cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Towards Automated Design of Mechanically Functional Molecules

Metal Organic Responsive Frameworks (MORFs) are a proposed new class of smart materials consisting of a Metal Organic Framework (MOF) with photoisomerizing beams (also known as linkers) that fold in response to light. Within a device these new light responsive materials could provide the capabilities such as photo-actuation, photo-tunable rigidity, and photo-tunable porosity. However, conventional MOF architectures are too rigid to allow isomerization of photoactive sub-molecules. We propose a new computational approach for designing MOF linkers to have the required mechanical properties to allow the photoisomer to fold by borrowing concepts from de novo molecular design and graph synthesis. Here we show how this approach can be used to design compliant linkers with the necessary flexibility to be actuated by photoisomerization and used to design MORFs with desired functionality.Copyright © 2015 by ASME
Refractoriness in hemophilia to coagulation-promoting agents: whole blood and plasma derivatives.

Frommeyer, Epstein and Taylor: Refractoriness in hemophilia to coagulation-promoting agents: Whole blood and plasma derivatives. Blood 5: 401-420 (May), 1950. The authors wish to note that the following changes should have appeared in the article: Page 402, first line: "Lawrence and Johnson, 1941,8 reported" (instead of "Lawrence and Johnston, in 1946,8 reported"). Page 402, second sentence of same paragraph: "In this instance the patient had received whole blood and plasma in therapeutic management prior to the appearance of resistance to therapy." (instead of ". . . had received chemically prepared plasma fractions in the form of Fraction I of Cohn in addition to whole blood and plasma in therapeutic management prior to . . . "). Page 420, reference 8. To this reference should be added: "(Presented before the American Clinical and Climatological Society, October 1941.)".
Advances in Research on Relationship of Platelet Activation and Inflammation

For a long time,the traditional role of platelets as mediators of hemostasis and thrombosis is well documented.But increasing evidence suggests that platelets are a source of inflammatory mediators.On activation platelets release and express inflammatory mediators,induce an inflammatory response,play a pathogenic role in formation and development of many diseases.This review article describes the relationship of platelet activation and inflammation to provide references on the mechanism of inflammation medicine,the creation of new anti-inflammation drugs and guidance to clinician's administration.
Thumb kinematics and their relevance to function

With its sophisticated motion and prehensile ability, the TM joint is essential to hand function. The bony anatomy and the musculotendinous forces across the joint allow this advanced function. The elaborate ligamentous system provides stability. The high forces transmitted during routine pinch and grasp would not be possible without this complex arrangement.
Preliminary evaluation of color Doppler imaging for investigation of intrascrotal pathology.

AbstractColor Doppler ultrasound facilitates investigation of blood flow in addition to imaging parenchymal abnormalities. To assess the clinical use of this technique we evaluated 25 consecutive patients with indications for intrascrotal imaging. Color flow imaging added useful information in all 11 patients evaluated for chronic scrotal pain and in 6 of 7 evaluated for acute scrotal pain. In contrast, color flow ultrasound provided little additional information in 7 patients with intrascrotal masses. Color flow ultrasound imaging is a promising method that may prove to be useful for assessment of selected patients with intrascrotal pathological conditions. (J. Urol., 144: 904–907, 1990)
Oligo(lactic acid)n-Paclitaxel Prodrugs for Poly(ethylene glycol)-block-poly(lactic acid) Micelles: Loading, Release, and Backbiting Conversion for Anticancer Activity.

