cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A pilot study of the Copper T380A IUD and oral levonorgestrel for emergency contraception

Abstract Background This study evaluates the willingness of women presenting for emergency contraception (EC) to enroll in a study offering the copper intrauterine device (IUD) or oral levonorgestrel (LNG) and follows up the two groups for 6 months after EC administration to compare use of an effective method of contraception. Study Design This prospective observational study offered these two methods to women presenting for EC. The primary outcome was use of an effective method of contraception 6 months after presenting for EC. Results Thirty-four women (60%) chose oral LNG and 23 (40%) chose the copper IUD. One month after presenting for EC, 21 (96%) of 22 in the IUD group were still using the IUD and all 22 were using an effective method of contraception (efficacy ≥92%). In the LNG group, 13 (52%) of 25 were using an effective method of contraception (p Conclusion Women presenting for EC were willing to enroll in a study offering the copper IUD or oral LNG.
A sufficient condition for minmax control of systems with uncertainty in the state equations

In a differential game or in the worst case design of an uncertain system, a saddle point solution may not exist. In such cases a rational optimality criterion is minmax. This short paper presents a sufficient condition for a control to be an open-loop minmax control. The use of the condition is illustrated with examples.
Slowing of velocity during isotonic shortening in single isolated smooth muscle cells. Evidence for an internal load.

In single smooth muscle cells, shortening velocity slows continuously during the course of an isotonic (fixed force) contraction (Warshaw, D.M. 1987. J. Gen. Physiol. 89:771-789). To distinguish among several possible explanations for this slowing, single smooth muscle cells were isolated from the gastric muscularis of the toad (Bufo marinus) and attached to an ultrasensitive force transducer and a length displacement device. Cells were stimulated electrically and produced maximum stress of 144 mN/mm2. Cell force was then reduced to and maintained at preset fractions of maximum, and cell shortening was allowed to occur. Cell stiffness, a measure of relative numbers of attached crossbridges, was measured during isotonic shortening by imposing 50-Hz sinusoidal force oscillations. Continuous slowing of shortening velocity was observed during isotonic shortening at all force levels. This slowing was not related to the time after the onset of stimulation or due to reduced isometric force generating capacity. Stiffness did not change significantly over the course of an isotonic shortening response, suggesting that the observed slowing was not the result of reduced numbers of cycling crossbridges. Furthermore, isotonic shortening velocity was better described as a function of the extent of shortening than as a function of the time after the onset of the release. Therefore, we propose that slowing during isotonic shortening in single isolated smooth muscle cells is the result of an internal load that opposes shortening and increases as cell length decreases.
Adenovirus-mediated transfer of human lipase complementary DNA to the gallbladder

Abstract Background/Aims: Despite many improvements in current therapy, exocrine pancreatic insufficiency remains a significant problem in cystic fibrosis. To establish a new therapy for exocrine pancreatic insufficiency, the feasibility of transferring the human pancreatic lipase complementary DNA to the gallbladder as a possible target using a recombinant adenovirus vector was evaluated. Methods: The adenovirus vector AdCMV.Lip was constructed using the cytomegalovirus immediate early promoter to drive the human pancreatic lipase complementary DNA. In vitro infection of the human gallbladder epithelial cell line HS-181 and ex vivo infection of the sheep gallbladder with AdRSV.β-gal (an adenovirus vector containing the Escherichia coli lacZ [(β-galactosidase] gene) or AdCMV.Lip were evaluated. Results: The supernatant from AdCMV.Lip-infected HS-181 showed the secretion of active lipase for at least 2 weeks in vitro. The epithelium of gallbladder infected with AdRSV.β-gal ex vivo showed the expression of the β galactosidase. The fluid from the gallbladder lumen infected with AdCMV.Lip showed the increased lipase activity. Conclusions: These observations show that an adenovirus vector can transfer a human pancreatic enzyme in vitro and ex vivo, suggesting the feasibility of in vivo gene therapy for exocrine pancreatic insufficiency in cystic fibrosis.
A model for predicting invasive weed and grass dynamics. I. Model development2

Abstract Invasive weed managers are presented with a complicated and ever-enlarging set of management alternatives. Identifying the optimal weed management strategy for a given set of conditions requires predicting how candidate strategies will affect plant community composition. Although field experiments have advanced our ability to predict postmanagement composition, extrapolation problems limit the prediction accuracy achieved by interpreting treatment means as predictions. Examples of extrapolation problems include nonlinear relationships between competing plants, site-to-site variation in plant population growth rates, and the carrying capacities of desired species and weeds. Our objective was to develop a model that improves predictions of weed management outcomes by overcoming a subset of these problems. To develop the model, we used data from two field experiments in which four Kentucky bluegrass, six western wheatgrass, and six invasive plant (i.e., leafy spurge) densities were combined in field...
Adaptive Control of Movement for Neuromuscular Stimulation-Assisted Therapy in a Rodent Model

