cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A Novel Method for Curvefitting the Stretched Exponential Function to Experimental Data

The stretched exponential function has many applications in modeling numerous types of experimental relaxation data. However, problems arise when using standard algorithms to fit this function: we have observed that different initializations result in distinct fitted parameters. To avoid this problem, we developed a novel algorithm for fitting the stretched exponential model to relaxation data. This method is advantageous both because it requires only a single adjustable parameter and because it does not require initialization in the solution space. We tested this method on simulated data and experimental stress-relaxation data from bone and cartilage and found favorable results compared to a commonly-used Quasi-Newton method. For the simulated data, strong correlations were found between the simulated and fitted parameters suggesting that this method can accurately determine stretched exponential parameters. When this method was tested on experimental data, high quality fits were observed for both bone and cartilage stress-relaxation data that were significantly better than those determined with the Quasi-Newton algorithm.
Coherent effects in forward scattering

Light scattering at near forward angles has received considerable attention in the past. However, measurements below a scattering angle of 0.1 degree(s) have not previously been made for particle suspensions due to the presence of the unscattered incident light beam. In this paper, we review a new technique for measuring light scattering near, as well as precisely at, a scattering angle of zero degrees. The existence of coherent scattering effects at zero degrees is considered and both theoretical predictions and experimental data are presented.
Palladium and Gold Nanotubes as Oxygen Reduction Reaction and Alcohol Oxidation Reaction Catalysts in Base

Palladium (PdNTs) and gold nanotubes (AuNTs) were synthesized by the galvanic displacement of silver nanowires. PdNTs and AuNTs have wall thicknesses of 6 nm, outer diameters of 60 nm, and lengths of 5-10 and 5-20 μm, respectively. Rotating disk electrode experiments showed that the PdNTs and AuNTs have higher area normalized activities for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) than conventional nanoparticle catalysts. The PdNTs produced an ORR area activity that was 3.4, 2.2, and 3.7 times greater than that on carbon-supported palladium nanoparticles (Pd/C), bulk polycrystalline palladium, and carbon-supported platinum nanoparticles (Pt/C), respectively. The AuNTs produced an ORR area activity that was 2.3, 9.0, and 2.0 times greater than that on carbon-supported gold nanoparticles (Au/C), bulk polycrystalline gold, and Pt/C, respectively. The PdNTs also had lower onset potentials than Pd/C and Pt/C for the oxidation of methanol (0.236 V), ethanol (0.215 V), and ethylene glycol (0.251 V). In comparison to Pt/C, the PdNTs and AuNTs further demonstrated improved alcohol tolerance during the ORR.
Ambition, the Canon, and the Arnolds

The idea of a literary canon is inextricably connected in English-speaking countries with the Arnolds: Thomas Arnold, headmaster of Rugby, who was credited with revivifying the classical curriculum while recreating the great public schools, and his eldest son, Matthew, the most influential nineteenth-century spokesman for the moral, spiritual, social, and cultural efficacy of a canon widened to include English poetry and available, at least in theory, to every literate English person. Like his father, Matthew Arnold was a profes sional educator: he earned his living as an inspector of schools, mostly elementary schools for the poor. For both Arnolds, the canon is the curriculum at the heart of the pedagogical enterprise; and the grand, almost mystical power they attached to it spilled over onto the pedagogue. Their professional careers entailed considerable sacrifice of worldly ambition, but the power of pedagogy as they conceived it became their object and their reward. Like all curricular ventures, the canon is a matter not just of what is taught, but to whom it is taught, and who teaches it.1 For the teacher, as for the student, issues of status and prestige are always at play. During the nineteenth century the status as well as the number of teachers in England steadily rose, and Thomas and Matthew Arnold contributed sub stantially to that rise both by their day-to-day work in the schools and by the powers they attributed to the canon, which served to enhance the authority of the teacher of literature both within the academy and outside it. The great point of agreement, even today, between those who want to preserve the traditional canon and those who want to enlarge or destroy it, is that literature has immense formative power2?and so, by implication, have those who teach it. The careers of Thomas Arnold and his son demonstrate with great clarity the interplay between literary pedagogy and personal ambition. For both of them the formal educational enterprise that paid their wages was a mortification of worldly ambition. But
Surgical management of sporadic spinal cord hemangioblastomas.

