection by examining via interrupted time series analyses index offenses and simple assaults over 286 weeks in Hammond and index, driving under the influence, public intoxication, disorderly conduct, and prostitution offenses over 57 months in Rising Sun. The casinos were not found to increase crime in Hammond but were associated with increases in aggravated assaults and thefts in Rising Sun. These somewhat attenuated effects on crime suggest the enhanced criminal opportunity created by riverboat casinos did not increase the overall frequency of individual offenses as might be expected from routine activities theor...
Equivalent circuit modelling of p-i-n photodiodes for 40 Gb/s receivers

We have described a back-illuminated photodetector with an 0.62 A/W responsivity, a typical dark current of 3 nA at -5 V bias, a failure rate of less than 1 FIT at 40/spl deg/C, and a bandwidth (into a 50 ohm load) as high as 39 GHz. By inserting a tunnelling element into an otherwise standard equivalent circuit model, we have shown that this model is capable of self-consistently fitting photodiode S-parameter data and explaining a broad range of behavior including low frequency tailing. The physically-based equivalent circuit model and parameter extraction allows an understanding of detector performance and improved control of device processing. The detector is suitable for operation in 40 Gb/s receivers.
Micro-spectroscopic investigation of selenium-bearing minerals from the Western US Phosphate Resource Area

Mining activities in the US Western Phosphate Resource Area (WPRA) have released Se into the environment. Selenium has several different oxidation states and species, each having varying degrees of solubility, reactivity, and bioavailability. In this study we are investigating the speciation of Se in mine-waste rocks. Selenium speciation was determined using bulk and micro-x-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS), as well as micro-x-ray fluorescence mapping. Rocks used for bulk-XAS were ground into fine powders. Shale used for micro-XAS was broken along depositional planes to expose unweathered surfaces. The near edge region of the XAS spectra (XANES) for the bulk rock samples revealed multiple oxidation states, with peaks indicative of Se(-II), Se(IV), and Se(+VI) species. Micro-XANES analysis of the shale indicated that three unique Se-bearing species were present. Using the XANES data together with ab initio fitting of the extended x-ray absorption fine structure region of the micro-XAS data (micro-EXAFS) the three Se-bearing species were identified as dzharkenite, a di-selenide carbon compound, and Se-substituted pyrite. Results from this research will allow for a better understanding of the biogeochemical cycling of Se in the WPRA.
Waveform Cross-Correlation-Based Differential Travel-Time Measurements at the Northern California Seismic Network

We processed the complete digital seismogram database for northern California to measure accurate differential travel times for correlated earthquakes observed at common stations. Correlated earthquakes are earthquakes that occur within a few kilometers of one another and have similar focal mechanisms, thus generating similar waveforms, allowing measurements to be made via cross-corre- lation analysis. The waveform database was obtained from the Northern California Earthquake Data Center and includes about 15 million seismograms from 225,000 local earthquakes between 1984 and 2003. A total of 26 billion cross-correlation measurements were performed on a 32-node (64 processor) Linux cluster, using improved analysis tools. All event pairs with separation distances of 5 km or less were processed at all stations that recorded the pair. We computed a total of about 1.7 billion P-wave differential times from pairs of waveforms that had cross- correlation coefficients (CC) of 0.6 or larger. The P-wave differential times are often on the order of a factor of ten to a hundred times more accurate than those obtained from routinely picked phase onsets. 1.2 billion S-wave differential times were mea- sured with CC 0.6, a phase not routinely picked at the Northern California Seismic Network because of the noise level of remaining P coda. We found that approxi- mately 95% of the seismicity includes events that have cross-correlation coefficients of CC 0.7 with at least one other event recorded at four or more stations. At some stations more than 40% of the recorded events are similar at the CC 0.9 level, indicating the potential existence of large numbers of repeating earthquakes. Large numbers of correlated events occur in different tectonic regions, including the San Andreas Fault, Long Valley caldera, Geysers geothermal field and Mendocino triple junction. Future research using these data may substantially improve earthquake lo- cations and add insight into the velocity structure in the crust.
RNA Sequencing of Tumor-Associated Microglia Reveals Ccl5 as a Stromal Chemokine Critical for Neurofibromatosis-1 Glioma Growth

