cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
3D scan conversion of CSG models into distance volumes

A distance volume is a volume dataset where the value stored at each voxel is the shortest distance to the surface of the object being represented by the volume. Distance volumes are a useful representation in a number of computer graphics applications. We present a technique for generating a distance volume with sub-voxel accuracy from one type of geometric model, a constructive solid geometry (CSG) model consisting of superellipsoid primitives. The distance volume is generated in a two step process. The first step calculates the shortest distance to the CSG model at a set of points within a narrow band around the evaluated surface. Additionally, a second set of points, labeled the zero set, which lies on the CSG model's surface are computed. A point in the zero set is associated with each point in the narrow band. Once the narrow band and zero set are calculated, a fast marching method is employed to propagate the shortest distance and closest point information out to the remaining voxels in the volume. Our technique has been used to scan convert a number of CSG models, producing distance volumes which have been utilized in a variety of computer graphics applications, e.g. CSG surface evaluation, offset surface generation, and 3D model morphing.
On the chromatic number and independence number of hypergraph products

The hypergraph product G@?H has vertex set V(G)xV(H), and edge set {exf:e@?E(G),f@?E(H)}, where x denotes the usual Cartesian product of sets. We construct a hypergraph sequence {G"n} for with @g(G"n)->~ and @g(G"n@?G"n)=2 for all n. This disproves a conjecture of Berge and Simonovits [C. Berge, M. Simonovits, The coloring numbers of the direct product of two hypergraphs, in: Hypergraph Seminar, Proc. First Working Sem., Ohio State Univ., Columbus, OH, 1972; Dedicated to Arnold Ross, in: Lecture Notes in Math., vol. 411, Springer, Berlin, 1974, pp. 21-33]. On the other hand, we show that if G and H are hypergraphs with infinite chromatic number, then the chromatic number of G@?H is also infinite. We also provide a counterexample to a ''dual'' version of their conjecture, by constructing a graph sequence {G"n} with @a(G"n)/|V(G"n)|->0 and @a(G"n@?G"n)/|V(G"n)|^2->1/2. The constant 1/2 cannot be replaced by a larger number.
The effect of concentration level on the gas phase absorption coefficient

A theoretical and experimental investigation has been made to determine the effect of the concentration level on the rate of mass transfer of a solute from a nontransfering or inert carrier gas in turbulent flow. Diffusion theory predicts the gas phase mass transfer coefficient to be inversely proportional to the first power of the mean mole fraction of the nontransferring gas and to be a possible function of the rate and direction of mass transfer. The results of an experimental study of the absorption of ammonia from mixtures with nitrogen into distilled water and aqueous ammonia solutions in a short wetted-wall column verified the predicted inverse relationship between the turbulent gas phase absorption coefficient and the first power of the mean inert mole fractions ranging from 0.068 to 0.934. The data also showed that for the range covered in this investigation there was no significant influence of the mass transfer rate on the product of the coefficient and the mean mole fraction of the inert carrier gas.
The enzymes of the 10-formyl-tetrahydrofolate synthetic pathway are found exclusively in the cytosol of the trypanosomatid parasite Leishmania major

In most organisms 10-formyl-tetrahydrofolate (10-CHO-THF) participates in the synthesis of purines in the cytosol and formylation of mitochondrial initiator methionyl-tRNAMet. Here we studied 10-CHO-THF biosynthesis in the protozoan parasite Leishmania major, a purine auxotroph. Two distinct synthetic enzymes are known, a bifunctional methylene-tetrahydrofolate dehydrogenase/cyclohydrolase (DHCH) or formyl-tetrahydrofolate ligase (FTL), and phylogenomic profiling revealed considerable diversity for these in trypanosomatids. All species surveyed contain a DHCH1, which was shown recently to be essential in L. major. A second DHCH2 occurred only in L. infantum, L. mexicana and T. cruzi, and as a pseudogene in L. major. DHCH2s bear N-terminal extensions and we showed a LiDHCH2-GFP fusion was targeted to the mitochondrion. FTLs were found in all species except Trypanosoma brucei. L. major ftl− null mutants were phenotypically normal in growth, differentiation, animal infectivity and sensitivity to a panel of pteridine analogs, but grew more slowly when starved for serine or glycine, as expected for amino acids that are substrates in C1-folate metabolism. Cell fractionation and western blotting showed that both L. major DHCH1 and FTL were localized to the cytosol and not the mitochondrion. These localization data predict that in L. major cytosolic 10-formyl-tetrahydrofolate must be transported into the mitochondrion to support methionyl-tRNAMet formylation. The retention in all the trypanosomatids of at least one enzyme involved in 10-formyl-tetrahydrofolate biosynthesis, and the essentiality of this metabolite in L. major, suggests that this pathway represents a promising new area for chemotherapeutic attack in these parasites.
An automated coding and classification system with supporting database for effective design of integrated manufacturing systems