Hemangioblastomas are the third most frequently found intramedullary spinal cord tumor; they follow gliomas and ependymomas in frequency (10). Hemangioblastomas represent approximately 8%e10% of primary spinal cord tumors. Spinal cord hemangioblastomas can arise sporadically (approximately 60% of spinal cord hemangioblastoma cases) or in thecontext ofvon Hippel-Lindau (VHL) disease,an autosomal dominant neoplasia syndrome (40% of cases) (2, 3, 13, 15, 18). WhethertheyarisesporadicallyorinVHLdisease,theyarebenign, highlyvasculartumorsthatarehistologicallysimilar.Inadditionthe spinal cord, hemangioblastomas can arise in a highly conserved
Trends in the creativity literature: An analysis of research in the journal of creative behavior (1967–1989)

Abstract Many have noted a renewed interest in creativity. However, even with a 40‐year history, little effort has been directed at the study of changes in the field, and no effort has been made to develop a historical perspective of the work being conducted. Which topics have consistently been examined? Which have gone out of favor, and which have shown surges of interest? The present investigation addressed these questions by examining 311 articles, representing a 23‐year span (1967–1989). This span began in 1967 with the founding of the Journal of Creative Behavior. Predictions were based on previous literature reviews and similar studies conducted in other areas of the social sciences. One prediction was that there would be increases in the number of authors per article (women authors in particular) and in the total number of references. Furthermore, empirical articles were expected to be on the rise, as were articles focusing on social and educational issues. The number of articles concerned with per...
Normal stress and viscosity measurements for polymer solutions in steady cone-and-plate shear

Normal stress and viscometric measurements were made on nine polymer solutions with cone-and-plate instruments. Temperature, concentration, molecular weight, and chemical structure were varied. Zero-shear viscosities, obtained by extrapolation of falling-sphere data, ranged from 0.7 to 380 poise. A brief description is given of a normal stress-measurement apparatus, incorporating fast-response strain gauge pressure transducers. Measurements were made at shear rates between 5 and 2,800 sec.−1, sometimes necessitating a considerable correction for inertial forces. Non-Newtonian viscosity, normal stress, recoverable shear strain, and elastic modulus are presented in terms of modified Ferry reduced variables.
Stability analysis of hybrid jump linear systems with Markov inputs

Hybrid jump linear systems (HJLS's) were introduced to study the properties of supervisory control systems. In a recent publication, a mean square (MS) stability test was introduced for HJLS's with Moore output maps and i.i.d. inputs. In this paper, a similar test is developed for HJLS's of this type but with Markov inputs. The test requires one to first construct an auxiliary HJLS with equivalent stability properties. Then, a particular matrix, A, is constructed taking into consideration the auxiliary system's structure and associated Markov kernel. Finally, the spectral radius of A is compared against 1 to determine the stability of the original HJLS.
Suboptimal state estimation for continuous-time nonlinear systems from discrete noisy measurements

This paper presents the derivation of the dynamical equations of a second-order filter which estimates the states of a non-linear plant on the basis of discrete noisy measurements. The filter equations contain terms involving the second-order partial derivatives of the plant and output equations. Simulation results are presented which yield a comparison of the performance of the first-versus the second-order filter when applied to a nonlinear third-order system. The results indicate that the inclusion of second-order terms can markedly improve the filter performance.
Towards a Self-Extending Lexicon

The problem of manually modifying the lexicon appears with any natural language processing program. Ideally, a program should be able to acquire new lexical entries from context, the way people learn. We address the problem of acquiring entire phrases, specifically figurative phrases, through augmenting a phrasal lexicon. Facilitating such a self-extending lexicon involves (a) disambiguation---selection of the intended phrase from a set of matching phrases, (b) robust parsing---comprehension of partially-matching phrases, and (c) error analysis---use of errors in forming hypotheses about new phrases. We have designed and implemented a program called RINA which uses demons to implement functional-grammar principles. RINA receives new figurative phrases in context and through the application of a sequence of failure-driven rules, creates and refines both the patterns and the concepts which hold syntactic and semantic information about phrases.
Optics damage inspection for the NIF

Two optics damage inspection system will be implemented on the NIF, one to inspect optics within the laser and transport sections and the other to inspect the final optics at the target chamber. Both system use dark-field imaging technology to enhance defect contrast. Details of each system design will be provided. A functional optics damage inspection system prototype, using dark-field imaging technology, is currently in operation on the Beamlet laser. This system provides us with the opportunity to measure non- ideal optical surfaces expected to be present on NIF. Prototpye details and performance will be presented.
Maximum likelihood estimation of direction of arrival and frequency sweeping rate with linear chirp signals

The paper presents a 1D maximum likelihood (ML) estimation procedure for both the direction of arrival /spl part/ and the frequency sweeping rate /spl alpha/ of a linear chirp signal impinging upon an M-element linear array. The estimates can be obtained by globally maximizing the likelihood function of the observed data on the /spl alpha//spl sim//spl part/ plane. To reduce the heavy 2-D ML computational load, a 1D ML procedure to search for the global maximum along the reduced 1D search space is proposed. >
Artificial upwelling in regular and random waves