Neuromotor therapy after spinal cord or brain injury often attempts to utilize activity-dependent plasticity to promote functional recovery. Neuromuscular electrical stimulation that activates paralyzed or paretic muscles may enhance passive assistance therapy by activating more muscle mass and enriching the sensory pattern with appropriately timed muscle spindle activation. To enable studies of activity-dependent plasticity, a rodent model for stimulation-assisted locomotor therapy was developed previously. To be effective, however, such a system must allow lengthy sessions of repetitive movements. In this study, we implemented an adaptive pattern generator/pattern shaper (PG/PS) control system for a rodent model of neuromotor therapy and evaluated its ability to generate accurate and repeatable hip movements in lengthy sessions by adjusting the activation patterns of an agonist/antagonist muscle pair. In 100-cycle movement trials, the PG/PS control system provided excellent movement tracking (< 10% error), but stimulation levels steadily increased to account for muscle fatigue. In trials using an intermittent movement paradigm (100 sets of five-cycle bouts interspersed by 20-s rest periods), excellent performance (< 8% error) was also observed with less stimulation, thus indicating reduced muscle fatigue. These results demonstrate the ability of the PG/PS control system to utilize an agonist/antagonist muscle pair to control movement at a joint in a rodent model. The demonstration of repeatable movements over lengthy intermittent sessions suggests that it may be well suited to provide efficient neuromotor therapy.
Agreement Among Categorical, Dimensional, and Impairment Criteria for ADHD and Common Comorbidities.

Objective: To compare the results of categorically based versus dimensionally based scoring algorithms for a Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (4th ed.; DSM-IV)–referenced teacher rating scale for assessing ADHD and commonly co-occurring conditions and to determine their relative agreement with ratings of symptom-induced impairment. Method: Teachers completed Child and Adolescent Symptom Inventory–4R (CASI-4R) ratings for 1,092 youth (ages 6-18 years) referred to a child and adolescent psychiatry outpatient service. Caseness was determined according to DSM-IV symptom count (categorical model) and T-score (dimensional model) criteria. Results: Agreement between symptom count and T-score cutoffs was generally good (kappa ≥ 0.61) for ADHD-Inattentive, ADHD-Hyperactive-Impulsive, ADHD-Combined (except adolescent females), Oppositional Defiant Disorder, and Conduct Disorder, but this was not the case for anxiety and depressive disorders where only 15% of kappas were good. Agreement of impai...
Co-Administration of Valproic Acid and Lamotrigine in the Treatment of Refractory Epilepsy (P1.238)

OBJECTIVE: To review our experience with Co-administration of Valproic acid and Lamotrigine in the treatment of refractory epilepsy BACKGROUND: Studies and experience showed that combination use of Valproic acid and Lamotrigine has synergistic effect on the treatment of refractory epilepsy. But there is no enough evidence to guide the combination therapy. It is unclear which type of epilepsy response well to the co-administration. DESIGN/METHODS: By chart review, our epilepsy clinic patients (both adult and pediatric) who is/was on combination therapy of valproic acid and Lamotrigine for at least 6 months and followed with us regularly at least 2 years were identified and included; the epilepsy type, baseline seizure frequency, and EEG feature before and after the co-administration were recorded. The primary outcome measure was change in baseline seizure frequency and EEG. RESULTS: Total 29 patients were included. 23 patients (79[percnt]) have generalized epilepsy; and 6 patients (21[percnt]) have focal onset epilepsy; 7 patients EEG showed Lennox- Gastaut feature; 2 patients had EEG findings of ESES (Electrical status epilepticus in sleep). 27 patients were on at least one other AEDs in combination. Comparing seizure frequency and EEG change before and after the combination, 13 patients (45[percnt]) improved (at least 50[percnt] reduction in baseline seizure frequency; 7 out of the 13 patients (24[percnt] of all patients) became seizure free; 3 out of 6 focal onset epilepsy patients (50[percnt]) improved. 10 out of 23 patients (43[percnt]) with generalized epilepsy improved; 3 out of 7 patients (43[percnt]) with Lennox- Gastaut syndrome improved. Both patients with EEG ESES feature became seizure free. CONCLUSIONS: Co-administration of Valproic acid and Lamotrigine should be considered to treat both generalized and focal onset refractory epilepsy; refractory epilepsy with EEG features of Lennox-Gastaut or ESES might response to the combination use of Valproic acid and Lamotrigine. Disclosure: Dr. Jiang has nothing to disclose.
Handin replies to Russell

Your editorial in Eos. March 10th, on the functions of the Committee on Education and Human Resources poses several provocative questions but overlooks what I regard as the most critical issue of all. While the Union's efforts to attract more women and minorities into geophysics are commendable, fast becoming more generally serious is the question: how do we recruit any students into our graduate schools and then retain them through the doctorate. The insatiable demand by industry for students at the bachelor's and master's levels in geophysics (and geology and petroleum engineering) has forced starting salaries so high that fewer and fewer students are willing to stay on for graduate work at affordable stipends for fellowships and assistantships. My experience at Texas A&M University may not be typical and may therefore prompt undue exaggeration, but it is certainly not reassuring for the future of higher education.
Repeated freeze-thawing of bone tissue affects Raman bone quality measurements