The philosophy of group technology (GT) is an important concept in the design of flexible manufacturing systems and manufacturing cells. Group technology is a manufacturing philosophy that identifies similar parts and groups them into families. Beside assigning unique codes to these parts, group technology developers intend to take advantage of part similarities during design and manufacturing processes. GT is not the answer to all manufacturing problems, but it is a good management technique with which to standardize efforts and eliminate duplication. Group technology classifies parts by assigning them to different families based on their similarities in: (1) design attributes (physical shape and size), and/or (2) manufacturing attributes (processing sequence). The manufacturing industry today is process focused; departments and sub units are no longer independent but are interdependent. If the product development process is to be optimized, engineering and manufacturing cannot remain independent any more: they must be coordinated. Each sub-system is a critical component within an integrated manufacturing framework. The coding and classification system is the basis of CAPP and the functioning and reliability of CAPP depends on the robustness of the coding system. The proposed coding system is considered superior to the previously proposed coding systems, in that it has the capability to migrate into multiple manufacturing environments. This article presents the design of a coding and classification system and the supporting database for manufacturing processes based on both design and manufacturing attributes of parts. An interface with the spreadsheet will calculate the machine operation costs for various processes. This menu-driven interactive package is implemented using dBASE-IV. Part Family formation is achieved using a KAMCELL package developed in TURBO Pascal.
Megacystis microcolon intestinal hypoperistalsis syndrome with bilateral duplicated systems

A 29-year-old multigravida woman presented for her second prenatal ultrasound evaluation at 30 weeks of gestation. The study showed a female fetus, bilateral duplicated systems with severe hydronephrosis in the upper pole moieties and a massively distended bladder. Initial interpretation suggested ectopic/obstructing bilateral ureteroceles. To evaluate these findings further, a prenatal magnetic resonance imaging scan was obtained, documenting the absence of ureteroceles. The presumptive diagnosis of megacystis microcolon intestinal hypoperistalsis syndrome was made. After birth, contrast enema confirmed the presence of microcolon. This appears to be the first reported case of megacystis microcolon intestinal hypoperistalsis syndrome with bilateral duplex systems evaluated with prenatal magnetic resonance imaging.
Multichannel intraluminal impedance for the assessment of post-fundoplication dysphagia.

SUMMARY. Dysphagia often occurs after fundoplication, although its pathophysiology is not clear. We sought to better understand postfundoplication dysphagia by measuring esophageal clearance with multichannel intraluminal impedance (MII) along with more traditional work-up (manometry, upper gastrointestinal imaging [UGI], endoscopy). We evaluated 80 consecutive patients after laparoscopic fundoplication between April 2002 and November 2004. Patients were evaluated clinically and underwent simultaneous manometry and MII, 24-hour pH monitoring, endoscopy, and UGI. For analysis, patients were divided into the following groups based on the presence of dysphagia and fundoplication anatomy (by UGI/endoscopy): (1) Dysphagia and normal anatomy; (2) Dysphagia and abnormal anatomy; (3) No dysphagia and abnormal anatomy; and (4) No dysphagia and normal anatomy. Patients with dysphagia (Groups 1 & 2) had similar peristalsis (manometry), but were more likely to have impaired clearance by MII (32 pts, 62%) than those without dysphagia (9 pts, 32%, P = 0.01). Patients with abnormal anatomy (Groups 2 & 3) were also more likely to have impaired esophageal clearance (66%vs. 38%, P = 0.01). Finally, of patients that had normal fundoplication anatomy, those with dysphagia were much more likely to have impaired clearance (12 pts, 52%) than those with dysphagia (4 pts, 21%, P = 0.03). MII after fundoplication provides objective evidence of esophageal clearance, and is commonly abnormal in patients with abnormal fundoplication anatomy and/or dysphagia. Esophageal clearance is impaired in the majority of patients with postoperative dysphagia, even with normal fundoplication anatomy and normal peristalsis. MII may detect disorders in esophageal motility not detected by manometry.
Pain Management in Labor

1. Pain in labor is a multifaceted experience with physiological, psychological, and social components. 2. Pain management in labor requires a multifaceted approach, including pharmacological and nonpharmacological options. 3. Appropriate pain management will greatly enhance the experience of labor.
Reply to Bratman and Smith

To begin with, I am deeply grateful to Michael Bratman and Michael Smith for their generosity in responding to my book, for the care with which they have read it, and for the challenge of meeting their objections. I am also grateful for their support and encouragement over the years. It is a pleasure to engage with them here. Because their comments raise many related difficulties, this reply will treat them together, beginning with brief consideration of issues in action theory before turning to Reasons and rationalism. It will also be incomplete: there is much more to say about these problems than can be said in this space. Bratman’s discussion poses a structural question: how far does my argument about reason and virtue in Part Two of the book depend on the principle of Belief and the cognitive theory of intention from Part One? His answer is: quite a bit. But this is not straightforward. If we reject Belief, our account of acting for reasons becomes more minimal. This would make it more difficult to derive standards of practical reason from the nature of agency, as the rationalist purports to do. If I am right to argue that rationalism and the virtue theory are exhaustive alternatives, it therefore makes the virtue theory of practical reason easier to defend. My Anscombean assumptions are in fact a concession to some of the ideas that motivate rationalists like Korsgaard and Velleman – though not, as we will see, either Bratman or Smith. Denying them makes more trouble for the ethical views that I oppose than it does for mine.
“Folic Acid” a Tumor Growth Inhibitor.:

SummaryA “folic acid concentrate” and a crystalline L. casei factor were found to be strong inhibitors of tumor growth.
Lateral Superlattices Fabricated with Interferometric Lithography for Nanoscale Device Applications

Two-dimensional periodic arrays of inverted pyramid holes with nanometer scale have been patterned on the surface of a (100) silicon wafer and studied for possible application in nanoscale silicon based devices. The surface patterning employed a simple microelectronic processing scheme in which the standing wave intensity pattern from two interfering 458nm laser beams was used to expose holes in a photoresist layer. Subsequent dry etching through an underlying oxide mask layer, followed by a KOH etching step yielded a highly periodic, large area array of inverted pyramids. The pyramid geometry is formed during the anisotropic KOH etch, which stops at the (111) pyramid walls. Therefore, the tips of all inverted pyramids are formed by the intersection of (111) silicon crystal planes and have identical geometry. This study focuses on the use of these features as templates for the controlled crystallization of amorphous silicon layers and also as electric field concentrating “funnels” in MOS-type structures. We will discuss a proposed device in which silicon nanocrystals will be incorporated into the concentrated electric field region at the tip of each inverted pyramid. With this structure, the charging of identical addressable nanocrystals may be possible, leading to the development of practical nanoscale silicon devices.
Development of the festival of Calla lily creative agriculture in Taipei and its enlightenment

The background of the festival of Calla lily has been reviewed.and the course,species-introduction,development,creative marketing and achievements of the festival of Calla lily creative agriculture in Taipei have been elaborated.The experiences of the festival of Calla lily show that to develop the creative agriculture,it should make good use of regional characteristics and resource advantages,be guided and supported by government policy and measures,and promote creative and drumbeating.
A New Twist on Mitral Regurgitation.

Theories concerning the organization of myocardial fibers in normal mammalian hearts and its relationship to function have been the topic of research for centuries [(1)][1]. Recently, one relatively easy to understand, clinically relevant theory has emerged based on the work of Francisco Torrent-
SNARE-Mediated Transient Fusion of Liposomes to Supported Bilayers Probed by Two-Color pTIRFM

In membrane fusion opening of a fusion pore establishes the first connection between two compartments. During neurotransmitter or hormone release via exocytosis, fusion pores can transiently open and close repeatedly (flicker) before resealing (‘kiss-and-run’) or dilating irreversibly (full fusion). Pore dynamics regulate the amount and size of released cargo and determine the mode of vesicle recycling, yet what governs pore dynamics is poorly understood. We established an assay to monitor membrane fusion by polarized total internal reflection (pTIRF) microscopy with single molecule sensitivity and ∼15 ms time resolution in a biochemically well-defined system. In our assay, fusion of small unilamellar vesicles containing v-SNARE proteins (v-SUVs) fuse to a flat bilayer reconstituted with cognate t-SNAREs, supported on a soft polymer cushion (t-SBL). Exploiting the signal enhancement when a label transfers from the SUV to the SBL membrane in pTIRF, we could monitor the release kinetics of vesicular lipid labels into the SBL upon fusion. We found release times were much longer than would be expected for permanently open pores. Our sensitivity to single fluorescent lipids allowed us to calculate the lipid diffusivity and SUV size for each fusion event. This was used in a model we developed assuming the retardation was due to flickering pores, to estimate pore openness P0, the fraction of time a pore remains open during fusion. Increasing cholesterol levels increased P0. However, retardation of lipid release could also be due to steric hindrance of lipid diffusion through the walls of the fusion pore by SNARE proteins. To exclude this, we encapsulated soluble markers into the SUVs and simultaneously monitored lipid and contents release. Release of both lipid and soluble cargo started simultaneously. Interestingly, many pores resealed after partially releasing their contents.
Parables and Conflict in the Hebrew Bible: Grasping the Conflict: Ahab's Negotiation of Conflicts and Parables in 1 Kings 20

“Whereas the judicial dilemma posed by the petitionary narrative in 1 Kings 3 is used to demonstrate one king's wisdom, that of the petitionary narrative in 2 Kings 6 is used to demonstrate another king's helplessness. In both cases the petitionary narrative is the focal point of the initial exposition of a larger story.” –Simon B. Parker, Stories in Scripture and Inscriptions “Ahab has shown himself to be a king of hesed toward Ben-Hadad; he can exercise similar mercy toward a soldier wounded in his service. Or he can judge that the soldier's inattentiveness is blameworthy and hold him fully responsible.” –Jerome T. Walsh, 1 Kings In the last chapter, we examined how the wise woman of Tekoa creates a parable out of her fictitious petitionary narrative in 2 Samuel 14. We encounter this use of the petitionary narrative genre again when an unnamed prophet confronts the Israelite king Ahab in the closing verses of 1 Kings 20: 38. Then [the prophet] went and stood before the king alongside the road. He disguised himself with a bandage upon his eyes. 39. When the king was passing by, he cried out to the king and said, “Your servant went out in the midst of the battle. Look, a man turned aside and brought [another] man to me. He said, ‘Guard this man! If he goes missing, then it will be your life in place of his life or you will pay a talent of silver.’ 40. Now your servant was doing this and that and he [the guarded man] was no more!” The king of Israel said to him, “Thus is your judgment. You yourself decided it.” 41. [The prophet] acted quickly and removed his bandage from his eyes.
Quantum confinement effects on optical transitions in nanodiamonds containing nitrogen vacancies