Abstract Mathematical modeling conducted in this study evaluated the hydrodynamic performance of a wave-driven artificial upwelling device in ocean waves off the Hawaiian islands. The device consisted of a buoy (4.0 m in diameter) and a tail pipe (1.2 m in diameter, 300 m in length) with a flow controlling valve. Random ocean waves off the Hawaiian islands used in the device's modeling analysis were synthesized from a wave spectrum obtained from available data. For comparison, the device's performance was also evaluated in regular waves whose height and period are the same as the significant wave height and wave period of random Hawaiian waves. Modeling results indicated that an upwelling flow of 0.95 m 3 /sec can be generated by this device in random Hawaiian waves and an upwelling flow rate of 0.45 m 3 /sec can be generated in regular waves. A simple mathematical model which assumed that the device exactly follows the incident waves was used in previous studies. Analysis results also indicated that the simple model cannot satisfactorily simulate the relative velocity and acceleration of the water column in the device. Since the relative velocity and acceleration are important factors in determining the rate of upwelling flow, the simple model must be applied with caution.
Comparative antimycobacterial activities of difloxacin, temafloxacin, enoxacin, pefloxacin, reference fluoroquinolones, and a new macrolide, clarithromycin

The activities of fluoroquinolones and a new macrolide against 30 clinical isolates of Mycobacterium tuberculosis were determined in vitro by agar diffusion. In order of relative potencies against M. tuberculosis, temafloxacin (MIC for 90% of isolates [MIC90], 2.3 micrograms/ml) was at least as active as the reference quinolones ofloxacin (MIC90, 2.4 micrograms/ml) and ciprofloxacin (MIC90, 4.3 micrograms/ml). Less active were difloxacin (MIC90, 4.7 micrograms/ml), pefloxacin (MIC90, 6.7 micrograms/ml), and enoxacin (MIC90, 8.3 micrograms/ml). The macrolide clarithromycin was more potent than erythromycin but less potent than the fluoroquinolones. Our results suggest that the newer fluoroquinolones and clarithromycin should be included with ciprofloxacin and ofloxacin in pharmacokinetic studies that may lead to trials in human subjects with mycobacterial infections.
Evaluation of Hypervelocity Carbon Dioxide Blunt Body Experiments in an Expansion Tube Facility

This work represents efforts to study high-enthalpy carbon dioxide flows in anticipation of the upcoming Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) and future missions. The current study extends the previous presentation of experimental results by the comparison now with axisymmetric simulations incorporating detailed thermochemical modeling. The work is motivated by observed anomalies between experimental and numerical studies in hypervelocity impulse facilities. In this work, experiments are conducted in the Hypervelocity Expansion Tube (HET) which, by virtue of its flow acceleration process, exhibits minimal freestream dissociation in comparison to reflected shock tunnels. This simplifies the comparison with computational result as freestream dissociation and considerable thermochemical excitation can be neglected. Shock shapes of the Laboratory aeroshell and spherical geometries are compared with numerical simulations. In an effort to address surface chemistry issues arising from high-enthalpy carbon dioxide ground-test based experiments, spherical stagnation point and aeroshell heat transfer distributions are also compared with simulation. The shock stand-off distance has been identified in the past as sensitive to the thermochemical state and as such, is used here as an experimental measureable for comparison with CFD and two different theoretical models. For low-density, small-scale experiments it is seen that models based upon assumptions of large binary scaling values are unable to match the experimental and numerical results. Very good agreement between experiment and CFD is seen for all shock shapes and heat transfer distributions fall within the non-catalytic and super-catalytic solutions.
Pulsed high duty cycle operation of λ ˜ 8μm quantum cascade lasers

We report on high duty-cycle pulsed and burst-mode operation of lambda ~ 8 mum quantum cascade lasers under ambient conditions for photo-acoustic spectroscopy. An optimum in average optical power and efficiency is seen around 800 kHz and 50% duty-cycle.
Prevention of Escherichia coli K1 Penetration of the Blood-Brain Barrier by Counteracting the Host Cell Receptor and Signaling Molecule Involved in E. coli Invasion of Human Brain Microvascular Endothelial Cells

Escherichia coli meningitis is an important cause of mortality and morbidity, and a key contributing factor is our incomplete understanding of the pathogenesis of E. coli meningitis. We have shown that E. coli penetration into the brain requires E. coli invasion of human brain microvascular endothelial cells (HBMEC), which constitute the blood-brain barrier. E. coli invasion of HBMEC involves its interaction with HBMEC receptors, such as E. coli cytotoxic necrotizing factor 1 (CNF1) interaction with its receptor, the 67-kDa laminin receptor (67LR), and host signaling molecules including cytosolic phospholipase A2α (cPLA2α). In the present study, we showed that treatment with etoposide resulted in decreased expression of 67LR on HBMEC and inhibited E. coli invasion of HBMEC. Pharmacological inhibition of cysteinyl leukotrienes, lipoxygenated products of arachidonic acid released by cPLA2α, using montelukast (an antagonist of the type 1 cysteinyl leukotriene receptor) also inhibited E. coli invasion of HBMEC. E. coli penetration into the brain was significantly decreased by etoposide as well as by montelukast, and a combination of etoposide and montelukast was significantly more effective in inhibiting E. coli K1 invasion of HBMEC than single agents alone. These findings demonstrate for the first time that counteracting the HBMEC receptor and signaling molecule involved in E. coli invasion of HBMEC provides a novel approach for prevention of E. coli penetration into the brain, the essential step required for development of E. coli meningitis.
Physical Program Leadership: From Kinesiology in the Classroom to Fitness Training in the Field