Solid cancers develop within a supportive microenvironment that promotes tumor formation and growth through the elaboration of mitogens and chemokines. Within these tumors, monocytes (macrophages and microglia) represent rich sources of these stromal factors. Leveraging a genetically engineered mouse model of neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) low-grade brain tumor (optic glioma), we have previously demonstrated that microglia are essential for glioma formation and maintenance. To identify potential tumor-associated microglial factors that support glioma growth (gliomagens), we initiated a comprehensive large-scale discovery effort using optimized RNA-sequencing methods focused specifically on glioma-associated microglia. Candidate microglial gliomagens were prioritized to identify potential secreted or membrane-bound proteins, which were next validated by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction as well as by RNA fluorescence in situ hybridization following minocycline-mediated microglial inactivation in vivo. Using these selection criteria, chemokine (C-C motif) ligand 5 (Ccl5) was identified as a chemokine highly expressed in genetically engineered Nf1 mouse optic gliomas relative to nonneoplastic optic nerves. As a candidate gliomagen, recombinant Ccl5 increased Nf1-deficient optic nerve astrocyte growth in vitro. Importantly, consistent with its critical role in maintaining tumor growth, treatment with Ccl5 neutralizing antibodies reduced Nf1 mouse optic glioma growth and improved retinal dysfunction in vivo. Collectively, these findings establish Ccl5 as an important microglial growth factor for low-grade glioma maintenance relevant to the development of future stroma-targeted brain tumor therapies.
The Role of Human Postnatal Bone Marrow-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells and Their Importance in Growth, Spinal Cord Injury and Other Neurodegenerative Disorders

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are pluripotent cells that differentiate into cells of mesodermal origin and transdifferentiate into ectodermal and endodermal cell types. Physiologically, MSCs are primarily responsible for the regeneration and growth of cells and tissues derived from a mesodermal lineage; MSCs form bone, cartilage, muscle, and connective tissue. MSCs can also transdifferentiate with high efficiency to functional neurons: microglia and oligodendrocytes. MSCs respond to environmental cues such as cytokines and these cues affect their development and fate. Since cytokines and other inflammatory mediators are also expected at sites of spinal cord injury (SCI), simple implantation of MSCs and/or their differentiated cells for therapeutic benefits might be premature unless the basic science precedes translational science. This is particularly valid as each individual has a unique immune response. A similar argument could be made for embryonic stem cells (ESCs). However, the unstable behavior of ESC to form tumors, as well as rapid generation of mixed cell types, makes MSCs a more desirable stem cell for translational science. This chapter briefly explains the role of MSCs in normal growth and development before discussing approaches by which MSCs can be applied to SCI repair and other neurodegenerative disorders. The mechanism by which microenvironmental factors can affect stem cell development, growth, and therapies is also discussed. In addition to the potential of direct application of stem cells or their differentiated cells, MSCs can be used as models to understand axonal repair, which could lead to the development of new drugs for SCI. These models could test novel factors to repair neurons. Any identified factor could be delivered directly or by gene therapy. Co-culture methods employing MSCs are significant to long-term investigation for rapid screening of compounds, with simultaneous understanding of repair mechanisms of axotomized neurons. The model could be translated in parallel with other stem cell therapies for SCI repair.
US Poison Control Center Calls for Infants 6 Months of Age and Younger.

BACKGROUND: Anticipatory guidance and prevention efforts to decrease poisonings in young children have historically focused on restricting access to minimize exploratory ingestions. Because infants through 6 months of age have limited mobility, such exposures are expected to be less frequent and therapeutic (or dosing) errors should be more frequent. Although recent prevention efforts target some types of therapeutic errors, the epidemiology of these exposures is not well characterized in this age group. This could have important implications for the effectiveness of current prevention efforts. METHODS: A 10-year (2004–2013) retrospective review of exposure calls for infants through 6 months of age was conducted on National Poison Data System files. RESULTS: A total of 271 513 exposures were reported, of which 96.7% were unintentional. Of these, the most common reasons were general unintentional (50.7%), which includes exploratory exposures, and therapeutic error (36.7%). Among the latter, 47.0% involved quantitative dosing errors (a different amount than intended) and 42.8% involved nonquantitative dosing errors (a medication given twice or too soon, the wrong medication, or wrong route). Most exposures (97.5%)occurred in the home but only 85.2% of calls came from the home;80.4% ofself-referrals to a healthcare facility were not admitted. CONCLUSIONS: General unintentional (including exploratory) exposures and therapeutic errors both comprise a large proportion of calls in this age group. Among therapeutic errors, quantitative and nonquantitative dosing errors are equally concerning. There areappreciablenumbers of patients presenting to healthcare prior topoison centerconsultation. These data can help target future anticipatory guidance and prevention measures.
Fluorescent silica nanoparticles containing covalently bound dyes for reporter, marker, and sensor applications

