cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Mucosal Delivery of Inactivated Influenza Vaccine Induces B-Cell-Dependent Heterosubtypic Cross-Protection against Lethal Influenza A H5N1 Virus Infection

Influenza vaccines that induce greater cross-reactive or heterosubtypic immunity (Het-I) may overcome limitations in vaccine efficacy imposed by the antigenic variability of influenza A viruses. We have compared mucosal versus traditional parenteral administration of inactivated influenza vaccine for the ability to induce Het-I in BALB/c mice and evaluated a modified Escherichia coli heat-labile enterotoxin adjuvant, LT(R192G), for augmentation of Het-I. Mice that received three intranasal (i.n.) immunizations of H3N2 vaccine in the presence of LT(R192G) were completely protected against lethal challenge with a highly pathogenic human H5N1 virus and had nasal and lung viral titers that were at least 2,500-fold lower than those of control mice receiving LT(R192G) alone. In contrast, mice that received three vaccinations of H3N2 vaccine subcutaneously in the presence or absence of LT(R192G) or incomplete Freund's adjuvant were not protected against lethal challenge and had no significant reductions in tissue virus titers observed on day 5 post-H5N1 virus challenge. Mice that were i.n. administered H3N2 vaccine alone, without LT(R192G), displayed partial protection against heterosubtypic challenge. The immune mediators of Het-I were investigated. The functional role of B and CD8+ T cells in Het-I were evaluated by using gene-targeted B-cell (IgH-6(-/-))- or beta2-microglobulin (beta2m(-/-))-deficient mice, respectively. beta2m(-/-) but not IgH-6(-/-) vaccinated mice were protected by Het-I and survived a lethal infection with H5N1, suggesting that B cells, but not CD8+ T cells, were vital for protection of mice against heterosubtypic challenge. Nevertheless, CD8+ T cells contributed to viral clearance in the lungs and brain tissues of heterotypically immune mice. Mucosal but not parenteral vaccination induced subtype cross-reactive lung immunoglobulin G (IgG), IgA, and serum IgG anti-hemagglutinin antibodies, suggesting the presence of a common cross-reactive epitope in the hemagglutinins of H3 and H5. These results suggest a strategy of mucosal vaccination that stimulates cross-protection against multiple influenza virus subtypes, including viruses with pandemic potential.
Experimental corneal allograft rejection.

The major findings regarding corneal allograft rejection in experimental animals are reviewed. The principal anatomic and biological feature of the cornea that dete rmines the immunologic privilege of this tissue is its avascularity. The surgical trauma of transplantation compromises the immunologic privilege, putting corneal allografts at risk for immune rejection. During the past 50 yr, rabbits, rats, and mice have been used extensively in the study of the process of immunologically mediated corneal allograft rejection. It is clear that the inflammation, and neovascularization of the graft that occurs following transplantation predisposes a corneal allograft to the classic cell-mediated immune rejection response. The antigenicity of cornea cells has been studied and has been found to be significantly lower compared to other cells and tissues. Rejection of acorneal allograft isacell-mediated processdirected against major histocompatibility, complex, antigens involving both CD4+T helper cells and CD8+ cytotoxic cells. The prevention of corneal allograft rejection depends on the development of topically applied compounds that can prevent inflammation and vascularization and inhibit the activation of T lymphocytes. Considerable progress has been made using immunomodulators, including blocking antibodies and soluble coreceptor blocking agents such as CTLA 4-Ig. Combinations of antiangiogenic, agents and immunomodul ators hold gre at promise for preventing corneal allograft rejection in patients.
Stimulation of the Novel Estrogen Receptor-α Intronic TERP-1 Promoter by Estrogens, Androgen, Pituitary Adenylate Cyclase-Activating Peptide, and Forskolin, and Autoregulation by TERP-1 Protein

The estrogen receptor-alpha (ERalpha) pituitary-specific variant, TERP-1, is regulated dramatically by physiological status. We examined hormonal regulation of the TERP-1 promoter in transient transfection assays in GH3 somatolactotrope cells. We found that 17beta-estradiol (E2), genistein, androgen, pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating peptide, and forskolin (FSK) all stimulated TERP-1 promoter activity, whereas progesterone had no effect. ERalpha bound to a palindromic estrogen response element (ERE) and two half-site EREs; mutation of any of these sites decreased basal expression and completely obliterated E2 stimulation. In contrast, mutation of an activator protein-1 site decreased basal and FSK-stimulated promoter activity, but not E2 or androgen stimulation. The pure antiestrogen ICI 182,780 suppressed E2 and genistein, but not FSK or androgen, stimulation. Similarly, mutation of the ERE palindrome or half-site EREs suppressed promoter stimulation by E2 and genistein, but not by androgen or FSK. Because TERP-1 levels regulate ERalpha function on model promoters, we tested TERP-1 modulation of its own and other physiological promoters. TERP-1 suppressed basal and E2-stimulated expression of its own promoter. TERP-1 suppression required the ERE regions of the promoter, and the dimerization domain of TERP-1. TERP-1 overexpression also suppressed E2 stimulation of the progesterone receptor and prolactin promoters. Thus, estrogens, androgen, and FSK can stimulate TERP-1 promoter activity, and increased TERP-1 expression modulates E2 stimulation of physiological promoters. These data suggest that TERP-1 regulation may play a significant role in modifying pituitary ERalpha responses.
Antibiosis resistance in soybean plant introductions to Dectes texanus (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae)