The ability to probe fresh tissue is a key feature to biomedical Raman spectroscopy. However, it is unclear how Raman spectra of calcified tissues are affected by freezing. In this study, six transverse sections of femoral cortical bone were subjected to multiple freeze/thaw cycles and probed using a custom Raman microscope. Significant decreases were observed in the amide I and amide III bands starting after two freeze thaw cycles. Raman band intensities arising from proline residues of frozen tissue appeared consistent with fresh tissue after four cycles. Crystallinity values of bone mineral diminished slightly with freezing and were noticeable after only one freezing. Mineral carbonate levels did not deviate significantly with freezing and thawing. The authors recommend freezing and thawing bone tissue only once to maintain accurate results.
Developing flowering rate models in response to mean temperature for common annual ornamental crops

Abstract We quantified how mean daily air temperature (MDT) controlled flowering time of 18 cultivars of 16 ornamental species of herbaceous annuals. Seed-propagated Antirrhinum , Calendula , Diascia , Gerbera , Gomphrena , Heliotropium , Impatiens , Matthiola , Nemesia , Nicotiana , Nierembergia , Osteospermum , Pelargonium , Petunia , Tagetes , and Torenia were grown in five greenhouse compartments maintained at constant temperature set points of 14, 17, 20, 23 or 26 °C. The 16-h photoperiod consisted of the natural photoperiod with supplemental high-pressure sodium lighting from 0600 to 2200 h. The mean photosynthetic daily light integral during the two replications of this experiment varied from 9 to 18 mol m −2 d −1 . Days to flower from transplant and number of nodes at flowering were measured on each plant. As MDT increased from 14 to 26 °C, days to flower decreased for all crops except Impatiens walleriana . Linear or nonlinear regression analysis was performed on the flowering rate (reciprocal of days to flower) data to estimate the base temperature ( T min ) for each species, which is the temperature at which the flowering rate is zero. T min ranged from −3.9 °C for Diascia barberae to 13.8 °C for Gomphrena globosa , which illustrates the crop-specific nature of developmental rates to temperature. The effect of MDT on node number before flowering varied among species, with four, four, and eight species showing an increase, a decrease, or no difference in node number at flowering as MDT increased. There was no apparent relationship between the estimated T min values and the cold hardiness of species, which indicates that cold hardiness cannot be used to reliably predict developmental rates at low temperatures or vice versa.
Small Storm Hydrology and Why it is Important for the Design of Stormwater Control Practices

Different drainage design criteria and receiving water use objectives often require the examination of different types of rains for the design of urban drainage systems. These different (and often conflicting) objectives of a stormwater drainage system can be addressed by using distinct portions of the long-term rainfall record. Several historical examinations (including Heaney, et al. 1977) have also considered the need for the examination of a wide range of rain events for drainage design. However, the lack of efficient computer resources severely restricted long-term analyses in the past. Currently, computer resources are much more available and are capable of much more comprehensive investigations (Gregory and James 1996). In addition to having more efficient computational resources, it is also necessary to re-examine some of the fundamental urban hydrology modeling assumptions (Pitt 1987). Most of the urban hydrology methods currently used for drainage design have been successfully used for large “design” storms. Obviously, this approach (providing urban areas safe from excessive flooding and associated flood related damages) is the most critical objective of urban drainage. However, it is now possible (and legally required in many areas) to provide urban drainage systems that also minimizes other problems associated with urban stormwater. This broader set of urban drainage objectives requires a broader approach to drainage design, and the use of hydrology methods with different assumptions and simplifications. This paper reviews actual monitored rainfall and runoff distributions for Milwaukee, WI (data from Bannerman, et al. 1983), and examines long-term rainfall histories and predicted runoff from 24 locations throughout the U.S. The Milwaukee observations show that southeastern Wisconsin rainfall distributions can be divided into the following categories, with possible management approaches relevant for each category of rain: • Common rains having relatively low pollutant discharges are associated with rains less than about 0.5 in. (12 mm) in depth. These are key rains when runoff-associated water quality violations, such as for bacteria, are of concern. In most areas, runoff from these rains should be totally captured and either re-used for on-site beneficial uses or infiltrated in upland areas. For most areas, the runoff from these rains can be relatively easily removed from the surface drainage system.
Percutaneous Renal Cryoablation: Short-Axis Ice-Ball Margin as a Predictor of Outcome.

Abstract Purpose To determine if CT characteristics of intraprocedural ice balls correlate with outcomes after cryoablation. Materials and Methods A retrospective review was performed on 63 consecutive patients treated with renal cryoablation. Preprocedural and intraprocedural images were used to identify the size and location of renal tumors and ice balls as well as the tumor coverage and ice-ball margins. Review of follow-up imaging (1 mo and then 3–6-mo intervals) distinguished successful ablations from cases of residual tumor. Results Patients who underwent successful ablation (n = 50; 79%) had a mean tumor diameter of 2.5 cm (range, 0.9–4.3 cm) and mean ice-ball margin of 0.4 cm (range, 0.2–1.2 cm). Patients with residual tumor (n = 13; 21%) had a mean tumor diameter of 3.8 cm (range, 1.8–4.5 cm) and mean ice-ball margin of −0.4 cm (range, −0.9 to 0.4 cm). Residual and undertreated tumors were larger and had smaller ice-ball margins than successfully treated tumors ( P P Conclusions Ice-ball margin and real-time intraprocedural reformatting could be helpful in predicting renal cryoablation outcomes. Although a 0.5-cm margin is preferred, a well-centered ice ball with a short-axis margin greater than 0.15 cm strongly correlated with successful ablation.
ISOZYME ONTOGENY OF THE MOSQUITO, ANOPHELES ALBIMANUS