Silica nanoparticles have proven to be useful in many bioanalytical and medical applications and have been used in numerous applications during the last decade. Combining the properties of silica nanoparticles and fluorescent dyes that may be used as chemical probes or labels can be relatively easy by simply soaking porous silica nanoparticles in a solution of the dye of interest. Under proper conditions the entrapped dye can stay inside the silica nanoparticle for several hours resulting in a useful probe. In spite of the relative durability of these probes, leaching can still occur. A much better approach is to synthesize silica nanoparticles that have the fluorescent dye covalently attached to the backbone structure of the silica nanoparticle. This can be achieved by using appropriately modified tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS) analogues during the silica nanoparticle synthesis. The molar ratio of TEOS and modified TEOS will determine the fluorescent dye load in the silica nanoparticle. Dependent on the chemical stability of the reporting dye either reverse micellar (RM) or Stober method can be used for silica nanoparticle synthesis. If dye stability allows RM procedure is preferred as it results in a much easier control of the silica nanoparticle reaction itself. Also controlling the size and uniformity of the silica nanoparticles are much easier using RM method. Dependent on the functional groups present in the reporting dye used in preparation of the modified TEOS, the silica nanoparticles can be utilized in many applications such as pH sensor, metal ion sensors, labels, etc. In addition surface activated silica nanoparticles with reactive moieties are also excellent reporters or they can be used as bright fluorescent labels. Many different fluorescent dyes can be used to synthesize silica nanoparticles including visible and NIR dyes. Several bioanalytical applications are discussed including studying amoeba phagocytosis.
Assessment of association between rapid fluctuations in serum sodium and intraventricular hemorrhage in hypernatremic preterm infants.

Aim This study aims to determine the association between the rapid fluctuations in serum sodium and intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) or death in hypernatremic preterm infants. Study Design Single center observational study including 216 infants Results Of 216 infants, 126 (58%) studied developed hypernatremia (serum sodium ≥ 150 mmol/L). IVH was more frequent in hypernatremic infants (p = 0.01). Presence of hypernatremia was an independent risk factor for IVH on logistic regression analysis (p = 0.022, odds ratio 2.0, 95% confidence interval: 1.1–3.8). Rapid (≥ 10 and ≥ 15 mmol/L/d) rise or fall in serum sodium in hypernatremic infants was not associated with the outcomes. Conclusion Hypernatremia per se, but not the rapid fluctuations (not exceeding 10–15 mmol/L/d) in serum sodium was independently associated with IVH.
A Direct Test of Pathways Theory

Although qualitative research has informed Pathways Theory for decades, there are few quantitative studies that have explored this theory. This study utilizes a path analytic approach with measures...
Ballistic Impact Behavior of Nacre-Like Laminated Composites Consisting of B 4 C Tablets and Polyurea Matrix

A nacre-like composite armor consisting of B4C tablets and polyurea matrix is modeled, and its ballistic impact behavior and penetration resistance (under a normal and a 15°-oblique impact by a solid right circular cylindrical projectile) were analyzed using a series of transient, nonlinear dynamic, finite-element analyses. Nacre is a biological material constituting the innermost layer of the shells of gastropods and bivalves. It consists of polygonal tablets of aragonite, tessellated to form individual layers and having the adjacent layers as well as the tablets within a layer bonded by a biopolymer. Due to its highly complex hierarchical microstructure, nacre possesses an outstanding combination of mechanical properties, the properties which are far superior to the ones that are predicted using the homogenization techniques such as the rule of mixtures. The results of the transient nonlinear dynamic analysis pertaining to the ballistic impact response and the penetration resistance of the modeled nacre-like armor are compared with their counterparts for the B4C single-block armor having an identical areal density. Furthermore, the effect of various nacre microstructural features (e.g., surface profiling, micron-scale asperities, mineral bridges between the overlapping tablets lying in adjacent layers) on the ballistic penetration resistance of the nacre-like composite armor is investigated in order to identify an optimal nacre-like composite-armor architecture having the largest penetration resistance. The results obtained clearly show that a nacre-like armor possesses a superior penetration resistance relative to its monolithic counterpart, and that the nacre microstructural features considered play a critical role in the armor penetration resistance.
Sensory and Microbial Profile of Steaks Stored in O2-CO2-N2 Atmospheres.