The complex and diverse mission of leading and administering the Physical Program and Kinesiology major at the United States Military Academy at West Point requires a broad and flexible application of leadership theory coupled with strict adherence to established and codified Army Values and Core Leader Competencies. This paper provides a closer look at the specific requirements and leadership challenges that the Kinesiology and Physical Education leaders at the Academy face each day, and provides the tools and strategies employed to meet those obligations. The discussion emphasizes employment of transformational, transactional, participatory, and situational leadership, and provides a continuum of leadership behaviors available to the Kinesiology leader ranging from authoritarian-centered to participatorycentered leadership. The paper affords all leaders in higher education an opportunity to reflect on their own leadership style, and offers ideas on modifying that leadership approach to more effectively ...
Disruption of the hedgehog signaling pathway contributes to the hair follicle cycling deficiency in Vdr knockout mice

Mice null for the Vitamin D receptor (VdrKO) have a disrupted first hair follicle cycle and aborted subsequent hair follicle cycling. We examined the expression of different markers and mediators of hair follicle cycling in the hair follicle of the VdrKO mouse during days 13-22 when the hair follicle normally initiates and completes the first catagen. We compared the expression of those genes in mice with a nonsense mutation in hairless (Rhino), which have a similar alopecia phenotype, and to Cyp27b1 null mice which are deficient in the production of 1,25(OH)2D3, the Vdr ligand, but display normal hair follicle cycling. Our results demonstrate the down regulation of hair follicle markers and the alteration of expression of hedgehog (Hh), Wnt, Fgf, and Tgfbeta pathways in VdrKO and Rhino mice, but not in Cyp27b1KO mice. Treatment of VdrKO mice with an agonist to the Hh pathway partially restored hair follicle cycling, suggesting a role of this pathway in the regulation of hair follicle cycling by VDR. These results suggest that Vdr regulates directly or indirectly the expression of genes required for hair follicle cycling, including Hh signaling, independent of 1,25(OH)2D3.
Dual-Band Compact DRA With Circular and Monopole-Like Linear Polarizations as a Concept for GPS and WLAN Applications

The concept of achieving a dual-band antenna with two different radiation patterns using a single cylindrical dielectric resonator is presented. Both simulated and experimental measured results are conducted to prove the validity of the proposed concept. A broadside circularly-polarized pattern with 7% bandwidth and a vertically polarized omnidirectional pattern with 17.3% bandwidth are obtained, simultaneously. The minimum measured axial ratio is found to be 1.3 dB. The front-to-back ratio is measured to be 15 dB. A design suitable for both Global Positioning System and wireless local area network applications is proposed.
A robust, gravure-printed, silver nanowire/metal oxide hybrid electrode for high-throughput patterned transparent conductors

High-throughput patterning and enhanced mechanical stability are key to enabling large-area applications of metal nanowire mesh transparent electrodes. In this work, hybrid transparent conductors based on silver nanowires embedded in an indium zinc oxide matrix were prepared by high-speed gravure-printing (1.0 m s−1) from a single, stable liquid precursor. These gravure-printed films demonstrate excellent conductivity (9.3 Ω □−1) and transparency (T550nm ∼ 91%), as well as robust mechanical properties. The encapsulating indium zinc oxide matrix dramatically improves adhesion, surface roughness (Rq < 5 nm), film uniformity, and thermal stability (up to 350 °C) of the embedded silver nanowires. These properties of the hybrid films make them a suitable electrode material for a variety of printed electronic devices, such as flexible OLEDs and solar cells.
Multiplication of scrapie agent in mouse spleen.

SUMMARY Splenectomy had no apparent effect on the occurrence of clinical signs of scrapie in mice inoculated with scrapie agent by the intracerebral route but when splenectomy was carried out 7 days before or up to 14 days after intraperitoneal injection, the incubation tunc was lengthened from an average of about 25 weeks to nearly 30 weeks. Scrapie activity in mouse spleens was measured at intervals after intraperitoneal inoculation of different doses of the agent. The time after injection when agent was detected in the mice and the levels of activity detected were apparently related to the amount inoculated. After an initial rise in activity, equal to a doubling of agent every 1 to 2 days, the amount of activity present in the spleens appeared to be related to spleen weight. It is suggested that when inoculation is by routes other than intracerebral, the spleen is an important site of agent replication.
The initial sketch and the growth of a creative network of enterprises in early adulthood: George Bernard shaw

Research in the evolving systems approach (see Gruber and Davis, 1988; Wallace and Gruber, 1989) shows that creative people at some time early in their careers construct an initial sketch that stimulates and guides further development of their ideas. This case study of Bernard Shaw (1856–1950) will describe this aspect of his early development: finding a sense of direction, or charting the creative life, by means of an initial sketch. It will also examine the role of a network of enterprises in the organization of a creative life. In Shaw's case, an initial sketch provides content for the creative process; a network of enterprises organizes the process. Incubation will be described as a period of inaction on one enterprise of the creative system while a different (sometimes similar) enterprise is being developed.
Racial Disparities in Education Debt Burden Among Low- and Moderate-Income Households

