cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Relative binding affinity of carboxylate-, phosphonate-, and bisphosphonate-functionalized gold nanoparticles targeted to damaged bone tissue

Functionalized Au NPs have received considerable recent interest for targeting and labeling cells and tissues. Damaged bone tissue can be targeted by functionalizing Au NPs with molecules exhibiting affinity for calcium. Therefore, the relative binding affinity of Au NPs surface functionalized with either carboxylate (l-glutamic acid), phosphonate (2-aminoethylphosphonic acid), or bisphosphonate (alendronate) was investigated for targeted labeling of damaged bone tissue in vitro. Targeted labeling of damaged bone tissue was qualitatively verified by visual observation and backscattered electron microscopy, and quantitatively measured by the surface density of Au NPs using field-emission scanning electron microscopy. The surface density of functionalized Au NPs was significantly greater within damaged tissue compared to undamaged tissue for each functional group. Bisphosphonate-functionalized Au NPs exhibited a greater surface density labeling damaged tissue compared to glutamic acid- and phosphonic acid-functionalized Au NPs, which was consistent with the results of previous work comparing the binding affinity of the same functionalized Au NPs to synthetic hydroxyapatite crystals. Targeted labeling was enabled not only by the functional groups but also by the colloidal stability in solution. Functionalized Au NPs were stabilized by the presence of the functional groups, and were shown to remain well dispersed in ionic (phosphate buffered saline) and serum (fetal bovine serum) solutions for up to 1 week. Therefore, the results of this study suggest that bisphosphonate-functionalized Au NPs have potential for targeted delivery to damaged bone tissue in vitro and provide motivation for in vivo investigation.
A strong version of the maximum principle under weak hypotheses

We present a version of the finite-dimensional maximum principle that incorporates high-order point variations and is valid under minimal technical assumptions, weaker than those of the usual classical and nonsmooth versions. The proof follows the classical idea of using needle variations and applying an appropriate open mapping theorem to a multiparameter variation, whose effect is computed in terms of those of the needle variations by means of the chain rule. However, this has to be carried out in a new setting, namely, the class of "semidifferentiable maps", that contains all maps arising in the optimal control problem and has a concept of generalized differential with all the right properties. >
BIOTIC AND ABIOTIC FACTORS INFLUENCING GROWTH AND SURVIVAL OF WILD AND CULTURED INDIVIDUALS OF THE SOFTSHELL CLAM (MYA ARENARIA L.) IN EASTERN MAINE

Abstract A series of intertidal field experiments was conducted from 1986–2003 in eastern Maine to examine biotic and abiotic factors influencing the growth and survival of wild and cultured individuals of the softshell clam, Mya arenaria L. Separate experiments examined: (1) the efficacy of transferring sublegal wild clams (<50.8 mm SL) from areas near the high intertidal zone where shell growth was slow to areas where growth was predicted to be faster; (2) effects of tidal height on wild and cultured clam growth; (3) effects of spatial variation on cultured clam growth; (4) dispersion and growth of cultured juveniles in small experimental units; (5) effects of the naticid gastropod, Euspira heros Say, predation on survival of wild and cultured clams and (6) the species composition of large, crustacean predators that forage intertidally during periods of tidal inundation. Protective netting (4.2 mm aperture) increased recovery rate of transferred clams by 120% and resulted in a 3-fold enhancement of wild...
Site Use Evaluation for Dredged Material Landfills

The maintenance and development of waterways and harbors in the United States requires the acquisition of almost 3,000 ha of new land annually for the disposal of dredged materials. Presented in this paper is a judgmental site evaluation method that may be used to assess the development potential of such dredged material containment areas. This approach employs judgmental measurements and assessments of site characteristics and use requirements, and feasible site uses are identified as those for which site requirements are most closely matched by available site characteristics. Practical considerations necessitate that feasible uses be evaluated in terms of special development constraints that may exist in the region considered. The illustrative application of this judgmental procedure to four dredged material containment areas in Toledo, Ohio, yielded readily usable information regarding development options that were consistent with both site limitations and long-range plans for the area.
Cell Viability and Growth in a Battery of Human Breast Cancer Cell Lines Exposed to 60 Hz Magnetic Fields

Abstract Loberg, L. I., Engdahl, W. R., Gauger, J. R. and McCormick, D. L. Cell Viability and Growth in a Battery of Human Breast Cancer Cell Lines Exposed to 60 Hz Magnetic Fields. Epidemiological data suggest that exposure to power-frequency (50/60 Hz) magnetic fields (MFs) may be a risk factor for breast cancer in humans. To determine whether MFs affect human breast cancer cells, we measured viability, growth and cytotoxicity in a battery of breast cancer cell lines after in vitro MF and sham exposure. Cells of three estrogen receptor-positive human breast cancer cell lines (MCF-7, ZR-75-1 and T-47D) and one estrogen receptor-negative human breast cancer cell line (MDA-MB-231) and normal (nontransformed) human breast epithelial cells were exposed to MFs (1 mT) or sham fields (<0.0001 mT) for 72 h. Cell viability was determined using the sulforhodamine B (SRB) assay at 0 and 72 h after the MF exposure period. Cell growth was measured as the change in SRB dye uptake over 72 h after MF exposure. MF exposu...
PC40. Impact of Graft Cost and Reimbursement on Hospital Contribution Margin in EVAR Patients