The microflora of steaks prepared from 14-day old vacuum-packaged beef strip loins obtained from a commercial packing plant consisted primarily of Leuconostoc sp. with smaller percentages of Pseudomonas sp. and homofermentative lactobacilli. Steaks stored for 10 days at 1 ± 1 C in O2 (65-80%) + CO2 (20-25%) + N2 (0-10%) atmospheres in the dark were rated inferior (surface discoloration, overall acceptability) to steaks prepared from loins which had been stored for an additional 10 days in vacuum packages. Additional storage for 4 days under retail conditions (2 ± 2 C) caused further deterioration of quality. Aerobic plate counts of steaks prepared from loins which had been stored in vacuum packages for an additional 10 days were about 2 logs lower than those of comparable steaks held in O2-CO2-N2 atmospheres.
Designing Memory, Memorial, and Remembrance Experiences for Museum Web Visitors

(2004). Designing Memory, Memorial, and Remembrance Experiences for Museum Web Visitors. Journal of Museum Education: Vol. 29, Museums of Memory, pp. 6-11.
A Bayesian Examines the Lady Tasting Tea

This technical note accompanies the case/class on “The Lady Tasting Tea” (LTT). It describes how a Bayesian would update his or her prior probability for the probability the LTT can correctly distinguish cups of tea based on whether the milk was added first or last. This long-form note describes both a discrete model (LTT has p of 0.5 or 0.8) and a more complicated continuous model (p is beta distributed). The abridged note (UVA-QA-0768) describes only the discrete model. The case/class itself provides a very useful analogy with which students can explore the elements of statistical inference. Excerpt UVA-QA-0769 Jun. 13, 2011 A Bayesian Examines the Lady Tasting Tea Before I describe what Bayesian statistics can add to the discussion of the lady tasting tea (LTT), let me remind you where the classical statisticians left us. They used the binomial distribution to calculate the probability distribution of the number the LTT gets correct (in 10 trials) under two scenarios. The first scenario, called the null hypothesis, is that she is guessing. Guessing would mean P, the probability that she correctly identifies which of two cups has had milk poured into it first and which had tea in it first, is 0.5. The second scenario, called the alternative hypothesis, is that she is skilled. To keep things from getting too complicated, we assume that skilled means P = 0.8 for each trial. The resulting probability distributions are given in Table 1. With these probabilities, the classical statistician can make probability statements about what will happen undereither scenario. Table 1. Probability distributions for number correct in 10 trials. . . .
American Entomologists in Japan at the Onset of World War II: Mr. Robert Burrell and Dr. John D. Maple II

ABSTRACT: Two USDA entomologists found themselves caught in a life changing situation as they tried to leave Japan and return home. The date was December 7, 1941, and the surprise attack on Pearl Harbor had begun. One entomologist was on a Japanese passenger ship steaming eastward somewhere near Hawaii on the fateful Sunday morning. The ship made an abrupt U-turn and returned to Japan — the start of seven difficult months of hardship as an internee in a Yokohama camp with other unfortunate foreigners. The other entomologist was walking the streets of Nagasaki when he heard a public announcement of the Imperial Declaration of War. He, too, found himself in a similar internment camp in Nagasaki. During this time in internment a young Japanese entomologist showed lasting acts of kindness in aiding his former supervisor by providing personal items needed to make confinement tolerable. Our story follows them through 7 months of captivity until they were repatriated in an exchange that took place in East Africa...
Control of Intramolecular Isomerization Reactivity of an Azobenzene Derivative Anchored to ZrO2 Nanoparticle Thin Films

Chemical adsorption of molecules to nanomaterials imparts thermodynamic and kinetic variations to molecular reactivity. However, these differences are challenging to measure or predict and thus are frequently overlooked in nanomaterial/molecular interfacial systems. In this study, interfacial attachment of an azobenzene derivative to ZrO2 nanoparticle thin films more than doubles the azobenzene thermal isomerization rate and decreases the extent of photoisomerization by up to a factor of 3 compared to that of fluid solution. The magnitude of these changes can be controlled by selectively anchoring either the cis or trans isomer of azobenzene to the ZrO2 film. Furthermore, the coadsorption of the sterically hindering molecule chenodeoxycholic acid to a ZrO2 thin film previously treated with cis-azobenzene results in a decreased extent of isomerization that mimics the trans-azobenzene anchored ZrO2 film. Accordingly, steric hindrance of the azobenzene isomerization at the interface is implicated as an expla...
On the Geometry of Locally Nonconical Convex Sets