Poly(ethylene glycol)-block-poly(d,l-lactic acid) (PEG-b-PLA) micelles are nanocarriers for poorly water-soluble anticancer agents and have advanced paclitaxel (PTX) to humans due to drug solubilization, biocompatibility, and dose escalation. However, PEG-b-PLA micelles rapidly release PTX, resulting in widespread biodistribution and low tumor exposure. To improve delivery of PTX by PEG-b-PLA micelles, monodisperse oligo(l-lactic acid), o(LA)8 or o(LA)16, has been coupled onto PTX at the 7-OH position, forming ester prodrugs: o(LA)8-PTX and o(LA)16-PTX, respectively. As expected, o(LA)n-PTX was more compatible with PEG-b-PLA micelles than PTX, increasing drug loading from 11 to 54%. While in vitro release of PTX was rapid, resulting in precipitation, o(LA)n-PTX release was more gradual: t1/2 = 14 and 26 h for o(LA)8-PTX and o(LA)16-PTX, respectively. Notably, o(LA)8-PTX and o(LA)16-PTX in PEG-b-PLA micelles resisted backbiting chain end scission, based on reverse-phase HPLC analysis. By contrast, o(LA)8-P...
The Impact of the Nomination Stage on Gifted Program Identification: A Comprehensive Psychometric Analysis

The use of the nomination stage as the first step in the identification process is pervasive across the field of gifted education. In many cases, nominations are used to limit the number of students who will need to be evaluated using costly and time-consuming assessments for the purpose of gifted program identification and placement. This study evaluated the effect of the nomination stage on the overall efficacy of a gifted identification system. Results showed that in nearly all conditions, identification systems that require a nomination before testing result in a large proportion of gifted students being missed. Under commonly implemented conditions, the nomination stage can cause the false negative rate to easily exceed 60%. Changes to identification practices are urgently needed in order to ensure that larger numbers of gifted students receive appropriate educational placement and to maintain the integrity of gifted education services.
Sensor-Free or Sensor-Full: A Comparison of Data Modalities in Multi-Channel Affect Detection.

Computational models that automatically detect learners’ affective states are powerful tools for investigating the interplay of affect and learning. Over the past decade, affect detectors—which recognize learners’ affective states at run-time using behavior logs and sensor data—have advanced substantially across a range of K-12 and postsecondary education settings. Machine learningbased affect detectors can be developed to utilize several types of data, including software logs, video/audio recordings, tutorial dialogues, and physical sensors. However, there has been limited research on how different data modalities combine and complement one another, particularly across different contexts, domains, and populations. In this paper, we describe work using the Generalized Intelligent Framework for Tutoring (GIFT) to build multi-channel affect detection models for a serious game on tactical combat casualty care. We compare the creation and predictive performance of models developed for two different data modalities: 1) software logs of learner interactions with the serious game, and 2) posture data from a Microsoft Kinect sensor. We find that interaction-based detectors outperform posture-based detectors for our population, but show high variability in predictive performance across different affect. Notably, our posture-based detectors largely utilize predictor features drawn from the research literature, but do not replicate prior findings that these features lead to accurate detectors of learner affect.
The Graph Homomorphism Partition Function

Known in statistical physics as the partition function of a multi-spin system, this is one of the most general forms of a partition function.
Dynamic, Simulation-Integrated, Intelligent Visualization: Methodology and Applications to Ecosystem Simulation

Abstract A simulation is only useful if its data is understood by the user and it has increased usefulness if the data could be used dynamically to adjust simulation focus and steer it. This paper proposes a method which enables intelligent interrogation of a large database for spatial and temporal understanding, and which also provides a dynamic and flexible environment for simulation-integrated visualization. A language is developed for defining and detecting semantically significant events based on interesting data patterns or trends. A programmable dynamic finite state machine based approach is used to develop the dynamic and flexible control. The dynamic finite state machines are automatically generated by enabling the users to define semantically interesting events (changes in data) and sequences of reactions to these events. This approach enables the generated behavior to be modifiable without the need to reprogram the system. The methodology developed uses simulation and visualization systems to create an intelligent problem solving environment.
Small Island States and the Paris Agreement