mean follow-up of 7 6 6 months, no endoleaks were identified in the zones of prophylactically placed EndoAnchors. No graft migration occurred during follow-up. Two patients (3.3%) had endoleaks identified in the zones of therapeutically placed EndoAnchors, both of which were type Ia. Five cases (8.2%) had aortic-related reintervention. Late aortic related mortality was 5.1% (n 1⁄4 3). Conclusions: EndoAnchors can be safely used in CEVAR and TEVAR procedures, with a very high technical success rate at implantation. EndoAnchors are generally placed prophylactically to stabilize graft position in patients with complex anatomy or therapeutically in an attempt to resolve endoleaksduringCEVARandTEVAR.Larger studies with long-term follow-up are necessary to better define their roles in patients undergoing complex or thoracic aortic repair.
Assessing Freshman Engineering Students’ Understanding of Ethical Behavior

Academic dishonesty, including cheating and plagiarism, is on the rise in colleges, particularly among engineering students. While students decide to engage in these behaviors for many different reasons, academic integrity training can help improve their understanding of ethical decision making. The two studies outlined in this paper assess the effectiveness of an online module in increasing academic integrity among first semester engineering students. Study 1 tested the effectiveness of an academic honesty tutorial by using a between groups design with a Time 1- and Time 2-test. An academic honesty quiz assessed participants' knowledge at both time points. Study 2, which incorporated an improved version of the module and quiz, utilized a between groups design with three assessment time points. The additional Time 3-test allowed researchers to test for retention of information. Results were analyzed using ANCOVA and t tests. In Study 1, the experimental group exhibited significant improvement on the plagiarism items, but not the total score. However, at Time 2 there was no significant difference between groups after controlling for Time 1 scores. In Study 2, between- and within-group analyses suggest there was a significant improvement in total scores, but not plagiarism scores, after exposure to the tutorial. Overall, the academic integrity module impacted participants as evidenced by changes in total score and on specific plagiarism items. Although future implementation of the tutorial and quiz would benefit from modifications to reduce ceiling effects and improve assessment of knowledge, the results suggest such tutorial may be one valuable element in a systems approach to improving the academic integrity of engineering students.
Intimate partner aggression-related shame and posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms: The moderating role of substance use problems

A dearth of literature has examined the consequences of women's use of aggression in intimate relationships. Women's use of aggression against their intimate partners, regardless of their motivation (e.g., self-defense, retaliation), may elicit shame. Shame, in turn, may contribute to the maintenance and/or exacerbation of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms, which are commonly experienced in this population. Further, emerging research suggests that emotionally avoidant coping strategies, such as substance use, may strengthen the relation between shame and PTSD symptoms. The goal of the present study was to examine whether women's shame concerning their use of intimate partner aggression is associated with their PTSD symptoms, and whether drug and alcohol use problems moderate this association. Participants were 369 community women who had used and been victimized by physical aggression in an intimate relationship with a male partner in the past six months. The intimate partner aggression-related shame × drug (but not alcohol) use problems interaction on PTSD symptom severity was significant. Analysis of simple slopes revealed that women's intimate partner aggression-related shame was positively associated with their PTSD symptoms when drug use problems were high, but not when drug use problems were low. Findings have implications for the potential utility of PTSD treatments targeting a reduction in shame and maladaptive shame regulation strategies (i.e., drug use) in this population. Aggr. Behav. 42:427-440, 2016. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Transnational NGOs and Human Rights in a Post-9/11 World

The September 11, 2001 attacks and the subsequent military response by the administration of George W. Bush had significant consequences for the work of US-based nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) working on human rights-related issues around the world. NGOs active in the fields of humanitarian aid, development, and human rights faced challenges ranging from increased security threats to their staff, more governmental restrictions and violations of civil and political rights, and pressures to align themselves with foreign policy objectives of the United States. While the global environment for their operations deteriorated as a consequence of the terrorist attacks and violent state responses, transnational NGOs proved resilient and became a key defense for the international human rights regime. Transnational activists led by organizations such as Amnesty International (AI) and Human Rights Watch (HRW) succeeded in halting a rapidly deteriorating respect for human rights in the United States and elsewhere. In the development and humanitarian sector, human rights ideas continued to flourish and gave rise to significant organizational and strategic innovations strengthening advocacy strategies in defense of explicit rights claims. The strength of the global human rights regime was tested by 9/11, but its power remains largely intact and its reach continues to expand.
Use of centrifugal force to promote adsorption of myxoma virus to cell monolayers.