No soybean cultivars exhibit resistance to larval damage by the cerambycid, Dectes texanus LeConte, in the United States. Selected soybean varieties and plant introductions (PIs) in maturity groups VI to VIII from the U.S. Department of Agriculture National Soybean Germplasm Collection were evaluated for D. texanus resistance in a series of field and laboratory experiments from 2005 through 2008. In field cage experiments, the numbers of oviposition punctures (OPs) per plant were determined as indicators of oviposition antixenosis and the ratio of OPs per live D. texanus larvae (OP/Lv) served as an indicator of plant antibiosis to larvae. A D. texanus-susceptible variety treated with the systemic insecticide fipronil was used as a positive antibiosis control. Plant introduction PI165673 had the highest OP/Lv ratio, indicating that even if oviposition was successful, an antibiosis factor in PI165673 significantly reduced egg hatch and the resulting number of live D. texanus larvae. Factorial analyses indicated that maturity group is not a significant factor in the expression of resistance. Thus, PI165673 appears to be a potential source of resistance to D. texanus. In related field studies, the preferred D. texanus oviposition site was localized to leaf petioles in the upper four or five nodes of the plant canopy. Histomorphological analyses of petiole cross-sections of plant introductions PI171451, PI165676, and PI165673 indicated that leaf petiole morphology may be related to reduced D. texanus oviposition on petioles of PI171451 and PI165676, but that resistance in PI165673 is independent of petiole morphology.
Neutron diffraction observations of interstitial protons in dense ice

The motif of distinct H2O molecules in H-bonded networks is believed to persist up to the densest molecular phase of ice. At even higher pressures, where the molecule dissociates, it is generally assumed that the proton remains localized within these same networks. We report neutron-diffraction measurements on D2O that reveal the location of the D atoms directly up to 52 GPa, a pressure regime not previously accessible to this technique. The data show the onset of a structural change at ∼13 GPa and cannot be described by the conventional network structure of ice VII above ∼26 GPa. Our measurements are consistent with substantial deuteron density in the octahedral, interstitial voids of the oxygen lattice. The observation of this “interstitial” ice VII form provides a framework for understanding the evolution of hydrogen bonding in ice that contrasts with the conventional picture. It may also be a precursor for the superionic phase reported at even higher pressure with important consequences for our understanding of dense matter and planetary interiors.
A Network-Aware Distributed Membership Protocol for Collaborative Defense

To counteract current trends in network malware, distributed solutions have been developed that harness the power of collaborative end-host sensors. While these systems greatly increase the ability to defend against attack, this comes at the cost of complexity due to the coordination of distributed hosts across the dynamic network. Many previous solutions for distributed membership maintenance are agnostic to network conditions and have high overhead, making them less than ideal in the dynamic enterprise environment. In this work, we propose a network-aware, distributed membership protocol, CLUSTER, which improves the performance of the overlay system by biasing neighbor selection towards beneficial nodes based on multiple system metrics and network social patterns (of devices and their users). We provide an extensible method for aggregating and comparing multiple, possibly unrelated metrics. We demonstrate the effectiveness and utility of our protocol through simulation using real-world data and topologies. As part of our results, we highlight our analysis of node churn statistics, offering a new distribution to accurately model enterprise churn.
Modeling MR-dampers: the ridgenet estimation approach

This paper develops a new technique, the ridgenet estimation, for the blackbox modeling of magnetorheological fluid (MR) dampers. It continues the original effort on wavelets-based identification and makes a step forward by employing the ridgelet network to construct the nonlinear mapping. We present an overview on the previous MR-damper modeling, the recent result on ridgelet analysis, and the outline of the proposed approach. We give a detailed description of the ridgenet algorithm in the form a three-step computational procedure: the ridgelet dictionary construction, the ridgelet basis selection, and the ridgelet network optimization. The numerical implementation of the ridgenet algorithm is addressed and the application result is reported.
High Prevalence of Leucocytozoon Parasites in Nestling Northern Goshawks (Accipiter gentilis) in the Northern Great Basin, U.S.A.