A convex subset Q of a Hausdorff topological vector space is called locally nonconical (LNC) if for every two points x,y∈Q there is a relative neighborhood U of x in Q such that U+\(\tfrac{1}{2}\)(y-x) ⊂Q. A geometric characterization (Theorem 2.2) of closed LNC sets with nonempty interior in a Hilbert space is supplied. It states that any proper line segment ]x,y[ contained in bd(Q), the topological boundary of Q, lies inside a relative neighborhood in bd(Q) composed of parallel line segments. It is shown that one half of this characterization, at least, generalizes to the setting of a locally convex Hausdorff topological vector space (LCHTVS). This leads to the observation that the set ext(Q) of extreme points of any LNC set Q in an LCHTVS is closed. Finally, it is proven that, in the same setting, all LNC sets are uniformly stable and, hence, stable.
Carbon Offset Markets: A Viable Instrument?

In this article, we explore the realm of carbon offset markets that have been set up to enable consumers to offset their share of carbon emissions. Though the market is a relatively new one, it has quickly spawned countless offset providers under both regulated and voluntary schemes. Our research points out that the market is widely unregulated and, furthermore, there is no common quality or certification structure for the offset providers. At this point in the evolution of the market, only a handful of offset provider ratings schemes exist; and even these schemes leave a vast void for consumers.
Magnetic resonance imaging of bone marrow in hairy cell leukemia: correlation with clinical response to alpha-interferon

Five patients with progressive hairy cell leukemia were treated with recombinant alpha 2-interferon and examined prospectively at 3-month intervals using serial bone marrow biopsies and magnetic resonance (MR) imaging. Pretreatment iliac crest marrow biopsies demonstrated hairy cell infiltration involving 30-90% of marrow cellularity. Concurrent pretreatment coronal images of the proximal femurs and pelvis using MR revealed extensive marrow involvement that varied in distribution from patchy to diffuse. At 6 months, all patients had responded to alpha 2-interferon with improvement in peripheral blood counts and decrease in lymphoid infiltration on marrow biopsy to 15-40%. Six-month follow-up MR scans demonstrated decreasing marrow leukemia infiltration and increasing marrow fat. MR bone marrow imaging appears useful in the initial diagnosis of hairy cell leukemia, for monitoring the response to treatment, and possibly for predicting relapse.
Unwritten Rules and the Press of Social Conventions

The long-standing argument between what has become known as formalism, broad internalism and conventionalism in the philosophical study of sport has to a great degree focused on the role of rules i...
Investigation of Fungi Causing Twig Blight Diseases on Peach Trees in South Carolina

A survey of fungal pathogens causing twig blight on commercial peach trees was conducted in South Carolina in the fall of 2016. Shoots with cankers, pycnidia, and dieback were collected from six locations around the state. Isolates obtained from these samples were identified as Botryosphaeria obtusa, Phomopsis amygdali, Leucostoma persoonii, and Cytospora sp., based on colony morphology, conidia size and shape, and ribosomal DNA sequence analysis. L. persoonii was the most prevalent species and was isolated in five of the six locations, followed by P. amygdali and B. obtusa. The sensitivity of representative isolates of B. obtusa, P. amygdali, and L. persoonii to fungicides of different FRAC codes was evaluated. All species tested were sensitive to thiophanate-methyl (FRAC 1) and pyraclostrobin and azoxystrobin (both FRAC 11), whereas all species were resistant to boscalid and fluopyram (both FRAC 7). P. amygdali and B. obtusa were sensitive to difenoconazole and propiconazole (both FRAC 3), whereas L. persoonii was moderately resistant. L. persoonii was the most virulent species based on expansion of mycelium in the cambium layer of 2-year-old, detached twig pieces. Bacterial spot (BS)-sensitive cultivar 'O'Henry' was most susceptible to B. obtusa compared with BS-sensitive 'Summerprince', brown rot (BR)-resistant 'Contender', and BR-sensitive 'Coronet' but was least susceptible to L. persoonii. Coronet was most susceptible to L. persoonii. There were no significant differences between susceptibility of the cultivars to P. amygdali. This study established that L. persoonii is currently the most frequent twig blight pathogen in South Carolina, perhaps owing to its superior fitness. Some fungicides were effective in controlling all twig blight pathogens and may therefore be useful for chemical management strategies. Our study also provides the first evidence that the genetic basis of resistance to BS and BR in peach trees is not necessarily linked to tolerance to wood pathogens.
Sickle cell disease: clinical advances by the Murayama molecular hypothesis.