ABSTRACT: Changes in gene expression during mosquito development have been analyzed by investigating the ontogeny of isozymes resolved by starch gel electrophoresis. The genetic and molecular bases of nine esterase systems have been studied, as well as their developmental specificity. The use of specific inhibitors indicates that of the nine esterases investigated in this species, seven are carboxylesterases, one is an arylesterase, and one is an acetylesterase. The acetylesterase, Est-8, the arylesterase, Est-2, and two of the carboxylesterases, Est-4 and Est-6 are present during all stages of development. These are encoded in four separate loci located on the same chromosome. The linkage map is: Est-8 12% Est-4 22% Est-2 9% Est-6. Developmental analysis of the five remaining carboxylesterases reveals that Est-1 exhibits cyclic expression, Est-5 and Est-7 are larvae specific, and Est-3 and Est-9 are found only in the pupae. The developmental progression of other enzyme and isozyme systems was also investigated. L-lactate dehydrogenase and glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase undergo a reciprocal change at pupation. Subsequently, there is a transitory increase in LDH activity in the young adults. Acid phosphatase is synthesized in the males significantly earlier than in females. The results of this study indicate that the isozyme systems of the mosquito are very useful for analyzing the mechanisms of insect development.
A NEW PENNSYLVANIAN QUASILLITACEAN? OSTRACODE FROM OHIO

A rare occcurrence of what is believed to be a quasillitacean ostracode has been found in Ohio. The occurrence of the family Quasillitidae in the Pennsylvanian was questioned by Sohn and Stover (1961, p. Q374). This included the genera Quasillites Coryell and Malkin, 1936, and Graphiadactyllis Roth, 1929. The latter genus is common in Chesterian strata in the United States. Recently a single occurrence of a new genus and species, Simulatus adornatus , has been found in Pennsylvanian (Desmoinesian) strata. The locality from which the sample was taken was in the black shale immediately overlying the Vanport Limestone exposed on the north side of the road along Buffer Run, SW¼ SE¼, sec. 24, T9N, R17W, Milton Twp., Jackson Co., Ohio, Mulga 7½' quadrangle. The ostracode fauna in the shale is abundant, diverse, and dominated by bairdiaceans and kirkbyaceans. The type specimens have been placed in the Orton Geological …
The Representations of GL(3,q), GL(4,q), PGL(3,q), and PGL(4,q)

This paper is a result of an investigation into general methods of determining the irreducible characters of GL(n, q), the group of all non-singular linear substitutions with marks in GF(q), and of the related groups, SL(n, q), PGL(n, q), PSL(n, q), the corresponding group of determinant unity, projective group, projective group of determinant unity, respectively.
Plasma Protein, Erythrocyte Sedimentability and Serum Lability in Blood of Normal and Tuberculous Rabbits.:

Sedimentation of the corpuscles of heparinized blood was determined by noting the extent of fall in glass tubes with an inside diameter of 4 mm. and height of 100 mm. during an interval of 1 hour. The tubes were centrifuged to insure complete sedimentation and the sedimentation index computed as the ratio between the sedimentation observed in 1 hour and the possible maximum extent of sedimentation.Precipitability of serum protein was determined by adding various amounts of aluminum sulphate, as contained in a unit volume of 1 cc. to 0.2 cc. of unheated blood serum in small tubes. Serum and reagent were mixed and set aside at room temperature for 1 1/2 hours. A heavy flocculent precipitate that settled out, leaving a clear supernatant fluid, was recorded as a positive reaction.Maximal, minimal and average values for these blood properties as observed in the arterial blood of 20 normal male rabbits, with similar values for total protein, fibrin, globulin and albumin as contained in the plasma are listed in ...
ZnS Nanoparticle Gels for Remediation of Pb2+ and Hg2+ Polluted Water

ZnS nanoparticle (NP) gel networks were used as cation exchange materials for the removal of Pb(2+) and Hg(2+) from aqueous solutions. First, the suitability of the gel as a remediation material was studied by analyzing the mechanism of the cation exchange reaction. ZnS NP gels can exchange with other divalent cations (Pb(2+), Hg(2+)) under mild reaction conditions. The speed of the reaction is influenced by the reduction potential of the incoming cation. The ZnS aerogels can remove Pb(2+) and Hg(2+) from aqueous solutions with a wide range of initial concentrations. For initial Pb(2+) concentrations of 100 ppb, the Pb(2+) concentration can be reduced below the action limit established by the EPA (15 ppb). Under thermodynamically forcing conditions, the water remediation capacity of the ZnS NP aerogels was determined to be 14.2 mmol Pb(2+)/ g ZnS aerogel, which is the highest value reported to date.
Expression of MICA mRNA and Protein in Osteosarcoma