Abstract The Northern Goshawk (Accipiter gentilis) is currently listed as a sensitive species by the U.S.D.A. Forest Service. Previous research in our study area, the South Hills of the Minidoka Ranger District of the Sawtooth National Forest, Idaho, identified possible signs of parasite infections among the banded adult and nestling goshawks, which could influence their survival and breeding success. Therefore, we sought to quantify the prevalence and intensity of Leucocytozoon parasites among a sample of nestling goshawks in the South Hills during the 2012 breeding season. We sampled 27 nestlings from 12 nests for Leucocytozoon parasites by examining blood smears. All sampled nestlings were infected with Leucocytozoon parasites. The infection intensity ranged from 0.82–10.05 Leucocytozoon parasites per 1000 erythrocytes (mean ± SE = 4.35 ± 0.54). Using site elevation, distance-to-water, nestling age, nestling sex and nest tree species as predictor variables for infection intensity by Leucocytozoon par...
Combined regional and general anesthesia for orthopedic spine fusion surgery

Abstract The combination of epidural anesthesia and general anesthesia is a sophisticated technique that offers many advantages for the patient undergoing lumbar spine fusion. With a proper understanding of the physiological and pharmacological considerations of this technique, it can be used to aggressively lower blood pressure intraoperatively, minimizing blood loss and maximizing the condition of the surgical field. Optimal postoperative pain management can be achieved with minimal side effects. The circulatory and cardiac effects of epidural hypotension must be appreciated before embarking on the use of this technique. The extensive sympathetic blockade achieved must be controlled by support of the circulation with an infusion of epinephrine. The technique involves a combination of a high-level epidural anesthetic using bupivacaine or ropivacaine. For safety, this is started before the induction of general anesthesia. Continuous monitoring of both intraarterial and central venous pressures must be performed to avoid precipitous hypotension and sudden bradycardia. Mean arterial pressure is targeted and controlled in the 50 to 60 mm Hg range. A light, general anesthetic with a nitrous narcotic technique is used to supplement the epidural. Epidural anesthesia alone has been found to diminish intraoperative blood loss by significant volumes. Epidural hypotensive anesthesia with proper technique further reduces blood loss, decreases the incidence of deep venous thrombosis, and is associated with an extremely low complication rate. This has been shown by numerous studies on patients who had total hip arthroplasties. Extensive epidural anesthesia applied to lumbar spine fusion surgery theoretically can achieve these same advantageous outcomes. Copyright © 2000 by W.B. Saunders Company
Origins of Resistance Conferred by the R292K Neuraminidase Mutation via Molecular Dynamics and Free Energy Calculations.

Point mutations in the influenza virus enzyme neuraminidase (NA) have been reported that lead to dramatic loss of activity for known NA inhibitors including the FDA approved sialic acid mimics zanamivir and oseltamivir. A more complete understanding of the molecular basis for such resistance is a critical component toward development of improved next-generation drugs. In this study, we have used explicit solvent all-atom molecular dynamics simulations, free energy calculations (MM-GBSA), and residue-based decomposition to model binding of four ligands with NA from influenza virus subtype N9. The goal is to elucidate which structural and energetic properties change as a result of a mutation at position R292K. Computed binding free energies show strong correlation with experiment (r2 = 0.76), and an examination of individual energy components reveal that changes in intermolecular Coulombic terms (ΔEcoul) best describe the variation in affinity with structure (r2 = 0.93). H-bond populations also parallel the...
Skolem functions and equality in automated deduction

We present a strategy for restricting the application of the inference rule paramodulation. The strategy applies to problems in first-order logic with equality and is designed to prevent paramodulation into subterms of Skolem expressions. A weak completeness result is presented (the functional reflexive axioms are assumed). Experimental results on problems in set theory, combinatory logic, Tarski geometry, and algebra show that the strategy can be useful when searching for refutations and when applying Knuth-Bendix completion. The emphasis of the paper is on the effectiveness of the strategy rather than on its completeness.
Direction-dependent intermolecular interactions: catechol on TiO 2 (110)-1×1

The adsorption of a submonolayer of catechol (C 6 H 6 O 2 ) on the rutile TiO 2 (110)-1×1 surface has been investigated by Scanning Tunneling Microscopy (STM). The catechol molecules are preferentially adsorbed on the surface 5-fold coordinated Ti 4+ sites, and occupy two neighboring lattice Ti sites. No preference for adsorption at surface step edges is observed at room temperature. A statistical analysis of intermolecular distances demonstrates that the interaction between the molecules strongly depends on the surface crystallographic direction: catechol molecules exhibit attractive interaction along [1-1 0], while they repel each other along the [001] direction. The attractive interaction is proposed to be caused by the coupling of π bonding electrons and the repulsive interaction is possibly mediated by substrate.
A tertiary structural element in S box leader RNAs is required for S‐adenosylmethionine‐directed transcription termination