Abstract : A comprehensive review of the scope and thrust of clinical gains, both diagnostic and therapeutic, made in sickle cell disease as a result of analytical, deductive, and inferential extensions of the modified Murayama hypothesis for the molecular mechanism of sickling is presented. (Author)
Infinity Operads and Monoidal Categories with Group Equivariance

This monograph provides a coherent development of operads, infinity operads, and monoidal categories, equipped with equivariant structures encoded by an action operad. A group operad is a planar operad with an action operad equivariant structure. In the first three parts of this monograph, we establish a foundation for group operads and for their higher coherent analogues called infinity group operads. Examples include planar, symmetric, braided, ribbon, and cactus operads, and their infinity analogues. For example, with the tools developed here, we observe that the coherent ribbon nerve of the universal cover of the framed little 2-disc operad is an infinity ribbon operad. In Part 4 we define general monoidal categories equipped with an action operad equivariant structure, and provide a unifying treatment of coherence and strictification for them. Examples of such monoidal categories include symmetric, braided, ribbon, and coboundary monoidal categories, which naturally arise in the representation theory of quantum groups and of coboundary Hopf algebras and in the theory of crystals of finite dimensional complex reductive Lie algebras. Many illustrations and examples are included. Assuming only basic category theory, this monograph is intended for graduate students and researchers. In addition to being a coherent reference for the topics covered, this book is also suitable for a graduate student seminar and a reading course.
Myxedema and intestinal malabsorption (nontropical sprue?) with severe hypo motility of the gastrointestinal tract

A case of malabsorption syndrome developing in a 43-year-old woman with primary hypothyroidism is reported. Her major symptoms were related to severe hypomotility of the gastrointestinal tract and impaired intestinal absorption. The generalized failure of propulsive action of the gut was probably secondary to both the thyroid and intestinal disease. There is a possibility that development of myxedema precipitated manifestations of overt sprue in a predisposed person with hitherto unrecognized latent sprue.
Microstrip patch antenna for simultaneous temperature sensing and superstrate characterization

This paper investigates a microstrip patch antenna for measuring the thickness and dielectric constant of the medium above the antenna (i.e. the superstrate) as well as the temperature. The intended application is simultaneous sensing of ash accumulation and temperature inside a boiler, with the aim of enhancing safety, improving efficiency, and reducing downtime associated with maintenance. A patch antenna, consisting of a dielectric substrate, a radiation patch, and a ground plane, functions as an electromagnetic resonator with specific fundamental frequencies. A dielectric medium placed above the patch antenna changes its effective dielectric constant and thus its resonant frequencies. Meanwhile, temperature also influences the antenna frequencies because of the thermal expansion of the conductors (i.e. the radiation patch and ground plane), and the dielectric constant of dielectric materials due to their temperature dependency. Since a rectangular patch antenna has two fundamental frequencies, it enables determining these two parameters simultaneously. Once the temperature and superstrate thickness are determined, the dielectric constant of the superstrate and its temperature dependency can also be extracted. To demonstrate this capability, a dual-frequency patch antenna was designed, fabricated, and characterized with a superstrate of various thicknesses and at different temperatures. By fitting the antenna resonant frequencies as functions of the superstrate thickness and temperature, these two parameters were inversely determined from the measured antenna frequencies. Using ash from charcoal briquettes as a superstrate, the measurement uncertainties were determined to be ±0.58 °C and ±58.05 μm for the temperature and the superstrate thickness respectively. The dielectric constant of the ash was found to be 2.64 at room temperature and its thermal coefficient of dielectric constant (TCDk) was found to be 918 ppm °C−1.
Tackling climate change to accelerate sustainable development

The 2030 Agenda and the Paris Agreement share the purpose of creating a more resilient, productive and healthy environment for present and future generations. Nations must seize the opportunity to raise their ambition, realize synergies and minimize trade-offs.
Rod phototransduction and light signal transmission during type 2 diabetes

Abstract Diabetic retinopathy is a major complication of diabetes recently associated with attenuated photoreceptor function. Multiple stressors in diabetes, such as hyperglycemia, oxidative stress and inflammatory factors, have been identified, but systemic effects of diabetes on outer retina function are incompletely understood. Ex vivo ERG presents the unique opportunity to test rod photoreceptor light signal transduction and transmission and determine whether they are permanently compromised and/or adapt to hyperglycemia in chronic type 2 diabetes. Light-evoked rod photoreceptor signals in control and diabetic mice in vivo were compared to those recorded ex vivo under normal or elevated extracellular glucose. Transduction and transmission of light signals were compromised in 6 mo. diabetic mice in vivo. In contrast, ex vivo rod signaling was similar in isolated retinas from 6 mo. control and diabetic mice under normoglycemic conditions. Acutely elevated glucose ex vivo increased light-evoked photoreceptor responses in control mice, but did not affect light responses in diabetic mice. In summary, our data suggest that long-term diabetes does not irreversibly change the ability of rod photoreceptors to transduce and mediate light signals. However, type 2 diabetes appears to induce adaptational changes in the rods that render them less sensitive to increased availability of glucose.
Discrete boronate ester ladders from the dynamic covalent self-assembly of oligo(phenylene ethynylene) derivatives and phenylenebis(boronic acid)