Abstract Evidence now demonstrates significant variation in education-debt levels by race and household income, with Black and lower-income students accumulating higher levels of education debt compared to their White and upper-income peers. This study is one of the first to evaluate whether racial disparities in education debt extend to a low- and moderate-income (LMI) population. With data from a national sample of LMI households in the Refund to Savings study ( N = 17.684), we employ a two-part modeling approach with a matching-estimator robustness check to estimate racial and ethnic variation in education debt. We find that significant disparities in education debt remain: the odds of student loan indebtedness are twice as high for LMI Black students as for White counterparts. In all, LMI Black students are estimated to incur $7721 more in education debt than LMI Whites, with disparities persisting after graduation. These findings suggest that LMI Black and White students, who face similar liquidity constraints and borrowing risks, are at unequal risk of accumulating education debt. We conclude by discussing the implications of this research for asset-building policies and student loan repayment efforts, both of which offer promise in bolstering college affordability and easing the burden of education debt.
P-125 Ethics and palliative care consultation: Mayo clinic ethics consult service experience

Background Medical ethics and palliative medicine consultation services frequently intersect. Understanding such overlap may provide clarity regarding the roles and strengths of each service. Aim To determine how often patients at the Mayo Clinic (Rochester, MN, USA) who receive an ethics consult also receive a palliative medicine consult and to determine which service was consulted initially. Methods Ethics consultations at our institution were reviewed for the years 2007 to 2014, examining overlap between ethics and palliative care consults. Query included the total number of ethics consultations for the time period, the number of patients receiving both ethics and palliative medicine consultation, and which service was consulted first. Results Between 2007 and 2014, 566 ethics consults were ordered. Of these, 265 patients (47%) also received a palliative care consult. In 144 of the 265 cases, the ethics consult was placed prior to the palliative medicine consult. The ethics service requested palliative care involvement in 107 of those 144 cases. In 121 of the 265 cases, palliative care consultation preceded ethics consultation and requested ethics involvement for 37 of the 121 patients. Discussion There is significant overlap with palliative medicine in patients receiving ethics consults at our institution. However, the requests for interaction with the other service in our review highlight that there are likely clear strengths of each service. Conclusion Current literature suggests frequent overlap in consults between ethics and palliative medicine at many institutions. Further research to understand those trends may help further clarify the relative strengths, and thus the roles, of those services.
Economy and effectiveness of a neonatal emergency service on a regional basis

A prospective study was conducted with the aim of assessing the effectiveness of a clinic's own EMSN. To this end, the relationship between morbidity, mortality, and place of birth among 236 newborns with birthweights under 1500 grams was investigated. In addition, the time spent on ambulance trips was determined, as were the rates of attendance of pediatricians at births. A comparison of treatment practice and results among infants transferred "internally" from the neighboring gynecologic clinic with those achieved in newborns transferred from outside showed that the effectiveness of the EMSN was limited and was "bought" at great expense. In particular among children with birthweights of 1000 g and more, referrals from outside included significantly more cases of surfactant deficiency syndrome and intraventricular hemorrhage, and the mortality rate among them was higher. The study underscores the need for, and confirms the possibility of, timely "internal" transfer of high-risk children to a perinatal center.
Genetic Basis for Dimorphism and Pathogenicity in Candida Albicans

Our research is aimed at understanding how genetic information is differentially used in the yeast-hyphal morphogenesis of C. albicans, and the biochemical role such gene products play in the process. Toward this end, we have focused on genetic elements that are activated by pH and by temperature, two conditions that regulate the decision to produce yeast or hyphae. One gene, called PHR1, is actively transcribed only at pH’s near neutrality. The inferred amino acid sequence of this gene is 56% identical to a protein of S. cerevisiae that is anchored to the membrane by GPI (glycosylphosphatidylinositol). When PHR1 is deleted on both chromosomes, the double mutant is unable to form hyphal cells. A temperature regulated genetic element was found to have the characteristics of a retrotransposon and to be moderately repeated in the genome, with copies on several chromosomes. The distribution of this element was also found to be strain specific. We have speculated on a role such an element could play in the pathogenesis of C. albicans.
The effects of reward criteria on the structure of interaction in problem solving groups

Research by Gouran and Baird showed that informal groups had greater sequential structure of interaction than problem‐solving groups. The explanation was that informal discussion involves greater responsiveness among members to the contributions of others. Reward criteria were manipulated to affect cooperation and competition. The results of this study indicate that individual‐centered reward criteria generate greater overall structure than do group‐centered reward criteria. Individual‐centered groups had a higher frequency of argumentative analyses, although fewer statements of personal involvement than group‐centered groups. Contrary to predictions, competitive groups showed greater sequential structure than cooperative groups.
Vollintine-Evergreen, Memphis