Summary The S box transcription termination control system regulates expression of genes involved in methionine metabolism. Expression of the S box regulon, comprised of 11 transcriptional units in Bacillus subtilis, is induced in response to starvation for methionine. We previously demonstrated that S-adenosylmethionine (SAM) is the molecular effector sensed by the S box leader RNAs during transcription. A secondary structure model for S box leader RNAs was developed based on conservation of primary sequence elements and sequence covariation in helical domains. Covariation of nucleotides in two distantly spaced unpaired regions in the S box leader RNAs suggested that these two domains might interact in the RNA tertiary structure. In this study, site-directed mutagenesis of the covarying residues in two B. subtilis S box leader sequences was employed to test the hypothesis that base-pairing between these regions may be important. The effect of these mutations on in vivo expression, transcription termination in vitro, SAM binding, and leader RNA structure strongly supported the model that interaction between these two regions plays a key role in S box leader function. This provides the first insight into the three-dimensional arrangement of structural elements within the S box RNAs.
Safety Risk Analysis and Proposing Risk Mitigation Strategies for Operations and Maintenance Activities in Highways: A Qualitative Method

Mobile operations and highway maintenance work is among the riskiest activities of state highway agencies. Over the past ten years, approximately 1,300 fatal and major injury crashes occurred in Iowa with 8,200 minor injury crashes, 11,400 possible injury crashes and 34,000 property damage crashes, as reported in the statewide crash database of Iowa Department of Transportation (DOT). A literature review finds very few studies that have analyzed risk in moving operations and maintenance work using an integrated, system-level analysis. The study reported herein provides a broad examination of the different risks identified and assessed through qualitative analysis involving conducting interviews and national surveys to identify the critical factors with respect to their severity and likelihood of occurrence and developing suitable risk mitigation strategies. The analysis resulted in nine factors bearing catastrophic risk potential for maintenance and operations in highways that require immediate attention. These are (1) night time operations; (2) peak traffic hours; (3) absence of proper signage near the work-zone; (4) improper signs and signage at ramps and roadway intersections near work-zones; (5) work-zones on roads in hilly areas; (6) foggy-misty weather; (7) not using morning lights in the work-zone; (8) not imposing speed limit fines on public; and (9) lack of work safety and training programs.
Drosophila suzukii (Diptera: Drosophilidae): Invasive Pest of Ripening Soft Fruit Expanding its Geographic Range and Damage Potential

Spotted wing drosophila, Drosophila suzukii Matsumura, a native of eastern and southeastern Asia, is a pest of small and stone fruits. First detected in California in 2008, the insect is now found across the Pacific Coast states. Its penchant for attacking healthy, ripening fruit (as opposed to overripe and rotting fruit favored by other so-called “vinegar flies”) makes it a potential economic threat to a host of soft- and thin-skinned fruit crops including cherry, raspberry, blackberry, blueberry, strawberry, peach, plums, pluots, nectarines, juice grape, table grape, and wine grape. Coordinated research projects to determine host preference, seasonal phenology, biology, and management options are taking place among entomologists in Washington, Oregon, and California. A description of the pest and initial findings on its biology, life history, known and expected geographic range, management and monitoring techniques, and economic considerations are presented and discussed.
The Magnitude and Challenge of False-Positive Newborn Screening Test Results

Objectives: This study examined for the first time to our knowledge the national data available from newborn screening programs in the United States and determined the salient characteristics of various screening tests for 3 hereditary metabolic disorders and 2 congenital endocrinopathies with emphasis on positive predictive values (PPVs) to delineate the magnitude of false-positive results. Methods: Reports published by the Council of Regional Networks for Genetic Services for 1990 through 1994 were examined carefully, paying particular attention to phenylketonuria, galactosemia, biotinidase deficiency, congenital hypothyroidism, and congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH). Because of recent improvements in data collecting, reporting, and tabulating, we used data from 1993 and 1994 to determine the apparent sensitivity, specificity, relative incidence rates, and PPVs for the 5 disorders. For biotinidase deficiency and CAH, we also calculated relative incidence rates and PPVs for 1991 and 1992. Results: Our analyses revealed the following best estimates for the relative incidence rates of 5 disorders: phenylketonuria, 1:14000; galactosemia, 1:59000; biotinidase deficiency, 1:80 000; congenital hypothyroidism, 1:3300; and CAH, 1:20000. An apparent sensitivity of 100% has been reported by the various states for most of the disorders, and specificity levels are all above 99%. The PPVs, however, range from 0.5% to 6.0%. Consequently, on average, there are more than 50 falsepositive results for every true-positive result identified through newborn screening in the United States. Conclusions: The magnitude of false-positive results generated in newborn screening programs, particularly for congenital endocrinopathies, presents a great challenge for future improvement of this important public health program. Attention must be given to improved laboratory tests, use of more specific markers, and better risk communication for families of patients with falsepositive test results. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 2000;154:714-718
Fear of positive evaluation and alcohol use problems among college students: the unique impact of drinking motives.