SummaryCentrifugation of myxoma virus onto preformed monolayers of RK and RHF-1 cells substantially increased the number of PFU compared to other methods of virus adsorption. The maximum number of PFU was obtained after only 15 minutes of centrifugation at 1900 g at room temperature. Virtually simultaneous infection of all RK cells growing as a monolayer on the bottom of shell vials can be accomplished by centrifuging a low multiplicity of myxoma virus onto the cells at 1270 g for 10–20 minutes.
Incentive value of saccharin as a function of concentration and deprivation conditions

Rats, either hungry, thirsty or satiated, pressed a bar for 1 hr. on a FR10 schedule for 0.0, 0.08, 0.31, 1.23 and 5.03% saccharin solutions. Performance vs. concentration functions were of similar shape for hungry, thirsty and satiated Ss, although the thirsty Ss performed at a higher level than the others.
Reactive Ion Etchtng Model for Silicon Dioxide Guadalupe Fortuno

The etching of SiO2 was studied during reactive ion etcing (RIE) in an SF plasma. The etch rate of SiO2, the sheath voltage and the wafer temperature were measured as a function of the percentage of SF6 in Ar and as a function of the total pressure. This was done with the purpose of better understanding the etching mechanisms involved. The results are compared with similar experiments carried out with CF4 and Ar [1]. Tests to the model formulated will also be given.
A Nearest Neighbor Approach to Contextual Suggestion.

The School of Information and Library Science at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNCSILS) submitted two runs to the Contextual Suggestion Track. Given a geographical context, both our runs (UNCSILS BASE and UNCSILS PARAM) scored venues from the same candidate set gathered using the Yelp API. Our baseline run (UNCSILS BASE) followed a nearest neighbor approach. For a given profile/context pair, the candidate venues were scored using the weighted average rating associated with the venues in the profile. The weighting was implemented based on the cosine similarity between the candidate venue and the profile venue using TF.IDF term weighting. The goal of this approach was to score each candidate venue based on the rating associated with the most similar venues in the profile. Our experimental run (UNCSILS PARAM) boosted the contribution from the profile venue with the greatest similarity with the candidate venue and rating. The experimental run (UNCSILS PARAM) outperformed the baseline run (UNCSILS BASE) by a small, but statistically significant margin.
Abstract B31: A new approach to targeted therapy for obesity-related pancreatic adenocarcinoma

Background: Obesity is an important risk factor of Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma (PA) and it is characterized by the accumulation of excessive body fat and a Body Mass Index (BMI) value greater than 30. Obesity is also characterized by high levels of leptin, which has been consistently associated with the development of many different cancer including pancreatic cancer. Obesity can also alter the epigenome via epigenetics changes as DNA methylation and histones acetylation. Histone lysine residues can be acetylated by Histone Acetyltransferases or deacetylated by Histone Deacetylases (HDAC). Leptin can induce the proliferation of Pancreatic Cancer Stem Cells (PCSC), which are responsible for chemoresistance, invasiveness and reoccurrence of PA. PCSC express specific cell markers and can form tumorspheres in vitro. Our lab developed a leptin antagonist named LPrA2, which was bound to iron oxide nanoparticle (IONP-LPrA2) in order to increase its effectiveness and bioavailability. Methods: The adjuvant effects of IONP-LPrA2 in combination of chemotherapeutic drugs on PCSC and tumorspheres formation in low attachment plates were determined. Additionally, the effects of IONP-LPrA2 in combination with chemotherapeutic drugs on the differential expression of epigenetic markers HDAC-1, HDAC-2, and HDAC-8 were investigated. The PA cells were cultured in vitro and treated with leptin, IONP-LPrA2, and chemotherapeutics. Then, the expression of epigenetic and PCSC markers, cell proliferation and survival were determined via Nexcelom cellometer or Guava EasyCyte flow cytometer analyses. Results were assessed by western blot analysis. Results: Leptin affects the level of some HDACs and PCSC markers. That was abrogated by IONP-LPrA2. Chemotherapeutics showed differential effects on the epigenetic and PCSC markers and on tumorspheres formation by PA cells. Conclusion: These findings suggest that IONP-LPrA2 could be useful to design new PA therapies in combination with chemotherapeutics. Furthermore, IONP-LPrA2 may increase the efficiency of chemotherapeutic drug Gemcitabine. These results could be most relevant for obese patients that show the highest incidence of PA and lowest survival rate. Citation Format: Cynthia Ines Mantho Tchio, Adriana Harbuzariu, Tia L. Harmon, Derreck J. Beech, Ruben R. Gonzalez-Perez. A new approach to targeted therapy for obesity-related pancreatic adenocarcinoma. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Eighth AACR Conference on The Science of Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; Nov 13-16, 2015; Atlanta, GA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2016;25(3 Suppl):Abstract nr B31.
Psoriasis : leukocytes and cytokines