Colored nitrogen-vacancy (NV) centers in nanosize diamonds ($d\ensuremath{\sim}5$ nm) are promising probe materials because their optical transitions are sensitive to mechanical, vibrational, and spin changes in the surroundings. Here, a linear response time-dependent density functional theory approach is used to describe the optical transitions in several NV-doped diamond quantum dots (QDs) in order to investigate size effects on the absorption spectra. By computing the full optical spectrum up to band-to-band transitions, we analyze both the localized ``pinned'' midgap and the charge-transfer excitations for an isolated reduced NV center. Subband charge-transfer excitations are shown to be size dependent, involving the excitation of the dopant $s{p}^{3}$ electrons to the diamond conduction band. Additionally, the NV-doped systems exhibit characteristic $s{p}^{3}\ensuremath{-}s{p}^{3}$ excitations whose experimental energies are reproduced well and do not depend on QD size. However, the NV position and global cluster symmetry can affect the amount of the energy splitting of the vertical excitation energies of the midgap transitions.
Using the Double ABCX Model to Integrate Services for Families of Children with ASD

This conceptual paper reviews the need for a family-focused service delivery model within the autism spectrum disorder (ASD) field and suggests that the Double ABCX Model of Stress and Adaptation is a way to address this need. Within the ASD field, there is an absence of service delivery models that are able to address the needs of the family as a unit, rather than the individual child with ASD. This gap is striking given the reciprocal relationship between parent and child outcomes within the ASD field. To support our argument that the Double ABCX model could be used to integrate parent and child-focused interventions within the ASD field, this paper starts by reviewing the mental health outcomes often associated with having a child with ASD. We next provide a historical overview of the Double ABCX model and review a body of ASD intervention literature within the context of the Double ABCX model framework. Doing so shows that a number of child and parent focused interventions within the ASD field can be fit within the Double ABCX framework. However, a handful of methodological and sampling limitations prevent the Double ABCX model from being fully supported as a model that could be applied in a variety of settings. Taken together, this review highlights that the Double ABCX model is a promising strategy to integrate child and parent-focused interventions within the ASD field, but highlights that specific areas of future research are needed in order to build continued support for this argument.
Hearing the Silenced Voices of Underserved Women -The Role of Qualitative Research in Gynecologic and Reproductive Care

In order to provide effective evidence-based health care to women, rigorous research that examines women's lived experiences in their own voices is needed. However, clinical health research has often excluded the experiences of women and minority patient populations. Further, clinical research has often relied on quantitative research strategies; this provides an interesting but limited understanding of women's health experiences and hinders the provision of effective patient-centered care. This article defines qualitative research and its unique contributions to research, and provides examples of how qualitative research has given insights into the reproductive health perspectives and behaviors of underserved women.
Information Systems for Real-Time Water Quality Monitoring

The present article begins by defining water quality as a large table of measurements of various parameters. Operational water quality definition is motivated by discussion of effective but simple methods of rural water treatment. The complexity of manual point of sampling measurements and inherent limitation of analysis of remote sensing data leads to the introduction of electronic water quality sensing. Once digitally based measurement has been introduced, the topic of water quality sensor networks as a component of the Internet of Things becomes the topic of focus. How automated water quality control may be integrated into more holistic schemes of resource management is the closing topic of the article.
Optical Properties and Mechanism of Formation of Some F -Aggregate Centers in LiF

A study of positively charged, neutral, and negatively charged centers in LiF has been made. Effects observed include the induced transformations of ionized centers to $F$-aggregate centers, and reformation of the ionized centers in the dark, when samples reirradiated at low temperatures are warmed up. Polarization properties of the luminescence from various centers have also been studied. From the temperature dependence of the emission bands and the associated excitation bands for the ${M}^{+}$ and ${R}^{+}$ centers, vibrational frequencies were determined and were found to be close to a theoretical normal-lattice phonon frequency. From detailed studies of transformations among the various centers observed under varying conditions, it was possible to propose a mechanism of formation of the $M$ and $R$ centers and other complex centers. $M$- and $R$-center formation seems to occur through diffusion of $\ensuremath{\alpha}$ and ${M}^{+}$ centers, respectively, towards $F$ centers ($\ensuremath{\alpha}+F\ensuremath{\rightarrow}{M}^{+}$ and ${M}^{+}+F\ensuremath{\rightarrow}{R}^{+}$) followed by capture of a single electron. Experiments indicated that ${M}^{\ensuremath{'}}$ and ${R}^{\ensuremath{'}}$ centers are produced from the corresponding ${M}^{+}$ and ${R}^{+}$ centers apparently by a process involving two-electron capture.
Assessing the Infectivity of Commercial Mycorrhizal Inoculants in Plant Nursery Conditions