【Objective】 To investigate the expression of MICA mRNA and protein in osteosarcoma and give a more comprehensive understanding to its immune evasion.【Methods】 RT-PCR was used to analyze MICA mRNA in 11 osteosarcoma tissues and 5 osteosarcoma cell lines.MICA expression was examined in 66 paraffin-embedded osteosarcoma tissues and 6 paraffinembedded normal bone tissues by immunohistochemistry,and MICA protein in 9 fresh osteosarcoma tissues was detected by Western blot too.MICA surface expression was estimated by flow cytometry.【Results】 Nine of eleven(81.8%) osteosarcoma specimens and all of the five cell lines consistently expressed MICA mRNA.Up-regulation of MICA expression was found in osteosarcoma(34/66,51.6%),compared with normal bone tissues(0/6,0%).The cell lines Saos-2,MG63,and HOS showed positive surface MICA expression,while the U2OS and OS732 showed very limited expression.【Conclusion】 MICA mRNA and protein predominantly expressed on osteosarcoma tissues and cell lines.
Prognostic importance of human papillomavirus (HPV) and p16 positivity in squamous cell carcinoma of the vulva treated with radiotherapy.

Abstract Objective HPV status is an important prognostic factor for patients with oropharyngeal, anal and cervical cancers treated with radiotherapy. This study evaluates the association between HPV and p16 status and outcome in a radiation-treated cohort with vulvar squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). Methods Patients with vulvar SCC who received radiotherapy with or without surgical resection between 1985 and 2011 were identified retrospectively. Immunostaining for p16 and multiplex PCR for HPV genotyping were performed using archival tumor tissue from 57 patients. Actuarial estimates of PFS, OS and in-field recurrence were calculated using the Kaplan-Meier method. Cox proportional hazards models were used for multivariable analysis. Median follow-up was 58months among the 57 patients with an available tumor specimen. Results HPV prevalence was implied in 37% by (diffuse linear) p16 immunostaining and confirmed in 27% by HPV PCR with good agreement (κ=0.7). HPV-16 was identified in 80% of HPV-positive tumors. Women with p16-positive tumors had significantly higher 5-year PFS (65% vs. 16%, p Conclusion In this study, the presence of HPV or its surrogate of p16 immunostaining was an independent prognostic factor for in-field relapse and survival in women with vulvar SCC treated with radiotherapy. This finding warrants validation in larger cohorts or the prospective setting.
Kataegis Expression Signature in Breast Cancer Is Associated with Late Onset, Better Prognosis, and Higher HER2 Levels

Summary Kataegis is a mutational process observed in ∼55% of breast tumors that results in hypermutation in localized genomic regions. Using whole-genome sequence data of 97 tumors, we examined the distribution of kataegis loci, showing that these somatic mutations are over-represented on chromosomes 8, 17, and 22 and enriched in genic regions and active chromatin elements. We show that tumors harboring kataegis are associated with transcriptome-wide expression changes consistent with low invasive potential. We exploit the kataegis expression signature to predict kataegis status in 412 breast cancers with transcriptome but not whole-genome sequence data and show that kataegis loci are enriched in high-grade, HER2 + tumors in patients diagnosed with breast cancer at an older age and who have a later age at death. Our study demonstrates that kataegis loci are associated with important clinical features in breast cancer and may serve as a marker of good prognosis.
Internal Borders: Ethnic-Based Market Segmentation in Malawi

Summary Ethnic diversity is associated with poorer economic development, but why? I argue that market segmentation is one mechanism linking diversity to economic underdevelopment: when ethnic groups are geographically segregated and trust is concentrated within groups, markets will be tend to be segmented along ethnic lines. I evaluate this argument using maize price data from seventy Malawian markets over 14 years and combine it with census data on the spatial distribution of ethnic groups. I find that maize price differences—a key indicator of market segmentation—are indeed larger for ethnically dissimilar markets, even after taking sub-national administrative borders geographic barriers, and climatic differences into account. These statistical findings are complemented by interview data from farmers and traders in three markets across Malawi, which highlight the centrality of trust in small-scale maize trading, as well as a preference for coethnic trading partners. Together, these findings suggest that ethnic diversity, and ethnoregional segregation in particular, can have a negative impact on market integration, an important driver of food security and long-term economic development.
Cellular Mechanisms and Behavioral Outcomes in Blast-Induced Neurotrauma: Comparing Experimental Setups.