Elements of the immune system must take their place alongside other potential mechanisms of psoriasis, such as psoriatic epidermal keratinocytic hyperproliferation, endothelial cell and fibroblast activation and proliferation, abnormal lipid regulation, and transmembrane signalling abnormalities. These data provide support for the concept that cellular immunologic processes are active in a manner that further promotes the patho-physiologic events observed in psoriasis. Thus, therapies useful for psoriasis may have activity on immunologic processes in addition to more traditional mechanistic conceptions of effects on keratinocyte proliferation or other constitutive cell activity. As depicted in Figure 1, UV light, steroids, cyclosporine, and tars have potent inhibitory effects on antigen-presenting cells as well as on T cells. Methotrexate and azathioprine both have immunosuppressive activities, and even retinoids have complex immunomodulatory activity in addition to their ability to alter keratinocyte differentiation (or responsiveness to lymphokines). Cyclosporine has potent effects on T cells after they encounter activating signals such as foreign antigens or autoantigens. Although the T cell actually can become partially activated in the presence of cyclosporine, the drug interferes with the ability of the activated T cell to synthesize and secrete lymphokines (such as IL-2 or gamma-interferon) critical for the initiation and amplification of immune responses to a particular antigen. Although interruption of a single critical pathway improves psoriasis, it is likely that the most effective medications for psoriasis have actions on more than one cell type important in the pathogenesis of the lesion.
Limb loss and limb regeneration of crab spiders Misumena vatia

Abstract Limb loss presents an interesting paradox: although it may permit escape from a potentially lethal situation, it may result in subsequent fitness-lowering consequences. Some studies have found costs of limb loss; others have not. If costs are high, they may dictate against retaining the ability to drop an appendage. I use a large data set derived from a long-term study of the crab spider Misumena vatia (Clerck, 1757) to investigate the role of several size- and time-related factors in evaluating the cost of losing variable numbers of legs, as well as of growing replacements. Specifically, do limb loss and regeneration affect condition, and do the results differ with sex and age? I focused on adult males because of their high frequency of forelimb loss, including loss of multiple limbs. Numbers of missing adult male forelimbs were correlated with date captured and mass (corrected for number of missing forelimbs), suggesting that the spiders lost forelimbs continually over the summer and that they ...
A Comparison of the Cognitive Complexity of Public and Private Sector Products

This research compared the cognitive complexity of selected public and private sector products. Private sector products were found to have a significantly greater number of concrete and abstract concepts. Also, the proportion of abstract (attribute) private sector product concepts was significantly greater than for public sector products. Implications, possible explanations, and directions for future research are discussed.
Numerical Characterization of Divergence-Conforming Constrained Basis Functions for Surface Integral Equations

This paper presents an algebraic method of generating arbitrary-order basis functions suitable for use in moment methods. The basis functions are constructed by enforcing a set of suitable constraints on a more general set of functions, leading to a matrix representation of the constraint condition. The desired bases are then found through use of the singular value decomposition. Divergence-conforming constrained bases are presented for quadrilateral meshes for use in electric and magnetic field integral equations. Appropriate constraints for enforcing normal continuity at cell boundaries are discussed. A variety of problems are analyzed using the constrained bases, and results show that the constrained bases exhibit exponential convergence for smooth structures and produce systems whose condition numbers grow relatively slowly with increasing basis order.
Saturation Recovery EPR Spin-Labeling Method for Quantification of Lipids in Biological Membrane Domains

The presence of integral membrane proteins induces the formation of distinct domains in the lipid bilayer portion of biological membranes. Qualitative application of both continuous wave (CW) and saturation recovery (SR) electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spin-labeling methods allowed discrimination of the bulk, boundary, and trapped lipid domains. A recently developed method, which is based on the CW EPR spectra of phospholipid (PL) and cholesterol (Chol) analog spin labels, allows evaluation of the relative amount of PLs (% of total PLs) in the boundary plus trapped lipid domain and the relative amount of Chol (% of total Chol) in the trapped lipid domain [M. Raguz, L. Mainali, W. J. O'Brien, and W. K. Subczynski (2015), Exp. Eye Res., 140:179-186]. Here, a new method is presented that, based on SR EPR spin-labeling, allows quantitative evaluation of the relative amounts of PLs and Chol in the trapped lipid domain of intact membranes. This new method complements the existing one, allowing acquisition of more detailed information about the distribution of lipids between domains in intact membranes. The methodological transition of the SR EPR spin-labeling approach from qualitative to quantitative is demonstrated. The abilities of this method are illustrated for intact cortical and nuclear fiber cell plasma membranes from porcine eye lenses. Statistical analysis (Student's t-test) of the data allowed determination of the separations of mean values above which differences can be treated as statistically significant (P ≤ 0.05) and can be attributed to sources other than preparation/technique.
Enalapril saved more lives at minimal extra cost in congestive heart failure

Source Citation Paul SD, Kuntz KM, Eagle KA, Weinstein MC. Costs and effectiveness of angiotensin converting enzyme inhibition in patients with congestive heart failure. Arch Intern Med. 1994 May 2...
Surgical Approach to Locally Recurrent Disease

Over the past two decades, major advances in surgery, chemoradiotherapy, and postoperative care have contributed to dramatic improvements in recovery and survival for patients with rectal cancer. Most significantly, from the surgical point of view, has been the adoption of total mesorectal excision (TME) as the standard of care. Nevertheless, some patients will recur. Locally recurrent rectal cancer is a difficult condition to manage, and long-term survival is unlikely without additional treatment. Surgery is the only potential cure. Ideally, this will involve a multidisciplinary team of specialists including medical and radiation oncologists, colorectal surgical oncologists, urologic surgeons, gynecologic surgeons, plastic and reconstructive surgeons, orthopedic surgeons, vascular surgeons, and possibly neurologic surgeons. However, surgical treatment of recurrent rectal cancer should be undertaken only in carefully selected patients who are fit enough for the extensive, potentially morbid procedures necessary, whose tumors are amenable to resection with negative margins, and who have been counseled regarding the impact of re-resection on postoperative function and quality of life.
A HILIC-MS/MS Method for Simultaneous Quantification of the Lysosomal Disease Markers Galactosylsphingosine and Glucosylsphingosine in Mouse Serum.