This chapter examines diversity in Vollintine-Evergreen, a historic neighborhood located in the North-Midtown area of Memphis. This neighborhood is a success story and has remained racially diverse for more than 25 years. The chapter describes the racial diversity within the Vollintine-Evergreen community and discusses the reasons why it remains diverse. Explanations include the neighborhood organization's inclusive style, the quality of the housing, the role of neighborhood institutions (such as religious congregations and a college), and the impact of external groups (such as government agencies and foundations). Of these factors, the neighborhood organization has been especially central to the maintenance of diversity. One of the themes that emerges from a review of the organization and neighborhood institutions is that diversity is both a process and an outcome. To maintain its diversity, the community has relied on the participation of its diverse residents.
Chapter 28 – 1964 Inclusive Fitness and the Evolution of Altruism

Animals can add to their fitness by aiding close relatives. Any added reproduction by those relatives that is due to the aid counts as fitness for the aid-giver. Hamilton’s realization of the importance of this broader, or inclusive, view of fitness in the evolution of social behavior keyed a generation of scientists who examined genetic relationships within social groups, documented aid-giving and its outcomes, and explored the sensory abilities of animals to recognize their close kin.
Comparison of Outcomes of Pericardiocentesis Versus Surgical Pericardial Window in Patients Requiring Drainage of Pericardial Effusions.

Comparative outcomes of patients undergoing pericardiocentesis or pericardial window are limited. Development of pericardial effusion after cardiac surgery is common but no data exist to guide best management. Procedural billing codes and Cleveland Clinic surgical registries were used to identify 1,281 patients who underwent either pericardiocentesis or surgical pericardial window between January 2000 and December 2012. The 656 patients undergoing an intervention for a pericardial effusion secondary to cardiac surgery were also compared. Propensity scoring was used to identify well-matched patients in each group. In the overall cohort, in-hospital mortality was similar between the group undergoing pericardiocentesis and surgical drainage (5.3% vs 4.4%, p = 0.49). Similar outcomes were found in the propensity-matched group (4.9% vs 6.1%, p = 0.55). Re-accumulation was more common after pericardiocentesis (24% vs 10%, p
Unlocking mast cell diversity in human nasal polyps

Mast Cells (MCs) infiltrate the nasal polyps of patients with chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) and the bronchial mucosa of patients with mild, moderate, and severe asthma. MCs are a significant source of IL-33-elicited Th2 cytokines in the sputum of asthmatics and upon activation generate or release high levels of mediators including tryptase, histamine, and prostaglandin D 2 . Although airway MC heterogeneity can readily identified through protease immunostaining and tissue sub-localization, the functional distinctions and developmental relationships between MC subsets remain uncertain, in part because of the lack of flow cytometric markers to distinguish them and technical difficulties in isolating MCs. Using a novel flow cytometric approach we have identified several distinct MC subsets in the nasal polyps of patients with CRS that vary in expression of FcER1, c-kit, B7, CD203 and chymase. Nasal polyp MCs were further characterized through unbiased single cell RNA sequencing, revealing heterogeneity within the MC population and providing novel insight into transcriptional differences between these subsets.
Performance Enhancement Drugs and Sports Supplements: A Review of the Evidence

Abstract For over a century now, athletes in all levels of accomplishment—amateur, professional, Olympic—pursued biological substances, pharmacological agents, and covert doping procedures to obtain any edge in competition leading to greater achievement. As athletic pursuits became more competitive, and more lucrative, any additional improvement in performance leads to increased individual recognition, greater rewards, and increased acclaim—perhaps worldwide accolades. Thus performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs) were developed to improve athletic numbers by enhancing cognition, stamina, strength, and power above and beyond what accepted traditional training methods produced. Chemists and pharmacologists superseded the known PEDs—which included stimulants, anabolic steroids, growth hormones, metabolic regulators, and diuretics—with powerful esoteric substances derived from contemporary medical research advancements. Athletes reportedly now abuse compounds affecting cellular organelles and biochemical processes down to the nuclear transcription/translation level. However, all substances that enhance performance will also cause side effects with potential serious or lethal consequences. It behooves athletes, coaches, and trainers to educate themselves on the risks—legal, biological, psychological—in using these substances.
26-OR: GENOMIC ALTERATION CODING A NOVEL HLA-DQB1 ALLELE IDENTIFIED IN THE FAMILY OF A PATIENT WITH HEMATOLOGICAL MALIGNANCY