Blast-induced neurotrauma (BINT) has increased in incidence over the past decades and can result in cognitive issues that have debilitating consequences. The exact primary and secondary mechanisms of injury have not been elucidated and appearance of cellular injury can vary based on many factors, such as blast overpressure magnitude and duration. Many methodologies to study blast neurotrauma have been employed, ranging from open-field explosives to experimental shock tubes for producing free-field blast waves. While there are benefits to the various methods, certain specifications need to be accounted for in order to properly examine BINT. Primary cell injury mechanisms, occurring as a direct result of the blast wave, have been identified in several studies and include cerebral vascular damage, blood-brain barrier disruption, axonal injury, and cytoskeletal damage. Secondary cell injury mechanisms, triggered subsequent to the initial insult, result in the activation of several molecular cascades and can include, but are not limited to, neuroinflammation and oxidative stress. The collective result of these secondary injuries can lead to functional deficits. Behavioral measures examining motor function, anxiety traits, and cognition/memory problems have been utilized to determine the level of injury severity. While cellular injury mechanisms have been identified following blast exposure, the various experimental models present both concurrent and conflicting results. Furthermore, the temporal response and progression of pathology after blast exposure have yet to be detailed and remain unclear due to limited resemblance of methodologies. This chapter summarizes the current state of blast neuropathology and emphasizes the need for a standardized preclinical model of blast neurotrauma. Language: en
All-Solid-State Stretchable Pseudocapacitors Enabled by Carbon Nanotube Film-Capped Sandwich-like Electrodes

Stretchable pseudocapacitors have demonstrated perspective potential as the power sources for stretchable/flexible electronics. However, one of the main limitations is to increase the mass loading of pseudocapacitive materials while maintaining high electrochemical performance. Therefore, the architectural design of stable and stretchable electrodes with a high mass loading of pseudocapacitive materials becomes critical and desirable. Here we report an all-solid-state sandwich-like stretchable pseudocapacitor, which overcomes the limitation of maximum loading of active pseudocapacitive materials and exhibits excellent structural and electrochemical stabilities, giving rise to outstanding cycling stability and rate capability. The enhanced pseudocapacitive performances result from the synergistic effect in the all-solid-state and binder-free structure: (1) faster ion diffusion rates and charge transport at electrode/electrolyte interfaces and (2) improved mechanical property to mitigate the electrode degradation caused by ion insertion/extraction during charge-discharge and mechanically stretching-releasing cycles. This novel component-level design offers an effective way to improve the electrochemical performance of stretchable pseudocapacitors, and more importantly, this concept can be extended for improving the performance of other electrochemical systems such as stretchable supercapacitors, lithium-ion batteries, lithium-sulfur batteries, and solar cells, and accelerate its applications for wearable and implantable electronics.
Alginate-based polysaccharide beads for cationic contaminant sorption from water

Massive amounts of agricultural and industrial water worldwide are polluted by different types of contaminants that harm the environment and impact human health. Removing the contaminants from effluents by adsorbent materials made from abundant, inexpensive polysaccharides is a feasible approach to deal with this problem. In this research, alginate beads combined with two types of cellulose, starch or xylan were synthesized. Their average diameters in air- and freeze-dried conditions were assessed by optical microscopy. Differences in morphology were observed by scanning electron microscopy. Their capacity for water uptake, their sorption capabilities for a model cationic pollutant and their charge density was investigated in relationship to their composition and their surface characteristics. Their interaction with water was evaluated using low-field NMR spectroscopy. It was found that nanocrystalline cellulose added the most to the beads’ sorption capacity for cationic contaminants while xylan admixture created the beads with the highest water sorption after lyophilization.
How the Party Presentation Rule Limits Judicial Discretion

The party presentation rule is a common law principle discouraging federal courts from considering legal arguments and issues that were not raised by litigants. Unlike the norms against ex parte communications or outside factual research, courts often reject the rule when they believe it is necessary to ascertain controlling law and ensure the integrity of the judicial system. Correct law pronouncement is certainly a proper goal, but such sua sponte decision-making undermines the American adversarial system and interferes with a litigant’s rights to notice and the opportunity to argue against a judicially crafted legal justification. This essay examines the party presentation rule and why it is inconsistently followed in the federal courts and recommends a solution by highlighting a 2006 dissent written by (then-Judge) Justice Sonia Sotomayor. In that case, Judge Sotomayor raised “the question of whether the ‘issue or claim is properly before the court’” as potential grounds for refusing to decide a case on a new legal justification not raised by a party.
Do Factors Associated With the Increases in Higher Education Costs Affect Average Net Price at Four‐Year Private Not‐for‐Profit Institutions?

There are factors, such as instructional inefficiencies and administrative expenses, that are associated with the increase in higher education costs. Do these factors have a significant relationship with average net price at 4-year private not-for-profit institutions? The findings of this study note that there are significant relationships between average net price and these factors.
Recommendations on Intelligent Compaction Parameters for Asphalt Resurfacing Quality Evaluation

AbstractIntelligent compaction (IC) technology provides an innovative way for continuously and instantaneously evaluating asphalt compaction quality. However, there is a lack of well-accepted stand...
Abstract 261: Human IPS-Derived Cardiac Myocytes (hiPSC-CMs): How Good Are They as a Model for Cardiac Pacing and E-C Coupling?