Deficiencies of galactosylceramidase and glucocerebrosidase result in the accumulation of galactosylsphingosine (GalSph) and glucosylsphingosine (GluSph) in Krabbe and Gaucher diseases, respectively. GalSph and GluSph are useful biomarkers for both diagnosis and monitoring of treatment effects. We have developed and validated a sensitive, accurate, high throughput assay for simultaneous determination of the concentration of GalSph and GluSph in mouse serum. GalSph and GluSph and their deuterated internal standards were extracted by protein precipitation in quantitative recoveries, baseline separated by hydrophilic interaction chromatography, and detected by positive-ion electrospray mass spectrometry in multiple reaction monitoring mode. Total run time was 7 minutes. The lower limits of quantification were 0.2 ng/ml for both GalSph and GluSph. Sample stability, assay precision and accuracy, and method robustness were demonstrated. This method has been successfully applied to measurement of these lipid biomarkers in a natural history study in twitcher (Krabbe) mice.
Cerebral blood flow and autoregulation in acute TIA patients from a general hospital in Qatar

BACKGROUND The Arabian Gulf region is rapidly developing, with major changes in lifestyle that can increase the risk of cardiovascular diseases, including TIA and stroke. Stroke constitutes a major cause of morbidity and mortality in Qatar. Cerebral auto-regulation is an intrinsic protective mechanism guaranteeinghemodynamic integrity of cerebral circulation. It modulates cerebral blood flow(CBF) in order to meet regional perfusion demands despite variations in arterial blood pressure. Impaired cerebral auto-regulation is associated with poor functional and prognostic outcomes in patients with ischemic stroke. OBJECTIVES The study has two arms; one arm is a health improvement project conducted in Qatar with the aim of developing, establishing and maintaining an acute stroke database (registry) in Qatar. The second arm is an applied research project with the aim to correlate CBF and cerebral auto-regulation and microalbuminuria in TIA patients, and to assess the prognostic significance of such a correlation. Thus far, no physiologic or biochemical biomarker has been proven as an effective predictor of poor outcome in TIA patients. DESIGN / METHODS Fifty-six patients (35 men, mean age, 53.2 yrs) with acute TIAs or small strokes (TIAs with tissue evidence of infarction) were enrolled last year and evaluated with bilateral, simultaneous TCD studies of their MCAs CBF within 72 hrs of the indexed event. On best medical therapy, the patients were followed up at one year for outcomes measures of death, stroke and recurrent TIAs in an attempt to correlate them with the TCD parameters. RESULTS Fifteen healthy volunteers (mean age 30 years) were studied using voluntary breath-holding technique to provide the hypercapnia stimulus to effect cerebral auto regulation of CBF in their MCAs. Fifty TIA patients (mean age 53.7 yrs) had complete TCD studies and 48 were followed up to one year. Seven experienced symptoms or signs of a new cerebrovascular event (3 strokes and 3 recurrent TIAs) for an annual rate for cerebrovascular events of 14%. The average BHI for the respective groups were 0.9 ± 0.78 for the controls, 0.62 ± 1.1 for the TIA patients and 0.31 ± 0.85 for those who had cerebrovascular events on follow up. MCA TCD studies with BHIs in the TIA patient group with stroke or recurrent TIA at follow up showed a tendency towards abnormality as compared to healthy controls (p>0.05) CONCLUSION Preliminary results indicate the feasibility of TCD and BHI in acute evaluation of TIA patients for the purpose of prognosis and functional outcome. Further studies are necessary to confirm their clinical value. Calculating BHI has potential of a strong prognostic predictor of future cerebrovascular events. It could be used as an inexpensive non-invasive tool for the acute evaluation of TIA patients. Together with other neuroimaging studies it brings a real time neurophysiologic dimension to the assessment and possible prevention of stroke.
United Nations “Earth Jurisprudence,” Its Golden Rule, the “Refugee Problem,” and Urban Safety

The UN calls in its 2016–2030 Sustainable Development Agenda and the “New York Declaration for Refugees and Migrants” to contribute to the strengthening of the national and international response to deal with refugees and migrants humanely and to the mutual satisfaction of host and sending countries (win-win). Accordingly, this essay considers how this “Golden Rule” of reciprocity, which is at the core of “fairness” or “justice,” may so assist in countering some incivilities involving the “refugee problem.” More particularly, this essay explores the ensuing criminological multicultural concerns. It looks into the idea of urban stewardship and women local safety audits in cities of the North with a view to addressing refugee women concerns. This perspective of the Golden Rule understood as an evolutionary or philosophical concept may facilitate addressing some criminological multicultural concerns. The author concludes that the Organization’s faith in and hope for the Agenda and the Declaration, inter alia, depend on a (non)secular education through which the prevention of criminal victimization of women becomes part of a healthy ideology of sustainable development.
Electrodiagnostse Evaluation of Acute and Chronic Radiculopathy