Background and Objectives: There is strong empirical support that individuals with elevated social anxiety are at risk for alcohol-related impairment. Because social anxiety is a multifaceted construct, it is important to consider which specific facets contribute to alcohol problem vulnerability. For example, although social anxiety has traditionally been conceptualized as a fear of negative evaluation (FNE), emerging data suggest that fear of positive evaluation (FPE) is also an important factor in pathological social anxiety. The current manuscript reports novel findings regarding FPE, alcohol use motives, and reported alcohol use problems. Design and Methods: Participants included undergraduates from two American universities (n = 351) who completed a battery of measures assessing fears of evaluation, drinking motives, and alcohol usage related problems. Results: FPE significantly predicted alcohol use problems, above and beyond FNE. Also, coping and conformity motives for drinking, but not social or e...
Alzheimer's disease and diet: a systematic review

Purpose/Aim: Approximately 44 million people worldwide have Alzheimer's disease (AD). Numerous claims have been made regarding the influence of diet on AD development. The aims of this systematic review were to summarize the evidence considering diet as a protective or risk factor for AD, identify methodological challenges and limitations, and provide future research directions. Methods: Medline, PsycINFO and PsycARTICLES were searched for articles that examined the relationship between diet and AD. Results: On the basis of the inclusion and exclusion criteria, 64 studies were included, generating a total of 141 dietary patterns or “models”. All studies were published between 1997 and 2015, with a total of 132 491 participants. Twelve studies examined the relationship between a Mediterranean (MeDi) diet and AD development, 10 of which revealed a significant association. Findings were inconsistent with respect to sample size, AD diagnosis and food measures. Further, the majority of studies (81.3%) included...
Onychomycosis – a small step for quality of care

Onychomycosis is a fungal infection of the nail unit, representing the most common nail disorder and accounting for 50% all nail diseases. Unfortunately, many patients are mismanaged, as physicians routinely treat onychomycosis empirically, falsely believing that they can make the diagnosis based on history and clinical inspection alone. We propose and provide evidence for why the diagnosis of onychomycosis should be confirmed by objective methods in each patient before initiating treatment.
SYSTEMIC VENOUS CONGESTION FROM IDIOPATHIC CALCIFIED CONSTRICTIVE PERICARDITIS

Constrictive pericarditis is a curable cause of chronic heart failure. The diagnosis of constrictive pericarditis can be missed due to misleading gastrointestinal manifestations. Surgical pericardectomy remains the primary therapy for constrictive pericarditis. A 41-year-old man presented for
Trajectory Options for Human Mars Missions

This paper explores trajectory options for the huma n exploration of Mars, with an emphasis on conjunction-class missions. Conjunction-class missions are characterized by short in-space durations with long surface stays, a s opposed to the long in-space durations and short surface stays characteristic of oppositio n-class missions. Earth-Mars and Mars- Earth trajectories are presented across a series of mission opportunities and transfer times in order to explore the space of possible crew and cargo transfer trajectories. In the specific instance of crew transfer from Earth to Mars, the p otential for aborting the mission without capture into Mars orbit is also of interest. As suc h two additional classes of trajectories are considered: free-return trajectories, where the tra jectory would return the crew to Earth after a fixed period of time; and propulsive-abort trajectories, where the propulsive capability of the transfer vehicle is used to modif y the trajectory during a Mars swing-by. The propulsive requirements of a trajectory, due to their associated impact on spacecraft mass, are clearly of interest in assessing trajecto ries for human Mars missions. Beyond the propulsive requirements, trajectory selection can h ave a significant impact on the entry velocity and therefore the aeroassist system requir ements. The paper suggests potential constraints for entry velocities at Earth and Mars. Based upon Mars entry velocity, the 2- year period free-return abort trajectory is shown t o be less desirable than previously considered for many mission opportunities.
Syntheses of Monosubstituted Rhodocenium Derivatives, Monomers, and Polymers

We report the first chemoselective, high yield synthesis of monosubstituted rhodocenium through a “η5 → η4 → η5” strategy detailing sequential nucleophilic addition and endohydride abstraction. Monosubstituted rhodocenium derivatives are then used as versatile synthons for the preparation of the first-ever vinyl monomers that allow controlled polymerizations including ROMP and RAFT, leading to rhodocenium-containing metallopolymers. Exploratory ion-exchange and self-assembly of this new class of polyelectrolytes cultivates the potential of side-chain rhodocenium-containing polymers.
Study of PtSi/Si(100) Interfaces by Ballistic -Electronemission Microscopy