Abstract The infectivity of ten commercial mycorrhizal inoculants was examined in nursery conditions. Corn plants were grown in a soil-based medium and in two different soilless substrates, a potting mix prepared with redwood bark, pine sawdust, calcined clay and sand, and the commercial Sunshine #5 mix, mainly composed of Canadian sphagnum peat moss. The percentage of mycorrhizal colonization obtained with the different mycorrhizal inoculants ranged from 0 to 50%. This variation might reflect the presence or absence of viable propagules, the difference in the recommended rates applied as well as the difference in the content and type of infective propagules of each product. However, the infectivity of each mycorrhizal inoculant was also influenced by the growing media. Two products promoted higher values of mycorrhizal colonization in the Sunshine mix, three in the nursery mix and one in the soil-based medium. Mycorrhizal colonization did not enhance plant growth. Only the plants inoculated with the prod...
Utility of strain typing of Propionibacterium acnes in central nervous system and prosthetic joint infections to differentiate contamination from infection: a retrospective cohort

The study aimed to retrospectively assess if strain typing of Propionibacterium acnes could help to distinguish between infection and contamination in isolates recovered from the central nervous system (CNS) and prosthetic joints (PJs). This was a retrospective cohort of all Propionibacterium species isolates from the Barnes-Jewish Hospital (St Louis, MO, USA) clinical microbiology laboratory from 2011 to 2014. Available frozen isolates were recovered, and strain type (IA-1, IA-2, IB, II, III, or nontypeable class A or B) was determined via polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based methods. For CNS isolates, P. acnes was considered pathogenic if treating physicians administered ≥7 days of directed antibiotic therapy against P. acnes. During the study period, Propionibacterium species was isolated from clinical cultures 411 times. 152 isolates were available for analysis. Of the 152 isolates, 140 were confirmed to be P. acnes, 61 of which were from the CNS (45 contaminants, 16 infections). Strain type IA-1 was more common (50.0%, 8 out of 16) among CNS infections than among contaminants (22.2%, 10 out of 45). For PJ isolates 61.3% (19 out of 31) met the criteria for infection. The predominant strain type for CNS infection was IA-1 and for PJ isolates, IB. Strain type IA-1 was isolated more often in patients with CNS infections, which may indicate a predilection of this strain type to cause CNS infection. Future research should prospectively evaluate strain typing as a means of assisting in the diagnosis of CNS infections and confirm our findings.
Cohort Differences in Joint Retirement: Evidence from the Health and Retirement Study

The dramatic rise and sustained participation of recent cohorts of women in the labor force has coincided with their increased attachment to the labor market. In this paper we use twelve waves of the Health and Retirement Study (1992-2014) and investigate how married couples belonging to more recent birth cohorts compare with their predecessors in terms of coordinating their retirement decisions. Using a multinomial logit model we estimate the labor force dynamics of dual-earner married couples and find that couples with wives belonging to more recent birth cohorts are less likely to jointly exit the labor force. Further, this declining cohort trend in joint retirement can only partially be explained by commonly observed socio-economic, employment, and health related factors that affect retirement decisions, suggesting an important role for cohort changes in preferences and social norms such as preference for work and attitudes toward gender roles.
Urban surface energy budget study using flux tower observations and remote sensing measurements

Urban heat islands cause that built up areas experience warmer temperature than their surrounding rural regions. This issue can adversely affect the energy consumption and public health especially in highly populated cities. The aim of this research study is to characterize the effect and the response of each surface type in the cities to increase our understanding of climate, anthropogenic heat, and urban heat islands. Flux tower observations as well as satellite-based remote sensing measurements are two source of valuable information. Flux towers are rarely deployed in the cities or built up environment and mostly take measurements in natural surfaces. Here we deploy several flux towers on different surface in New York City to enhance our understanding about the reaction of each surface to the energy balance. Complete energy balance stations are installed over distinct materials such as concrete, asphalt, and rooftops. This study can help to provide a novel approach to use ground observations and map the maxima and minima air temperature in New York City using satellite measurements. Satellites also provide many measurements from the earth surface at various spatial resolutions. MODIS data sets particularly deliver skin temperature. Moreover, satellite observations from Landsat 8 are utilized to classify the city surfaces to distinct defined surfaces where ground observations were obtained. The mapped temperatures will be linked to MODIS surface temperatures to develop a model that can downscale MODIS skin temperatures to fine resolution air temperature over urban regions. The evaluation of results against independent ground observations reveals that the proposed method is promising for studying surface energy balance in urban regions.
mmWave channel propagation modeling for V2X communication systems