Derivation of cardiomyocytes from human induced pluripotent stem cells has opened a new field of biology where hiPSC-CM are being used as electrophysiological models of human cardiovascular physiology and pathology. Whether hiPS-CM represent also reliable Ca 2+ signaling and pacemaking models for the mammalian myocytes remains to be determined. Here we evaluate the EC-coupling and spontaneous pacemaking properties of human iPS-CM in detail and compare them to those of native mammalian myocytes. iPS-CMs, dissociated after ~40 days of differentiation and voltage-clamped at -50 mV, showed spontaneous beating and Ca 2+ oscillations that activated in-phase I NCX oscillations at holding potentials between -60 and +20mV, while I f activated negative to -75mV. Withdrawal of [Ca 2+ ] o and application of NCX-blocker (KBR- 7943) or tetracaine rapidly and reversibly inhibited spontaneous Ca 2+ -oscillations. Nifedipine and NO-synthase inhibitor L-NAME failed to alter spontaneous beating. Identical sets of data as these were also obtained from neonatal rat myocytes (NRM), suggesting that SR Ca 2+ release and uptake, and not I f , were responsible for spontaneous beating in NRM and hiPS-CM. Ca 2+ signaling parameters of hiPS-CM were also similar to those of adult atrial myocytes with Ca 2+ currents averaging ~8 pA/pF and I Ca -induced Ca 2+ -transients having a bell-shaped voltage-dependence similar to that of I Ca , consistent with Ca 2+ -induced Ca 2+ -release (CICR) mechanism. The ratio of I Ca -activated to caffeine-triggered Ca 2+ -transients was ~0.3, similar to the value in rat atria, but significantly smaller than the value of >0.8 in ventricle. The gain of CICR was voltage-dependent as in adult cardiomyocytes. Adrenergic agonists enhanced I Ca , but elevated diastolic Ca 2+ . Ca 2+ -sparks were sporadic and brief in duration ( 2+ cross-talk between NCX, RyR/SR, and possibly mitochondria.
Application of Vortex Methods to Coaxial Rotor Wake and Load Calculations in Hover

The coaxial rotor has distinct advantages in hover performance and forward flight compared to a conventional isolated rotor. The viscous vortex particle approach based on the Lagrangian formulation...
Developing a geographically weighted complex systems model using open-source data to highlight locations vulnerable to becoming terrorist safe-havens

ABSTRACTAdaptability and invisibility are hallmarks of modern terrorism, and keeping pace with its dynamic nature presents a serious challenge. Innovations in computer science have incorporated applied mathematics to develop a library of models that reflect a variety of approaches to counterterrorism including models designed to forecast attack locations. Although these can protect individual structures or locations, they risk changing the target without reducing the threat. This research developed ageospatial information system-based complex systems model using geographically weighted regression that incorporates a variety of quantitative, qualitative and geospatial variables that differ interms of scale, weight and type. Variable selection was based on scholarly research discoveries from specializations such as political science, geography, international relations, history and statistics to determine those variables that might impact an extremist’s selection of a safe-haven. Publically available data se...
Gun attitudes on campus: United and divided by safety needs.

All people share a need for safety. Yet people's pursuit of safety can conflict when it comes to guns, with some people perceiving guns as a means to safety and others perceiving guns as a threat to safety. We examined this conflict on a U.S. college campus that prohibits guns. We distinguished between people (N = 11,390) who (1) own a gun for protection, (2) own a gun exclusively for reasons other than protection (e.g., collecting, sports), and (3) do not own a gun. Protection owners felt less safe on campus and supported allowing guns on campus. They also reported that they and others would feel safer and that gun violence would decrease if they carried a gun on campus. Non-owners and non-protection owners felt the reverse. The findings suggest that protection concerns, rather than gun-ownership per se, account for diverging perceptions and attitudes about guns and gun control.
The State of Family Caregiving: A Nursing Perspective

Family caregiving is an area that has received extensive attention in the professional and public domains. The graying of America, the looming aging and retirement of the baby-boomers, increased pressures to care for the chronically ill in their homes, and changes in health care service reimbursement systems all contribute to the generalized concerns regarding caregiving.
Fiscal decentralization and fiscal equalization within regions: the case of Russia

The impact of fiscal decentralization on equalization between regions has received significant attention but there has been much less research of the impact of decentralization on equalization within regions. Theory suggests that the tradeoff between local fiscal autonomy and equalization ought to be most pronounced at the sub-region level where rural-urban disparities in the level of development are substantial. This paper is an empirical analysis of the impact of fiscal decentralization on equalization within one Russian region, Leningrad (State). We show that the regional government uses a mixture of fiscal instruments to strike a balance between giving more budgetary autonomy to local governments and eliminating the disparities among them. We also develop a method for studying this tradeoff between decentralization and equalization when only limited data are available. Finally, we argue and demonstrate that without a detailed understanding of the institutional arrangement for intergovernmental fiscal relations, one cannot evaluate the equalization or decentralization implications.
Low Complexity Burst Error Correcting Codes to Correct MBUs in SRAMs