The PtSi/Si interface is of technological interest for Schottky barrier infrared detectors. We are studying PtSi/Si heterostructures using ballistic -electron-emission microscopy (BEEM), an STM-based technique that uses the STM tip to inject hot electrons at a particular energy into the metal overlayer. The BEEM technique allows imaging of the Schottky barrier with good spatial resolution (of the order of tens of nanometers) and allows the measurement of the hot electron attenuation length in the metal overlayer. Our results indicate a Schottky barrier of 0.87 eV for PtSi/Si n-type, and an attenuation length of 4 nm for electrons with an energy of 1 eV above the metal Fermi level. The attenuation length we measure is a convolution of the electron elastic and inelastic mean free path lengths. We have also used an ac BEEM technique to observe inelastic scattering events at the metalsemiconductor interface in PtSi/Si(100) n-type. There are several features visible in the spectrum, including one at 1040 meV which we attribute to optical phonon-assisted electron-hole pair creation near the metal- semiconductor interface in analogy to a feature we have observed at the same energy in the Au/Si(100) ac BEEM spectrum. Higher-energy features appear at 1230 meV and 1300 meV. Similar features appeared in the Au/Si(100) spectrum at 1120 meV and 1230 meV. We also suggest that the traditional assumption of momentum conservation parallel to the Schottky barrier interface is unnecessary to obtain a quadratic turn on of the BEEM current above the threshold. If electrons are elastically scattered at the interface so that momentum is not conserved, the increase in the ratio of the density of states in the semiconductor to those in the metal will also give a quadratic turn on even when the band structure is much more complicated than a nearly free electron model. This model also explains why the simple square-root dependence of the photoresponse on wavelength above threshold observed in all metal/semiconductor Schottky barriers despite the complications in band structure.
Factors associated with delay in care–seeking for fatal neonatal illness in the Sylhet district of Bangladesh: results from a verbal and social autopsy study

BACKGROUND We conducted a social and verbal autopsy study to determine cultural-, social- and health system-related factors that were associated with the delay in formal care seeking in Sylhet district, Bangladesh. METHODS Verbal and social autopsy interviews were conducted with mothers who experienced a neonatal death between October 2007 and May 2011. We fitted a semi-parametric regression model of the cumulative incidence of seeking formal care first, accounting for competing events of death or seeking informal care first. RESULTS Three hundred and thirty-one neonatal deaths were included in the analysis and of these, 91(27.5%) sought formal care first; 26 (7.9%) sought informal care first; 59 (17.8%) sought informal care only, and 155 (46.8%) did not seek any type of care. There was lower cumulative incidence of seeking formal care first for preterm neonates (sub-hazard ratio SHR 0.61, P = 0.025), and those who delivered at home (SHR 0.52, P = 0.010); and higher cumulative incidence for those who reported less than normal activity (SHR 1.95, P = 0.048). The main barriers to seeking formal care reported by 165 mothers included cost (n = 98, 59.4%), believing the neonate was going to die anyway (n = 29, 17.7%), and believing traditional care was more appropriate (n = 26, 15.8%). CONCLUSIONS The majority of neonates died before formal care could be sought, but formal care was more likely to be sought than informal care. There were economic and social belief barriers to care-seeking. There is a need for programs that educate caregivers about well-recognized danger signs requiring timely care-seeking, particularly for preterm neonates and those who deliver at home.
Subpicosecond Infrared Spectroscopy: The Condensed Phase Photochemistry of Iron Carbonyls

The photochemistry of dinuclear transition metal carbonyls has been extensively studied in isolated matrices [1,2] and low temperature liquids [3,4] using conventional IR spectroscopic methods, and in ambient solution [5–8] using microsecond time-resolved IR techniques. While these studies have revealed long-lived photoproducts formed by visible and UV photolysis, they lack the time resolution necessary to address issues related to the primary events in the photodissociation of organometallic compounds.
Prediction and Shortening the Clinical Trial: Further Advantages of the Component-Specific Model

It turns out that contrary to earlier notions, the antidepressants initiate clinical actions as early as one week, and that significant improvement can be detected in most patients responsive to drugs, at the two week treatment point. Evidence from studies utilizing only the Ham-D is reviewed that shows “early improvement” to be highly predictive of eventual response at six to eight weeks of treatment. It is then shown that studies that apply the MV method make possible even more refined prediction and identify the initial behavioral change predictors. These findings are in support of potentially shortening the standard trial from 6 to two-three weeks, contributing important benefits to patients who will no longer need to be maintained on ineffective trial drugs for several weeks, and will markedly reduce costs to drug companies of the clinical trial itself. This evidence will hopefully stimulate more participation of companies in antidepressant drug development.
The Economic Case against Arizona's Immigration Laws

Arizona’s immigration laws have hurt its economy. The 2007 Legal Arizona Workers Act (LAWA) attempts to force unauthorized immigrants out of the workplace with employee regulations and employer sanctions. The 2010 Support Our Law Enforcement and Safe Neighborhoods Act (SB 1070) complements LAWA by granting local police new legal tools to enforce Arizona’s immigration laws outside of the workplace. LAWA’s mandate of E-Verify, a federal electronic employee verification system, and the “business death penalty,” which revokes business licenses for businesses that repeatedly hire unauthorized workers, raise the costs of hiring all employees and create regulatory uncertainty for employers. As a result, employers scale back legal hiring, move out of Arizona, or turn to the informal economy to eliminate a paper trail. SB 1070’s enforcement policies outside of the workplace drove many unauthorized immigrants from the state, lowered the state’s population, hobbled the labor market, accelerated residential property price declines, and exacerbated the Great Recession in Arizona. LAWA, E-Verify, and the business death penalty are constitutional and are unlikely to be overturned; however the Supreme Court recently found that some sections of SB 1070 were preempted by federal power. States now considering Arizona-style immigration laws should realize that the laws also cause significant economic harm. States bear much of the cost of unauthorized immigration, but in Arizona’s rush to find a state solution, it damaged its own economy.
Applications of Coastal Data Collected in the Texas High School Coastal Monitoring Program (THSCMP)