We make the connection between next generation wireless standards (5G) and vehicular communication systems. We advocate the importance of transmissions in the millimeter wave band as the only ones capable to provide the Gbit/s data rates required for raw sensor data exchange among vehicles. In this context, our paper describes methods for deriving channel propagation models via ray-tracing simulations for mmWave transmissions with applications to vehicle-to-everything (V2X) communications. It also addresses aspects related to blockage modeling, the effects of diffuse scattering and multipath fading in urban scenarios.
Multiple Sclerosis: Mechanisms and Immunotherapy

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune disease triggered by environmental factors that act on a genetically susceptible host. It features three clinical stages: a pre-clinical stage detectable only by MRI; a relapsing-remitting (RRMS) stage characterized by episodes of neurologic dysfunction followed by resolution; and a progressive stage, which usually evolves from the relapsing stage. Advances in our understanding of the immune mechanisms that contribute to MS have led to more than ten FDA-approved immunotherapeutic drugs that target effector T cells, regulatory cells, B cells, and cell trafficking into the nervous system. However, most drugs for relapsing MS are not effective in treating progressive disease. Progressive MS features a compartmentalized immune response in the central nervous system, involving microglia cells and astrocytes, as well as immune-independent processes that drive axonal dysfunction. Major challenges for MS research involve understanding the mechanisms of disease progression, developing treatment for progressive MS, and determining the degree to which progressive disease can be prevented by early treatment. Key priorities for MS research include developing biomarkers, personalized medicine and advanced imaging, and a better understanding of the microbiome. With a better understanding of the genetic and epidemiological aspects of this disease, approaches to prevent MS are now also being considered.
Dairy Products, Dairy Fatty Acids, and the Prevention of Cardiometabolic Disease: a Review of Recent Evidence

To examine recent literature on dairy products, dairy fatty acids, and cardiometabolic disease. Primary questions of interest include what unique challenges researchers face when investigating dairy products/biomarkers, whether one should consume dairy to reduce disease risk, whether dairy fatty acids may be beneficial for health, and whether one should prefer low- or high-fat dairy products. Dairy composes about 10% of the calories in a typical American diet, about half of that coming from fluid milk, half coming from cheese, and small amounts from yogurt. Most meta-analyses report no or weak inverse association between dairy intake with cardiovascular disease and related intermediate outcomes. There is some suggestion that dairy consumption was inversely associated with stroke incidence and yogurt consumption was associated with lower risk of type 2 diabetes. Odd chain fatty acids (OCFAs) found primarily in dairy (15:0 and 17:0) appear to be inversely associated with cardiometabolic risk, but causation is uncertain. Substitution analyses based on prospective cohorts suggested that replacing dairy fat with vegetable fat or polyunsaturated fat was associated with significantly lower risk of cardiovascular disease. Current evidence suggests null or weak inverse association between consumption of dairy products and risk of cardiovascular disease. However, replacing dairy fat with polyunsaturated fat, especially from plant-based foods, may confer health benefits. More research is needed to examine health effects of different types of dairy products in diverse populations.
Early cannulation of bovine carotid artery grafts (Artegraft) after primary vascular access and fistula revision procedures

Abstract Objective Tunneled dialysis catheter (TDC) use has been associated with increased infectious complications and mortality in hemodialysis-dependent patients. Unfortunately, patients who undergo fistula revisions or creation of a new arteriovenous fistula frequently require a TDC during the postoperative period. Bovine carotid artery grafts (BCAGs) can be used as an early-access dialysis conduit to reduce TDC dependence. This study describes the performance of BCAGs that were cannulated early ( Methods BCAGs were implanted in 63 consecutive dialysis-dependent patients. Patients and dialysis centers were directly provided early cannulation instructions; 31 (49%) patients were cannulated early, and of the 31 patients cannulated early, 21 (68%) were cannulated during the first postoperative day. Early complications, primary patency, secondary patency, and TDC incidence were monitored through clinic visits, hospital records, and phone calls to dialysis centers. Results The primary patency of BCAGs at 1 year in the early and late cannulation cohorts was 28% and 39%, respectively. The secondary patency of BCAGs at 1 year in the early and late cannulation cohorts was 74% and 77%, respectively. Early complications occurred in 11 (19%) patients who received a BCAG. There were no significant differences in complication rates between early and late cannulation patients. Of the 24 patients who underwent the operation without a pre-existing TDC, only three (13%) required TDC placement during the 30-day postoperative period. Conclusions BCAGs can be cannulated early without increased complication rates or a negative impact on midterm patency. Early cannulation of BCAGs obviates the need for a TDC postoperatively in dialysis-dependent patients undergoing primary vascular access or fistula revision procedures.
Functional Rescue of Misfolded Receptor Mutants

Mutant gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) receptors isolated from patients with GnRH-resistant hypogonadotropic hypogonadism are frequently proteins that are misrouted in the cell. Such mutant receptors are retained in the endoplasmic reticulum and can be rescued by pharmacological chaperones. This understanding contrasts with the view that these mutant receptors lose the ability to bind ligand or effect signal transduction. Pharmacological chaperones, or “pharmacoperones,” bind specifically to GnRH receptors and allow them to escape retention by the cellular quality control systems and route to the plasma membrane, where they function normally. This observation suggests that pharmacoperones have the potential to be used to treat a number of human diseases characterized by misrouted proteins, among these, hypogonadotropic hypogonadism, cystic fibrosis and nephrogenic diabetes insipidus.
Etiology, Manifestations and Therapy of Acute Epididymitis: Prospective Study of 50 Cases