Multiple bit upsets (MBUs) caused by high energy radiation is the most common source of soft errors in static random-access memories (SRAMs) affecting multiple cells. Burst error correcting Hamming codes have most commonly been used to correct MBUs in SRAM cell since they have low redundancy and low decoder latency. But with technology scaling, the number of bits being affected increases, thus requiring a need for increasing the burst size that can be corrected. However, this is a problem because it increases the number of syndromes exponentially thus increasing the decoder complexity exponentially as well. In this paper, a new burst error correcting code based on Hamming codes is proposed which allows much better scaling of decoder complexity as the burst size is increased. For larger burst sizes, it can provide significantly smaller and faster decoders than existing methods thus providing higher reliability at an affordable cost. Moreover, there is frequently no increase in the number of check bits or a very minimal increase in comparison with existing methods. A general construction and decoding methodology for the new codes is proposed. Experimental results are presented comparing the decoder complexity for the proposed codes with conventional burst error correcting Hamming codes demonstrating the significant improvements that can be achieved.
Lower Symmetry of the Elastic and Piezoelectric Tensors from Rotational Coupling

A long wavelength lattice dynamical calculation of the elastic and piezoelectric tensors yields linear coupling to rotation as well as to strain in dynamic interactions. This leads in the general anisotropic case to 45 independent elastic components (rather than 21 as believed for over a century) and to 27 independent piezoelectric components (rather than 18). The derivation differs from traditional ones by including optic modes in characterizing the crystal, by not using the adiabatic approximation, and by recognizing the existence of spontaneous or constant parts of the optic mode coordinates. The new coupling should be observable at temperatures close to a second order phase transition where a zone-center soft mode has fallen into the hypersonic region.
Thermal Modeling of Data Centers for Control and Energy Usage Optimization

Abstract Thermal management of data centers remains a challenge because of their ever-increasing power densities and shrinking server volumes. At present, a lack of effective dynamic control of global provisioning and local distribution of cooling resources often results in excessive, and hence wasteful, cooling. These trends have motivated research on reliable and energy-efficient control frameworks for allocating cooling resources to meet thermal management requirements, while minimizing energy consumption and environmental impact. Key components of a dynamic framework are computationally efficient and accurate models of airflow and thermal transport in data centers. However, the most accurate models, namely physics-based numerical simulations, are impractical for control systems applications, which require nearly real-time response. We first review compact thermal modeling approaches for data centers, which could be suitable for dynamic control and optimization. This is followed by an assessment of control strategies for data centers focusing on need-based dynamic provisioning of both local and global cooling resources. It should be noted that at present, energy savings, if any, are a secondary outcome, and not the primary goal, of these control strategies. Recent work has considered incorporating both cooling energy minimization and meeting thermal management criteria as explicit objectives within a holistic optimization framework. The energy-efficient operation of data centers then becomes a multi-objective optimization problem. A key component for such an optimization framework is an efficient cooling energy estimation model, typically based on thermodynamic modeling of the data center cooling equipment. This chapter ends with a review of cooling energy minimization studies in data centers, along with progress toward a novel genetic algorithm (GA)-based optimization framework developed at the Data Center Lab at the Georgia Institute of Technology.
Does Education Close the Black-White Physical Activity and Obesity Gaps?

Objective: The purpose of the study was to investigate physical activity patterns and body mass index (BMI) among black and white women in college to determine if attending college acts as a cataly...
Abstract P5-05-05: Suppression of FOXM1 activities and breast cancer growth in vitro and in vivo by a new class of compounds

The transcription factor FOXM1 is up-regulated and overexpressed in aggressive, therapy-resistant forms of hormone receptor-positive and triple negative breast cancers, and is associated with less good patient survival. FOXM1 signaling is also a key driver in many other cancers. Here, we identify a new class of compounds effective in suppressing FOXM1 activity in breast cancers, and displaying good potency for antitumor efficacy. The compounds bind directly to FOXM1 and alter its proteolytic sensitivity, reduce the cellular level of FOXM1 protein by a proteasome-dependent process, and suppress breast cancer cell proliferation and cell cycle progression and increase apoptosis. RNA-seq and gene set enrichment analyses indicate that the compounds decrease expression of FOXM1-regulated genes and suppress gene ontologies under FOXM1 regulation. Several compounds have favorable pharmacokinetic properties and show good tumor suppression in preclinical breast tumor models. These compounds may be suitable for further clinical evaluation in targeting aggressive breast cancers driven by FOXM1. (Supported by Breast Cancer Research Foundation grant (BCRF-083 to BSK), The Julius and Mary Landfield Cancer Research Fund (to BSK), NIH grant R01 DK015556 (to JAK), NIH T32 GM070421 Fellowship (to VSG), Bankhead-Coley Foundation grant 09BW04 (to DEA), USDA award ILLU-698-909 and National Center for Supercomputing Applications Faculty Fellowship (to ZME), and UIUC Environmental Toxicology Scholarship (to BPS)). Citation Format: Benita S. Katzenellenbogen, Yvonne Ziegler, Mary J Laws, Valeria S. Guillen, SungHoon Kim, Parama Dey, Brandi P. Smith, Ping Gong, Noah Bindman, Yuechao Zhao, Kathryn Carlson, Mayuri A. Yasuda, Divya Singh, Zhong Li, Dorraya El-Ashry, Zeynep Madak-Erdogan, John A. Katzenellenbogen. Suppression of FOXM1 activities and breast cancer growth in vitro and in vivo by a new class of compounds [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2019 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2019 Dec 10-14; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2020;80(4 Suppl):Abstract nr P5-05-05.