ABSTRACT Caudle, T.L. and Paine, J.G., 2017. Applications of coastal data collected in the Texas High School Coastal Monitoring Program (THSCMP). The Texas High School Coastal Monitoring Program (THSCMP) engages students and teachers who live along the Gulf of Mexico in the study of their natural environment. Scientists from the Bureau of Economic Geology (BEG) at The University of Texas at Austin show middle and high school students and teachers how to measure topography, map vegetation lines and shorelines with GPS, and observe weather and wave conditions. The students are active participants in the research project, which has the dual benefit of enhancing their science education while providing valuable data on the dynamic coastline. Students collect critical scientific data that help scientists and managers address coastal issues and gain a better understanding of dune and beach dynamics on the Texas coast. Since the THSCMP began in 1997, data collected by students have been applied by scientists to i...
Accurate Thevenin's circuit-based battery model parameter identification

Batteries are becoming the main energy storage devices in following decades. Highly accurate battery models are needed to fulfill accurate controlling and monitoring purpose. For real-time operations, the calculation complexity of the battery model is an issue. Thevenin's circuit model is a tradeoff between fast calculation and accuracy. The model uses resistor and RC pairs to capture the dynamic of terminal voltage. Even though there are few components in the model, to accurately identify those components value is a difficult question. In this paper, an algorithm to separate effective data and ineffective data is proposed by comparing the condition number. This algorithm can help identify correct parameters for future model-based battery monitoring and controlling.
Real-time visualization of magnetic flux densities for transcranial magnetic stimulation on commodity and fully immersive VR systems

Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) is a non-invasive procedure that uses time varying short pulses of magnetic fields to stimulate nerve cells in the brain. In this method, a magnetic field generator (“TMS coil”) produces small electric fields in the region of the brain via electromagnetic induction. This technique can be used to excite or inhibit firing of neurons, which can then be used for treatment of various neurological disorders such as Parkinson’s disease, stroke, migraine, and depression. It is however challenging to focus the induced electric field from TMS coils to smaller regions of the brain. Since electric and magnetic fields are governed by laws of electromagnetism, it is possible to numerically simulate and visualize these fields to accurately determine the site of maximum stimulation and also to develop TMS coils that can focus the fields on the targeted regions. However, current software to compute and visualize these fields are not real-time and can work for only one position/orientation of TMS coil, severely limiting their usage. This paper describes the development of an application that computes magnetic flux densities (h-fields) and visualizes their distribution for different TMS coil position/orientations in real-time using GPU shaders. The application is developed for desktop, commodity VR (HTC Vive), and fully immersive VR CAVETM systems, for use by researchers, scientists, and medical professionals to quickly and effectively view the distribution of h-fields from MRI brain scans.
Hysterical reality: Weimar Germany and the Victorian Gothic in Mattotti and Kramsky’s Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde

In creating their graphic novel adaptation of Robert Louis Stevenson’s Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr HydeDr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde: A Graphic Novel, Italian comics creators Lorenzo Mattotti and Jerry Kramsky transposed the narrative from Victorian London to Weimar Germany. Mattotti has called the book ‘a voyage into Expressionist culture’, in which he drew on the work of Expressionist painters to create the highly varied visual style for the piece. Mattotti uses visual techniques from Expressionist art and film to create a grotesque vision of Hyde whose appearance is constantly in flux, reflecting Stevenson’s ambiguous descriptions of Hyde and making the character more frightening and unpredictable. The graphic novel incorporates the history and culture surrounding the Weimar Republic, particularly national and personal trauma in the wake of the First World War and anxieties regarding the rise of Nazism. By situating their adaptation of Stevenson’s novella in Weimar Germany, Mattotti and Kramsky bl...
The new trade deals and the mobilisation of civil society organizations: comparing EU and US responses

AbstractThis paper examines mobilisation of civil society organizations (CSOs), focusing primarily on the highly-contested politics engendered by the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP), by posing the question, ‘how can we account for strong opposition to TTIP in the EU, while being nearly non-existent in the US?’ It is argued that European CSO opposition to TTIP and mobilisation of European public opinion against TTIP can be traced to the European Commission’s employment of myths – specifically a green, social, and humanitarian Europe in a process of ‘othering’ to build a sense of European national identity. Salient issues in transatlantic trade and regulatory capacity both factor into CSO opposition, themselves also a function of myth making, but also a product of the EU’s governance system. It will be difficult for the EU to accommodate and appease such oppositional groups because of perceptions among many Europeans that Americans tolerate lower regulatory protections.
Restoration of Nature or Special Interests? A Political Economy Analysis of the Four Major Rivers Restoration Project in South Korea