AbstractThere were 50 patients with acute epididymitis who were evaluated prospectively by history, examination and microbiologic studies, including cultures for aerobes, anaerobes, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Chlamydia trachomatis and Ureaplasma urealyticum. Escherichia coli was the predominant pathogen isolated from the urine of men more than 35 years old, while Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae were the predominant pathogens isolated from the urethra of men less than 35 years old. The etiologic role of Escherichia coli and Chlamydia trachomatis was confirmed by isolation from epididymal aspirates from a high proportion of men with positive urine or urethral cultures for these agents. Chlamydia trachomatis epididymitis accounted for two-thirds of idiopathic epididymitis in young men and often was associated with oligospermia. Of 9 female sexual partners of men with Chlamydia trachomatis infection 6 had antibody to Chlamydia trachomatis, of whom 2 had positive cervical cultures for this organism...
A REAL TIME MODEL OF NITROGEN-CYCLE DYNAMICS IN AN ESTUARINE SYSTEM

A water quality engineering model, described by seven storage variables, for nitrogen-limited estuarine ecosystems is developed and used. Water quality trends and dynamic behavior of aquatic systems to varying environmental input conditions are examined. Simple batch-system analysis shows a limit-cycle behavior of the structured model. The inherent oscillations of the limit-cycle are damped when the batch system is opened to matter flows through its boundaries. Additional response analyses are conducted on an idealized estuary to compare “through-flow” models that ignore the tidal motion, with “real-time” models considering the tidal advection. The comparative analysis shows the influence of the hydrodynamic description of the flows on the spatial and temporal distribution of the nitrogen-cycle storage.variables in the idealized estuary.
Utilization of the 21-gene RS test among Medicare beneficiaries with breast cancer in 2011.

e18078Background: The numbers of genomic tests and indications for testing are rapidly expanding. By identifying patients’ response to treatment, genomic risk stratification tools can improve healt...
Comparing the Accuracy of Mass Casualty Triage Systems in a Pediatric Population

Introduction: It was previously difficult to compare the accuracy of different mass casualty triage systems to one another. This pilot study is one of the first attempts to operationalize an expert...
Understanding the Personal Impact of Sexual Violence and Assault

In October 2017 the #MeToo movement emerged in full force across social media throughout the United States. Survivors of sexual violence and harassment spoke publicly (in most cases, for the first ...
Emotion versus cognition: differential pathways to theory of mind for children with high versus low callous-unemotional traits

Background Theory of mind (ToM) serves as a foundation for developing social cognition. Developmental theory suggests that early emotion understanding supports the development of ToM, but few studies have tested this question within longitudinal designs. Additionally, children with callous-unemotional (CU) traits directly challenge this theory as they appear to develop intact ToM despite deficits in emotion understanding. Inhibitory control is proposed as one possible compensatory mechanism for ToM development in children with high CU traits. Methods We examined emotion understanding and inhibitory control at age 3 as predictors of ToM at age 6 and tested whether these pathways were different in children with high versus low levels of CU traits. Multimethod data included observations of child emotion understanding and inhibitory control and parent reports of CU traits drawn from a prospective, longitudinal study (N = 240, 48% female). Results Consistent with our hypothesis, emotion understanding at age 3 significantly predicted ToM at age 6 only for children with low CU traits. Although there was a significant interaction between inhibitory control and CU traits in relation to later ToM, the simple slopes were not significant. Conclusions We find prospective longitudinal evidence that emotion understanding is a developmental precursor of ToM. However, this pathway was not evident in children with high CU traits. Future research is needed to further explore potential mechanisms by which children with CU traits develop ToM with a potential focus on higher-order cognitive skills.
Optimization of cataract surgery follow-up: A standard set of questions can predict unexpected management changes at postoperative week one.

PURPOSE There is limited evidence to inform the optimal follow-up schedule after cataract surgery. This study aims to determine whether a standardized question set can predict unexpected management changes (UMCs) at the postoperative week one (POW1) timepoint. SETTING Massachusetts Eye and Ear, Harvard Medical School. DESIGN Prospective cohort study. METHODS Two-hundred-and-fifty-four consecutive phacoemulsification cases having attended an examination between postoperative days 5-14. A set of 7 'Yes' or 'No' questions were administered to all participants by a technician at the POW1 visit. Patient answers along with perioperative patient information were recorded and analyzed. Outcomes were the incidence of UMCs at POW1. RESULTS The incidence of UMCs was zero in uneventful cataract cases with unremarkable history and normal postoperative day one exam if no positive answers were given with the question set demonstrating 100% sensitivity (p<0.0001). A test version with 5 questions was equally sensitive in detecting UMCs at POW1 after cataract surgery. CONCLUSION In routine cataract cases with no positive answers to the current set of clinical questions, a POW1 visit is unlikely to result in a management change. This result offers the opportunity for eye care providers to risk-stratify patients who have had cataract surgery and individualize follow-up.
Diverse N-Substituted Azole-Containing Amino Acids as Building Blocks for Cyclopeptides