Electrodiagnostic studies have been widely recognized as helpful in the evaluation of possible radiculopathy. Electromyography is the most useful of these techniques, but there also is a role for peripheral nerve conduction studies, H-reflex and F-wave measurement, and, possibly, somatosensory studies.
Thermographic Detection of Polymer/Metal Adhesion Failures

Thermography is based on the remote mapping of surface temperature distributions. When heat is appropriately applied to a sample, subsurface flaws can become projected onto the surface temperature profile due to differences between their thermal transfer properties and those of the bulk. Although not widely exploited in this area in the past, thermography can be an effective nondestructive means of monitoring polymer/metal bond continuity. This work examines the nature of thermographic detection techniques as they relate specifically to polymer/metal adhesion studies. The physical phenomena involved are reviewed, and a basic heat transfer model is presented as a prototype for quantitative analysis of thermographic data. Fundamentals of instrumentation and experimental techniques are outlined, and one specific experimental system is detailed. The application of thermography to polymer/metal adhesion studies is demonstrated by specific examples, and much of the previous pertinent work reported in the literature is referenced.
Tyrosine Peptide Homologies in the HLA Antigen System

Publisher Summary The tetrameric (human leukocyte antigen) HLA antigens are composed of two heavier chains that carry the allo-antigenic determinants and two lighter chains identified as β2-microglobulin. Although 25–30 different antisera are required to define the varying HLA specificities, evidence from several sources indicates that those antigens may be structurally related to each other and to the immunoglobulins. Through the use of a new electrophoretic technique described in the chapter, tyrosine peptides of HLA antigens of different chromosomal loci have been chemically analyzed for homologies. 106–107 lymphocytes, isolated from an HLA typed donor, were radioiodinated by using lactoperoxidase, lysed with NP40, and cleared of IgG and IgM by immune complexing. Specific HLA immune complexes were formed by monospecific HLA antisera and a sandwiching antiserum, rabbit antihuman IgG. HLA antigens of the LA, FOUR, and AJ series have tyrosyl peptides of identical mobility and therefore, those proteins appear to have substantial amino acid sequence homology. As the retension of homologous tyrosine residues and a tendency for sequence preservation surrounding those residues is a feature of immunoglobulin structure, it may be another indication that similar evolutionary mechanisms have been operative in the HLA antigen system or that HLA antigens and immunoglobulins have had a common evolutionary origin.
Snakebites and climate change in California, 1997-2017

Background: Climate change effect on flora and fauna has been scientifically documented, but the effect on North American venomous snakebites is unknown. The objectives were to examine Californian ...
Comparative quantitative clinical, neuroimaging, and functional profiles in children with acute flaccid myelitis at acute and convalescent stages of disease

Aim To quantify characteristics in acute flaccid myelitis (AFM) at acute and convalescent stages. Method This was a retrospective case series of children with AFM evaluated at a single institution in the USA (2014-2017). Acute inflammatory/ischemic myelopathies were excluded. Neurological assessments and segmental quantitative analysis of signal abnormalities on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain and spinal cord were performed. Results Sixteen patients (11 males, five females) were evaluated. Median age at onset was 4 years (interquartile range [IQR] 3-6y). All had parainfectious acute-onset limb weakness, lower motor neuron examination, and spinal fluid pleocytosis. On acute spinal cord MRI, longitudinally extensive T2 hyperintensities were identified throughout the spinal cord mostly within grey matter; five out of 12 patients had dorsal brainstem T2 hyperintensities. At a median of 2 months follow-up (IQR 2-3mo), spinal cord MRI improved in seven out of nine patients although focal T2 hyperintensities persisted in cervical and lumbar grey matter. At a median follow-up of 4 months (IQR 2-6mo), Medical Research Council sum score rose from a median of 29 to 32; distal muscle groups improved more than proximal ones; four out of 16 patients were ventilator-dependent; and two out of 16 patients were quadriplegic. Interpretation While patients may show marked improvement on neuroimaging from acute to convalescent stages, the majority of children with AFM have limited motor recovery and continued disability. Clinicians should consider the timing of clinical and neuroimaging exams when assessing diagnosis and prognosis. What this paper adds During the 2014 to 2017 acute flaccid myelitis outbreak in the USA, clinical recovery was better in distal than proximal muscle groups. Lumbar spinal cord showed more residual abnormalities at convalescence.
Multi-ANN embedded system based on a custom 3D-DRAM