In 2009, a large-scale construction project on rivers and riparian zones in South Korea, which is called the Four Major Rivers Restoration Project, was launched. The officially announced purposes of this project included: (1) solving water shortages, (2) improving water quality, and (3) providing citizens with leisure facilities. However, adverse environmental consequences such as deterioration of water quality, mass death of aquatic life, and soil contamination have been consistently reported. The current study focuses on illuminating South Korean political economy contexts and analyzing stakeholders’ political and/or economic interests that shaped the project. We conclude that reinforced neoliberalism in South Korea after the Asian financial crisis in 1997 should be considered to understand the background of this project. Within the neoliberal contexts, we also argue that political and economic interests of three stakeholders—business, the state, and the public—were closely associated with the implementation of this project.
Local Spatial Linear Stability Analysis of Low-Pressure Turbine Endwall Boundary Layer

An implicit large-eddy simulation of a low-pressure turbine cascade for an axial chord–based Reynolds number of 100,000 revealed steady longitudinal structures near the endwall that are reminiscent...
A Guide for Leaders in Higher Education: Core Concepts, Competencies, and Tools

The field of higher education continues to face increasingly complex and dynamic challenges. In order to navigate these new landscapes successfully, leaders must be equipped with tools that allow t...
Religious implications of social media in education

Widespread social media adoption has introduced threats and opportunities for religious and educational institutions alike, and each institutional type has responded in its own way to them. In this...
Insurance and Inequality with Persistent Private Information

We study optimal insurance contracts for an agent with Markovian private information. Our main results characterize the implications of constrained efficiency for long-run welfare and inequality. Under minimal technical conditions, there is Absolute Immiseration: in the long run, the agentâ€™s consumption and utility converge to their lower bounds. When types are persistent and utility is unbounded below, there is Relative Immiseration: low-type agents are immiserated at a faster rate than high-type agents, and â€œpathwise welfare inequalityâ€� grows without bound. These results extend and substantially generalize the hallmark findings from the classic literature with iid types, suggesting that the underlying forces are robust to a broad class of private information processes. The proofs rely on novel recursive techniques and martingale arguments. When the agent has CARA utility, we also analytically and numerically characterize the short-run properties of the optimal contract. Persistence gives rise to qualitatively novel short-run dynamics and allocative distortions (or â€œwedgesâ€�) and, quantitatively, induces less efficient risk-sharing. We compare properties of the wedges to their counterparts in the dynamic taxation literature.
Where does the time go? An experimental test of what social media displaces and displaced activities’ associations with affective well-being and quality of day

Drawing from media displacement theory, this article explores which activities are displaced when individuals spend time on social media. Community and undergraduate participants (N = 135) were ran...
Analysis of Immediate versus Delayed Sternal Reconstruction with Pectoralis Major Advancement Versus Turnover Muscle Flaps.

Background The pectoralis major muscle flap is a versatile reconstructive option for deep sternal wound infections (DSWI). The timing and surgical technique of bilateral pectoralis major muscle advancement flaps versus unilateral pectoralis major muscle turnover and unilateral pectoralis major muscle advancement flap on patient outcomes remain to be elucidated. The purpose of this investigation was to compare timing, immediate versus delayed reconstruction, and the surgical technique in patients with deep sternal wounds infections on patient outcomes. Methods A retrospective review of patients who underwent sternal reconstruction with pectoralis major muscle was conducted. Patients diagnosed with DSWI after undergoing cardiac surgery were included for analysis. Patients were divided by flap timing and flap type for analyses. Bivariate tests were performed to compare patient clinical characteristics. Outcomes of interest were rates of postoperative complications, same admission mortality, reoperation, readmission, operating room time, and length of stay. Results A total of 88 patients were included for analyses (n = 57 bilateral advancement, n = 31 unilateral advancement with unilateral turnover; n = 62 immediate, and n = 26 delayed). Baseline characteristics did not differ between groups of flap type or timing. When postoperative complication rates were compared, the rate of tissue necrosis was significantly greater in patients with unilateral advancement with unilateral turnover flaps (n = 6 [19.4%]) compared with bilateral advancement flaps (n = 2 [3.5%]; p = 0.021). Mortality during admission did not differ with respect to flap type but differed significantly with respect to flap timing (immediate n = 7 [11.3%], delayed n = 9 [34.6%]; p = 0.015). Length of stay differed significantly by both type and timing (type: bilateral advancement = 26.9 ± 22.6 days, unilateral turnover = 38.0 ± 26.7 days, p = 0.042; timing: immediate = 26.8 ± 22.1 days, delayed = 40.2 ± 27.8, p = 0.019). Conclusion Patients who underwent pectoralis major muscle advancement flaps had lower incidence of tissue necrosis. Furthermore, the timing of immediate sternal reconstruction was associated with a decreased hospital length of stay.