The preparation of 16 oxazole- or thiazole-containing amino esters bearing a wide array of N-substitution is reported. These were accessed in 40–92% yield via an AgClO4-promoted substitution reaction between a primary amine and a chloromethyl-functionalized thiazole or oxazole. These new synthetic building blocks will be useful for the preparation of new cyclopeptide analogues bearing heterocyclic backbone modifications. Four macrocyclic N-substituted oligoamides that include thiazole or oxazole heterocycles were obtained, following cyclooligomerization reactions of azole-modified N-substituted amino acids.
The Sterile Weld: A New Method for Connection in Continuous Ambulatory Peritoneal Dialysis:

Peritonitis due to contamination in the spiking step of CAPD bag exchange remains a persistent problem. We describe here the Sterile Connecting Device (SCD), an instrument which accomplishes bag ex...
Crisis Progressive: Environmental Ethics in a Time of ‘Unavoidable’ Ecological Destruction in Amazonia

Environmentalists in southern Brazilian Amazonia framed the future as a horizon filled with ‘unavoidable’ crises in motion that could not be contained. This framing, which I call ‘crisis progressiv...
On-Demand Photothermal Bar-Chart Microfluidic Platform Using On-Chip Nanomaterial-Mediated Photothermal Effect as the Microfluidic Driving Force

A new type of microfluidic platforms, photothermal bar-chart chip (PT-Chip), has been developed using the on-chip nanomaterial-mediated photothermal effect as the novel tunable microfluidic driving force to drive ink bar charts in a visual quantitative readout fashion. This is the first time to exploit the nanomaterial-mediated photothermal effect for microfluidic pumping and also serves as the first report of the photothermal bar-chart microfluidic platform with wide microfluidic applications, especially for visual quantitative point-of-care detection.
18 – ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND THE GROWTH OF INCOME1

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the economic development and the growth of income. Like the rich nations, the poor countries of the world are different from each other in many respects. Some have grown rapidly in recent years, while others have continued to stagnate. War and political upheaval have contributed to the poverty of some, whereas, cultural and tribal stability dominate others. There is no sharp division between developed and less developed countries. If per capita income were used to distinguish between the two, there would be no significant difference between the income level of the wealthiest less developed country and that of the poorest developed nation. In many respects, the division between the developed and less developed countries is arbitrary. Nonetheless, the less developed countries generally share a set of common characteristics such as: the most obvious characteristic of less developed nations is low per capita income; the agriculture–household sector dominates the economy of less developed nations; rapid population growth characterizes most less developed nations; and income is usually more unequally distributed in less developed countries.
Cumulative Burden of Financial Hardship From Medical Bills Across the Spectrum of Diabetes Mellitus and Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease Among Non-Elderly Adults in the United States.

Background Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) has a strong association with diabetes mellitus (DM), accounting for approximately two thirds of deaths in this patient population. Many in...
Renewable Methanol Synthesis through Single Step Bi-reforming of Biogas

Biogas is considered a renewable source of carbon for methanol production. For this, biogas, containing mainly CH4 and CO2, is first reformed into syngas (a CO/H2 mixture) followed by conversion to...
Understanding the decline of smallholders in contemporary Russia

The conditions that made smallholders important during the Soviet period no longer exist. Economic and societal changes mean that smallholders’ historical role is less relevant to contemporary Russ...
High precision implementation of Steck's recursion method for use in goodness-of-fit tests

Classical continuous goodness-of-fit (GOF) testing is employed for examining whether the data come from an assumed parametric model. In many cases, GOF tests assume a uniform null distribution and ...
Encrypted Physical Layer Communications Using Synchronized Hyperchaotic Maps

With the proliferation of Internet-of-Things (IoT) devices at public facilities, work places, homes, and beyond, securing data communications is becoming increasingly challenging. This paper describes the analysis and practical implementation of synchronized hyperchaotic maps for securing short-range data links in IoT devices. The data is stream-encrypted in the physical layer using chaotic masking and decrypted using a synchronized chaotic map. Two different energy-efficient chaotic encryption schemes are proposed: 1) direct sampling and masking of analog sensor outputs, thus avoiding the need for analog-to-digital (ADC) conversion; and 2) bit scrambling and masking of digital data. Both schemes were initially investigated and simulated in MATLAB. The effective number of encryption keys when using such hyperchaotic maps was also studied. Simulation results were validated by implementing two maps on circuit boards using high-speed discrete components. Experimental results for digital communication show a bit error rate (BER) of $\approx 2\times 10^{-6}$ at a bit rate of 10 kbps and a clock frequency of 0.5 MHz, making the approach feasible for high-fidelity real-time speech and image transmission without additional error control coding. An energy-efficient on-chip chaotic encryption system was developed using analog current-mode circuits and has a simulated power consumption of $ in the TSMC 180 nm CMOS process, which is sufficiently low for use in many battery-less miniaturized IoT sensor nodes.