Machine Learning in the form of Artificial Neural Networks (ANNs) has gained traction over the last few years especially in applications such as image recognition and speech recognition. These particular applications typically employ a subset of ANNs known as Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs) which re-use parameters and thus reduce main memory bandwidth. However, there are other types of ANN that do not provide reuse opportunities such as autoencoders and Long Short-term memory (LSTM). It is generally accepted that dynamic random-access memory (DRAM) is required to store the ANN parameters of useful sized ANNs. To achieve a given performance, CNN-specific implementations utilize cache-like structures using static random-access memory (SRAM) which mimimizes accesses to the slower DRAM. Most research has focused on implementing CNNs but because of their extensive use of SRAM have both ANN size restrictions and performance degradation when used in applications that utilize other types of ANN. This work considers embedded applications employing multiple disparate generic ANNs which, assuming there are limited reuse opportunities in the form of re-use or batch processing, will require usable memory bandwidth on the order of tens of Tbit/s. This work provides support to Deep Neural Networks (DNNs) that do not provide ANN parameter reuse and suggests that these types of applications will require that all ANN parameters in main memory be accessed in real-time. This work coins the phrase “goldilocks bandwidth” when applied to ANN systems where the system provides the bandwidth required to read all ANN parameters at a real-time rate. This work employs pure 3DIC technology along with a proposed custom 3D-DRAM which exposes an entire page over a very wide databus (Fig 3). The 3DIC system die stack (Fig 1) includes the 3D-DRAM, a system manager layer and a Processing Engine (PE) layer collectively known as a Sub-System Column (SSC) (Fig 4). The targeted 3D-DRAM, the Tezzaron DiRAM4 [1]employs multiple memory array layers in conjunction with a control and IO layer and provides 64 separate vaults each providing 1 Gbit of storage which along with the suggested customizations provides this work up to 65 Tbit/s.
The Role of Mentorship in the Preparation and Success of University Presidents.

ABSTRACTThe purpose of this study was to explore the role of mentoring and how it shapes university presidents in higher education. Using phenomenological case studies to understand the lived exper...
PETRA: Protein-ligand Complex Engineering Through Rigidity Analysis

Atomic level changes to a ligand can affect significantly how a drug interacts with a protein, which in turn can determine whether a pharmaceutical agent is effective in treating a disease. Designing and testing the effects of a new ligand is prohibitively expensive, and can take months -- or even years -- of laborious wet-lab work. To help guide researchers in understanding the effects of ligand variations, we have developed a computational pipeline that for a protein-ligand resolved PDB structure file, generates all possible ligand variants in silico, and analyze all of the protein-ligand complexes using a combinatorial rigidity analysis approach. We present several visualizations, and show that some atoms of ligands have an especially pronounced effect on the stability of the protein-ligand complex.
Lessons learned from a sobering center pilot for acute alcohol intoxication in South King County, Washington

ABSTRACTObjective: King County Emergency Medical Services (EMS) and community partners implemented a sobering center pilot to provide an alternative destination outside of the Emergency Department ...
Can Camp Get You Into a Better Secondary School? A Field Experiment of Targeted Instruction in Kenya

Access to quality secondary schooling can be life-changing for students in developing contexts. In Kenya, entrance to such schools was historically determined by performance on a high-stakes exam. ...
Esophageal aperistalsis and lung transplant: Recovery of peristalsis after transplant is associated with improved long-term outcomes.

Abstract Objective Esophageal aperistalsis has been considered a relative contraindication for lung transplant because of a higher risk of allograft dysfunction secondary to reflux and aspiration induced by poor esophageal clearance. We previously reported that esophageal motility improves in some patients after lung transplant. We reviewed the clinical course of lung transplant recipients diagnosed with an aperistaltic esophagus on pretransplant testing. Methods We identified patients diagnosed with pretransplant aperistaltic esophagus on high-resolution manometry who underwent lung transplant. Recipients with normal esophageal motility before lung transplant were used as the propensity score–matched control group. High-resolution manometry was repeated after lung transplant, and patients with aperistalsis were further divided into 2 subgroups: improved esophageal peristalsis and nonimproved peristalsis (ie, persistent aperistalsis after lung transplant). Results Esophageal aperistalsis was seen in 31 patients (mean age, 59.0 years; 21 men). The 1-, 3-, and 5-year post–lung transplant survivals in the aperistalsis group were 80.6%, 51.2%, and 34.9%, respectively, which was significantly lower than in the control group (90.3%, 73.4%, and 58.8%, respectively; P = .038). Post–lung transplant high-resolution manometry was performed for 29 patients in the aperistalsis group, 19 of whom demonstrated improved esophageal motility (65.5%). The 1-, 3-, and 5-year survivals after lung transplant of patients with recovery of peristalsis were similar to those of the control group (89.5%, 65.0%, and 48.8%, respectively; P = 1.000), whereas the nonimproved peristalsis group had lower survival (80.0%, 36.0%, and data unavailable, respectively; P = .012). Conclusions Esophageal aperistalsis is not necessarily a contraindication for lung transplant. Improved peristalsis can be expected in up to two-thirds of these patients and is associated with good outcomes.
Strong Tracking Filters: Derivation and Improved Heuristic