Three increasingly π-conjugated covalent organic polygons have been prepared by the dynamic covalent condensation of catechol-based oligo(phenylene ethynylene) derivatives with phenylenebis(boronic acid). The assemblies represent a series of boronate ester “ladders” wherein two electron rich oligo(phenylene ethynylene) “rungs” are bridged by electron deficient aryl boronate ester “rails”, resulting in quasi-two-dimensional oligomers of increasing size. Spectroscopic and computational investigations suggest that the ladders exhibit a greater effective conjugation length than comparable oligo(phenylene ethynylene) compounds not bridged by aryl boronate esters. Different conformations, substitutions, and constitutions of boronate ester ladders are also modeled to gain further insight into their influence on π-conjugation and HOMO–LUMO gaps of isolated one-dimensional versus bridged, quasi-two-dimensional conjugated organic materials.
Chapter 5 – Sexual Differentiation

This chapter describes how reproductive structures develop. Anatomical features of the adult male and female reproductive systems differ greatly. Thus, during embryonic development, males and females must take distinctly different paths in forming their reproductive anatomies. Remarkably, the reproductive systems of genetically male and female embryos are, at an early stage of development, identical. How this sexually undifferentiated stage develops into the typical (and sometimes atypical) male and female reproductive systems during embryonic and fetal development is the subject of this chapter.
Instagram’s Affordances and the Visual Construction of Solidarity after a Mass Shooting:

Solidarity is a common response after a mass shooting. Social media and social media affordances, such as hashtags, are valuable technological tools after such events. How does social media facilit...
Analytical Techniques for Analyzing How Systems Change with Time: A Natural Explanation for the Minimum Entropy Production Principles

In the previous chapter, we analyzed possible probability distributions describing real-life phenomena. In general, systems change with time, and the corresponding probability distributions change. There are some general rules about such changes, some of them well-explained, some more of an empirical nature. For example, it is a well-known (and reasonably well-explained) fact that the entropy of a closed system increases with time—this is known as the Second Law of Thermodynamics. Interestingly, there is another empirical observation—which is not as well justified—that while the entropy increases, its rate of increase is often the smallest possible. The corresponding minimum entropy production principle was first formulated and explained by a future Nobelist Ilya Prigogine.
Reviewing Family Communication Scholarship: Toward a Framework for Conceptualizing a Communicative Perspective on Family Identity

In this manuscript we review multiple approaches to family communication research, and provide directions for future research as they relate to family culture. Specifically, we review family commun...
Metals and Air Pollution Particles

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the effect of metals on health. The atmosphere constitutes a prime vehicle for the movement and redistribution of metals. Human activities have had a major impact on both the global and regional cycles of metals. As a result, there has been a significant contamination of air and water resources, and an accumulation of metals in food chains. Metal cations are a constituent of both emission source and ambient air pollution particles. These metals have been shown to present an oxidative stress both in vitro and in vivo . Lung injury after exposure to air pollution particles corresponds to the concentrations of metals present in the particles and, in an animal model, can be reproduced by instillation of individual metals. The adverse health effects attributed to suspended sulfates have also been demonstrated to be significantly associated with atmospheric concentrations of transition metals capable of complexing with the oxidized sulfur groups. Similarly, the correlations between in vivo tissue damage and particle size may reflect the increased concentrations of catalytically active metals present in smaller particles.
Do Nonaudit Services Compromise Auditor Independence? Further Evidence

This paper challenges the findings of Frankel et al. (2002) (FJN). The results of our discretionary accruals tests differ from FJN's when we adjust discretionary current accruals for firm performan...
The lipid peroxidation product EKODE exacerbates colonic inflammation and colon tumorigenesis