Aim Genomic alterations and somatic mutations have been widely identified in hematologic malignancies. Recent studies have described mutations in different HLA genes of these patients. These mutations are identified when high resolution typing is needed for patients and potential donors. An African American patient treated for myeloma, received an autologous stem cell transplant in 2010. During 2011 he was diagnosed with a secondary plasma cell leukemia, becoming a candidate for an allogeneic stem cell transplant. Methods HR HLA typing was performed by Sequence Based Typing (SBT) methodology and a single base mismatch on one of his HLA-DQB1 allele was identified in exon 2, codon 13, leading to an amino acid substitution (Glycine to Valine). Three siblings, considered potential donors, had HLA typing performed and the same HLA-DQB1 ∗ 06:XX was identified in two of them. To investigate the HLA-DQB1 novel allele segregation and its origin within the family, their mother was typed. Results One of the HLA-DQB1 alleles identified did not match with DQB1 alleles from HLA database 3.6.0, used for the SBT data analysis. Their mother HLA typing identified HLA-DQB1∗06:02:01 and DQB1 ∗ 06:XX. The alleles DQB1 ∗ 06:XX and DQB1 ∗ 06:02:01 differ by 1 nucleotide mismatch in exon 2, which caused us to question what genetic alterations that may have occurred in her DQB1 genes. Conclusions Our findings demonstrate that the hematological malignancy is not always the cause for HLA genes alterations, which reinforces the value of family studies to explain gene segregation. Beyond the implications of obtaining an accurate HLA typing and donor selection, these genetic alterations on HLA genes may allow some mechanisms of immune surveillance to fail when associated with other complications caused by hematological malignancies affecting bone marrow transplant candidates. The allele in question was also identified by another HLA laboratory, and is included in the most recent IMGT HLA alleles update, it was named HLA-DQB1 ∗ 06:49.
Traffic aware placement of interdependent NFV middleboxes

Network function virtualization enables flexible implementation of network functions, or middleboxes, as virtual machines running on standard servers. However, the flexibility also creates a challenge for efficiently placing such middleboxes, due to the availability of multiple hosting servers, capability of middleboxes to change traffic volumes, and dependency between middleboxes. In this paper, we address the optimal placement challenge of NFV middleboxes, and propose solutions for middleboxes of different traffic changing effects and with different dependency relations. First, we formulate the Traffic Aware Placement of Interdependent Middleboxes problem as a graph optimization problem. When the flow path is predetermined, we design optimal algorithms to place a non-ordered or totally-ordered middlebox set, and propose an efficient heuristic for the general scenario of a partially-ordered middlebox set after proving its NP-hardness. When the flow path is not predetermined, we show that the problem is NP-hard even for a non-ordered middlebox set, and propose a traffic and space aware routing heuristic. We have evaluated the proposed algorithms using large scale simulations and prototype experiments, and present extensive evaluation results to demonstrate the effectiveness of our design.
Effect of Ultrasonic Nanocrystal Surface Modification on residual stress, microstructure and fatigue behavior of ATI 718Plus alloy

Abstract Ultrasonic Nanocrystal Surface Modification (UNSM) is a mechanical surface treatment that induces large compressive residual stresses and near-surface microstructural changes in the material using repetitive impacts at ultrasonic frequencies with a WC tip. In this study, we investigate the use of UNSM to improve the fatigue life of ATI 718 Plus (718Plus). UNSM induced severe surface plastic deformation in 718Plus, which led to nano-sized crystallites, twins, and high dislocation density in the near surface regions, coupled with an increase in surface hardness by 2.3 GPa and high magnitude of compressive residual stresses. These changes increased the endurance limit by ~ 13% (~ 100 MPa) in room temperature fatigue tests. This improvement in fatigue life was attributed to near-surface microstructural changes, material hardening and high compressive residual stress induced by UNSM. The crack propagation rates were 66% lower for UNSM-treated 718Plus as compared with untreated material. The residual stress relaxation after cyclic loading indicates the effectiveness of UNSM in improving the fatigue life of 718Plus.
Substantivalism and Relationism as Bad Cartography: Why Spatial Ontology Needs a Better Map

In the philosophy of space and time, the “territory” is, of course, the ontology of space and time (i.e., its nature or being), whereas the principal “map” is the substantivalism (or absolutism) versus relationism dichotomy.
Investigations on circuits and layout for non-intrusive switch current measurements in high frequency converters using parallel GaN HEMTs

Recent developments in wide-bandgap semiconductor based power switches have made GaN HEMTs (High Electron Mobility Transistors) one of the most popular choices for different power electronics applications. Due to the relatively lower current ratings of the available GaN devices in the market, parallel configurations of GaN transistors are required for high frequency high power applications. In this work, we demonstrate a contactless switch current measurement technique based on Magnetoresistive (MR) sensors in a synchronous buck converter using GaN transistors in a parallel configuration. We have discussed the design considerations for the optimal design of the power electronic converter and contactless switch current sensing method in detail. We have demonstrated through experiments the performance of the contactless current sensing method in measuring the active and synchronous switch currents in the designed power electronic converter with parallel GaN transistors.
Moving the Needle, Raising Consciousness: The Science and Practice of Broadening Participation

Research foundations for broadening participation in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education and the workforce appear in several different strains of social science resea...
Pathogen Identification Direct From Polymicrobial Specimens Using Membrane Glycolipids