This paper reviews variants of “strong tracking filters,” and offers a new method of adjusting the innovation matrix that allows the filter to be used with measurements of varying dimensionalities over time. Strong tracking filters are more robust to model mismatches than Kalman filters. Variants of the extended strong Kalman filter are compared to the extended Kalman filter for two types of model mismatch.
Hurricane Deposits on Carbonate Platforms: A Case Study of Hurricane Irma Deposits on Little Ambergris Cay, Turks and Caicos Islands

The study of modern hurricane deposits is useful in both identifying ancient hurricane deposits in the rock record and predicting patterns of deposition and erosion produced by future storm events. Hurricane deposits on carbonate platforms have been studied less frequently than have been those along continental coasts. Here we present observations of the characteristics of deposition and scour caused by Hurricane Irma on Little Ambergris Cay, a small uninhabited island located near the southeastern edge of the Caicos platform in the Turks and Caicos Islands. Hurricane Irma passed directly over Little Ambergris Cay on 7 September 2017 as a Category 5 hurricane. We described and sampled multiple types of hurricane deposits and determined that the washover fans were the best sedimentological records for hurricane conditions, as they were subject to very little reworking over time. We compared different model predictions of storm tide and wave height with eyewitness reports and distributions of scour. Examining the washover fans allowed for the construction of a conceptual model for hurricane deposits formed in a high‐energy storm event on a carbonate platform. Characteristics of the washover fans were their small size, the lack of sedimentary structures, and very well sorted sediment. The size and distribution of carbonate boulders eroded and transported by the storm are consistent with depth‐averaged flow velocities in the range of 1.5–5.3 m/s. The strength of the storm and the low‐lying topography, distinct features of a carbonate platform setting, contributed to high levels of sediment bypass and high flow velocities, resulting in small, unstructured deposits.
Changes in Cardiometabolic Risk Factors Before and After Gestational Diabetes: A Prospective Life-Course Analysis in CARDIA Women.

OBJECTIVE This study hypothesized that both preconception and postchildbearing patterns of cardiometabolic risk factors may be different for women with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) compared with women without GDM. METHODS Among 1,302 (51% black) women in the Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults (CARDIA) study with births and followed for 30 years, this study evaluated changes in cardiometabolic factors (BMI, waist circumference [WC], lipids, blood pressure) during prechildbearing (prior to the first postbaseline birth) and postchildbearing periods (after the last birth) by GDM status using piecewise linear mixed models adjusted for sociodemographics, parity, and time-varying covariates. RESULTS Compared with women who did not develop GDM, weight and WC increases in women who developed GDM (n = 152, 12%) were faster (BMI difference: +0.12 kg/m2 /y, P = 0.04; WC difference: +0.28 cm/y, P = 0.04) during the prechildbearing period, accounting for covariates. This translated to an average of 1.3 kg of excess weight gain across 4 years among women with subsequent GDM versus non-GDM births. In contrast, slopes after childbearing did not differ by GDM status, nor were there other cardiometabolic differences. CONCLUSIONS Women with GDM exhibited an increasing prepregnancy pattern of weight gain and central adiposity. Absolute postchildbearing weight was also higher in GDM-affected women, but the slope of gain after GDM was not.
Is the college farm sustainable? A reflective essay from Davidson College

Campus farms and gardens are proliferating across college and university campuses. While they may have unique missions, at their core those missions often include promoting student learning, campus sustainability, and strong campus-community rela­tions. In this reflective essay, we share our perspec­tive on the sustainability of one such farm, the Farm at Davidson College in Davidson, North Carolina, to encourage other analysts to similarly assess the interactions among these missions and sustainability’s environmental, economic, and social pillars. We particularly emphasize the factors influ­encing the Farm’s social sustainability, including the institution’s pedagogical mission, treatment of farm labor, impact on the local food economy, and equitable provision of food for students. We find that the Farm administrators misconstrue “eco­nomic” sustainability as “financial” independence and profitability. This hampers the social mission of equitably supplying students with the farm’s food and offering curricular and extracurricular enrichment. We suggest ways forward that help administrators recognize the diverse values that fulfillment of additional social and environmental missions might provide, beyond direct revenues. We conclude with recommendations for institu­tions interested in pursuing a similar sus­tainability assessment of their campus farm or garden.
Improving Evidence-Based Non-Accidental Trauma Screening in a Pediatric Emergency Department

Background: Child abuse and neglect occur in approximately 9.2 of every 1000 children, with the highest rates in children less than 1 year. In 2018, 1770 children died as a result of abuse and neglect, with the youngest at significantly increased risk of mortality. Despite the American Academy of Pediatrics’ (AAP) comprehensive recommendations for the evaluation of suspected non-accidental trauma (NAT), great variability and delayed identification in NAT remains a challenge. Implementation of a guideline for NAT evaluation has been shown to successfully remove biases and misconceptions surrounding child abuse and decrease disparities in care. Objective: …
The Balance between Food and Medical Care: Experiences of Food Insecurity among Cancer Survivors and Informal Caregivers

Defined as an inability to acquire enough food because of insufficient money or other resources, the prevalence of food insecurity is markedly higher among cancer survivors than the general populat...