Oxidative stress is emerging as an important contributor to the pathogenesis of colorectal cancer (CRC), however, the molecular mechanisms by which the disturbed redox balance regulates CRC development remain undefined. Using a liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry-based lipidomics, we found that epoxyketooctadecenoic acid (EKODE), which is a lipid peroxidation product, was among the most dramatically increased lipid molecules in the colon of azoxymethane (AOM)/dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)-induced CRC mice. This is, at least in part, due to increased oxidative stress in colon tumors, as assessed by analyzing gene expression of oxidative markers in AOM/DSS-induced CRC mice and human CRC patients in the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database. Systemic, short-time treatment with low-dose EKODE increased the severity of DSS-induced colitis, caused intestinal barrier dysfunction and enhanced lipopolysaccharide (LPS)/bacterial translocation, and exacerbates the development of AOM/DSS-induced CRC in mice. Furthermore, treatment with EKODE, at nM doses, induced inflammatory responses via JNK-dependent mechanisms in both colon cancer cells and macrophage cells. Overall, these results demonstrate that the lipid peroxidation product EKODE is an important mediator of colonic inflammation and colon tumorigenesis, providing a novel mechanistic linkage between oxidative stress and CRC development.
Inverted metal–organic frameworks: isoreticular decoration with organic anions using principles of supramolecular chemistry

A structural study of two-dimensional inverted metal–organic frameworks demonstrates that the interior cavities of the framework structures can be systematically modified by changing the organic an...
Sobolev training of thermodynamic-informed neural networks for interpretable elasto-plasticity models with level set hardening

Abstract We introduce a deep learning framework designed to train smoothed elastoplasticity models with interpretable components, such as the stored elastic energy function, yield surface, and plastic flow that evolve based on a set of deep neural network predictions. By recasting the yield function as an evolving level set, we introduce a deep learning approach to deduce the solutions of the Hamilton–Jacobi equation that governs the hardening/softening mechanism. This machine learning hardening law may recover any classical hand-crafted hardening rules and discover new mechanisms that are either unbeknownst or difficult to express with mathematical expressions. Leveraging Sobolev training to gain control over the derivatives of the learned functions, the resultant machine learning elastoplasticity models are thermodynamically consistent, interpretable, while exhibiting excellent learning capacity. Using a 3D FFT solver to create a polycrystal database, numerical experiments are conducted and the implementations of each component of the models are individually verified. Our numerical experiments reveal that this new approach provides more robust and accurate forward predictions of cyclic stress paths than those obtained from black-box deep neural network models such as the recurrent neural network, the 1D convolutional neural network, and the multi-step feed-forward model.
Necrotizing Soft Tissue Infection in the Elderly: Effect of Pre-Operative Factors on Mortality and Discharge Disposition

Background: Necrotizing soft tissue infections (NSTIs) are rapidly progressing, life-threatening diseases associated with substantial morbidity and mortality, especially in patients 65 years or older. We aimed to evaluate clinical factors associated with mortality and discharge disposition after NSTIs in elderly patients. Patients and Methods: Retrospective data were obtained from the 2007-2017 American College of Surgeons-National Surgical Quality (ACS-NSQIP) database. Patients aged 65 years or older with a post-operative diagnosis of an NSTI (defined as gas gangrene, necrotizing fasciitis, or Fournier gangrene) were included. Univariable and multivariable analyses were performed to identify independent clinical and demographic factors associated with mortality and with discharge disposition. Results: A total of 1,460 patients were included. Median age was 71 years, 43% were females. Overall, 30-day mortality was 18.5% and 30-day morbidity was 63.6%. The most important predictors of mortality included pre-operative septic shock (odds ratio [OR], 6.36; 95% confidence interval [CI], 3.61-11.18), pre-operative dialysis dependence (OR, 2.99; 95% CI, 1.77-5.05), coagulopathy (international normalized ratio [INR], >1.5, OR, 2.25; 95% CI, 1.51-3.37), hepatobiliary disease (bilirubin >1.0 mg/dL; OR, 2.05; 95% CI, 1.38-3.04) and aged 80 years or older (OR, 3.36; 95% CI, 2.08-5.44). Patients without any of these risk factors had a mortality of 7.3%. Predictors of discharge to inpatient rehabilitation or skilled care included age 80 years or older (OR, 2.49; 95% CI, 1.44-4.30), American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) ≥3 (OR, 2.05; 95% CI, 1.03-4.05)] and amputation as opposed to debridement (OR, 2.53; 95% CI,1.48-4.32). Conclusions: We identified several pre-operative clinical factors that were associated with increased post-operative mortality and discharge to post-acute care. The next steps should focus on determining if optimization of modifiable predictors would improve mortality.