With the increased prevalence of multidrug-resistant Gram-negative bacteria, the use of colistin and other last-line antimicrobials is being revisited clinically. As a result, there has been an emergence of colistin-resistant bacterial species, including Acinetobacter baumannii and Klebsiella pneumoniae. The rapid identification of such pathogens is vitally important for the effective treatment of patients. We previously demonstrated that mass spectrometry of bacterial glycolipids has the capacity to identify and detect colistin resistance in a variety of bacterial species. In this study, we present a machine learning paradigm that is capable of identifying A. baumannii, K. pneumoniae and their colistin-resistant forms using a manually curated dataset of lipid mass spectra from 48 additional Gram-positive and -negative organisms. We demonstrate that these classifiers detect A. baumannii and K. pneumoniae in isolate and polymicrobial specimens, establishing a framework to translate glycolipid mass spectra into pathogen identifications.
Multiquantum Transitions in Oxygen and Nitrogen Molecules in Hypersonic Nonequilibrium Flows

A computational fluid dynamics analysis was performed with state-to-state kinetics of oxygen and nitrogen for assessing the influence of vibrational excitation and dissociation on hypersonic flowfi...
USA's experience with sudden unexpected infant death and sudden death in the young case registries.

We read with great interest, ‘A national registry for sudden unexpected deaths of infants and children in England: why do we need one and do families want one?’1 In the USA’s experience, getting feedback from parents and other stakeholders was an important first step to implementing sudden unexpected infant death (SUID) and sudden death in the young (SDY) registries.2 3 Starting a registry in England is key to better understanding the causes of these tragic deaths so they can be prevented. Although mortality data derived from death certificates are often used to monitor and track trends in sudden deaths among infants and children, death certificate surveillance has limited ability to capture details of the events and circumstances surrounding these deaths.2 In addition, for infants, US death certificate surveillance is affected by variations in cause-of-death reporting, making it necessary to combine underlying cause-of-death codes for SIDS, other ill-defined and unspecified causes of mortality, and accidental suffocation and strangulation in bed into a combined category, SUID.4 Although the SUID category facilitates more consistent tracking of mortality trends, the combined category does not enable researchers to distinguish between explained (eg, accidental suffocation) and unexplained causes (eg, unexplained sudden deaths).4 To address these shortcomings in surveillance, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the US National Institutes of Health (NIH) established SUID (infants<365 days)2 and SDY (children≤20 years) registries.3 The SUID and SDY case registries supplement death certificate surveillance in multiple sites across the USA, by providing detailed information about death circumstances and autopsy findings, as well as biospecimens for SDY research only. In 2009, the CDC launched the SUID case registry as part …
A modified inpatient eating disorders treatment protocol for postbariatric surgery patients: patient characteristics and treatment response.

Abstract Background Bariatric surgery is currently the most effective treatment for obesity. However, outcomes vary and disordered eating may persist or emerge postsurgically. Severe postsurgical eating disorders may require inpatient treatment, and guidelines for the modification of inpatient nutritional treatment protocols for this population are lacking. Objectives This paper describes a modified inpatient nutritional protocol for postsurgical patients with eating disorders treated on a behavioral eating disorders unit, and reports patient characteristics and treatment response. Settings This research was conducted at a university hospital. Methods Cases (n = 19) comprised 2% of all eating disorder admissions; 5 were underweight and required weight restoration. Clinical data collected via chart review included disordered eating behaviors, medical and psychiatric co-morbidity, and treatment course. Results All cases were status post Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (median 5 yr postsurgery). Onset of disordered eating preceded surgery in the majority, and intentional vomiting was the most commonly reported postsurgical disordered eating behavior. The sample was notable for a high level of psychiatric and medical co-morbidity. Patients responded well to the modified treatment protocols, with a majority of patients on the weight gain (60%) and weight maintenance (78%) post-bariatric surgery protocols discharged for clinical improvement. Conclusions Postsurgical bariatric patients with eating disorders can be successfully treated on a specialized eating disorders unit. Modification of inpatient eating disorder protocols for those who have undergone bariatric surgery is necessary to address the different physiologic needs of this patient population while providing them with effective psychiatric care.
Constitution in the World: The External Dimensions of South Africa's Post- Apartheid Constitution

While South Africa’s post-apartheid constitution is often heralded as a model for other countries, particularly in Africa, the xenophobic attacks on foreigners in South Africa and the failure of South African foreign policy to support the progressive development of human rights raise questions about the external dimensions of the South African Constitution. This article explores these questions through an analysis of the jurisprudence of the South African Constitutional Court involving a range of cases in which the issues or consequences reach beyond the borders of South Africa. The external dimensions of the constitution may be seen, from this perspective not only in its influence as a post-conflict model but also more directly in the Court’s jurisprudence dealing with the status of foreigners, refugees and deportees as well as cases arising from South Africa’s regional engagements, whether in relation to Zimbabwe or in the demise of the Southern African Development Community Tribunal. In this sense this article adopts an inclusive approach to what might be considered the external dimensions of constitutions to explore the most productive lens through which to understand this specific dimension of constitutions and the South African Constitution in particular.