Islands predominated in the Paris COP negotiations. From metaphor to moral compass to declarations of kinship — like President Obama’s — the small island developing states’ vulnerability, dignity, and ambitions served as a rudder. Among other significant provisions discussed below, the response of the Agreement and the decision text — the latter a supporting though not legally binding document — and to demands for capacity building and efficient, simplified procedures for accessing financial resources directly addressed small islands’ concerns. And so the closing movements of the meetings offered congratulatory and hortatory words from island representatives, including a spontaneous, harmonized chorus of Bob Marley’s Three Little Birds stressing the refrain, “Every little thing is gonna be alright."
Explicit Fields and Their Application to Structural Property Inspection of Physical Systems

Abstract Bond graph models provide very useful insights into the structure of dynamic systems. One major advantage of using these models is the clear representation of constraints and independent state variables. However, certain over-constrained structures are not dealt with adequatly with this approach. Such a situation arises when several energy storage elements of the same type are directly coupled by a junction structure. In these models, although the representations are legitimate in terms of physical meaning, the resultant excess states cause pitfalls in the inspection of system properties. This paper proposes the use of explicit fields to eliminate such ambiguities. It was found that the excess states caused by the topological structures can be totally eliminated by explicit fields. The excess states caused by the imposed sources then can be identified properly. Several applications are presented to illustrate the use of explicit fields.
Performance of SMAP radiometer RFI detection algorithms and analysis of residual RFI sources

NASA's Soil Moisture Active and Passive (SMAP) satellite was launched in January 2015 to provide global measurements of soil moisture and freeze/thaw state. Soil moisture products are derived from SMAP radiometer measurements acquired at L Band (1.4 GHz). Even though this is a protected band, unauthorized transmitters emitting either within the band or in adjacent bands cause radio frequency interference (RFI). Because RFI contributions corrupt the radiometer measurements and therefore can lead to biases in retrieved soil moisture, the SMAP radiometer includes special hardware to enable RFI detection and filtering using multiple detection algorithms. This paper investigates the performance of SMAP's RFI detectors, which include pulse, cross-frequency, kurtosis, and polarimetric methods, as a function of the power of the RFI sources. Methods for examining residual RFI remaining after detection and filtering is applied are also discussed.
Natural signal statistics and the timecourse of spectral context effects in consonant categorization

Speech perception is heavily influenced by surrounding sounds. When spectral properties differ between earlier (context) and later (target) sounds, this can produce spectral contrast effects (SCEs) that bias categorization of later sounds. For example, when context sounds have a low-F3 bias, listeners report more high-F3 responses to the target consonant (/d/); conversely, a high-F3 bias in context sounds produces more low-F3 responses (/g/). SCEs have been demonstrated using a variety of approaches, but most often, the context was a single sentence filtered two ways (e.g., low-F3 bias, high-F3 bias) to introduce long-term spectral properties that biased speech categorization. Here, consonant categorization (/d/-/g/) was examined following context sentences that naturally possessed desired long-term spectral properties without any filtering. Filtered sentences with equivalent spectral peaks were included as controls. For filtered context sentences, as average spectral peak magnitudes (i.e., filter gain) i...
Proficiency-based preparation significantly improves FES certification performance

The Fundamentals of Endoscopic Surgery (FES) certification has recently been mandated by the American Board of Surgery but best methods for preparing for the exam are lacking. Our previous work demonstrated a 40% pass rate for PGY5 residents in our program. The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of a proficiency-based skills and cognitive curriculum for FES certification. Residents who agreed to participate (n = 15) underwent an orientation session, followed by skills pre-testing using three previously described models (Trus, Operation targeting task, and Kyoto) as well as the actual FES skills exam (vouchers provided by the FES committee). Participants then trained to proficiency on all three models for the skills curriculum and completed the FES online didactic material for the cognitive curriculum. Finally, participants post-tested on the models and took the actual FES certification exam. Values are mean ± SD; p < 0.05 was considered significant. Of 15 residents who participated, 8 (53%) passed the FES skills exam at baseline. Participants required 2.7 ± 1.3 h to achieve proficiency on the models and approximately 3 h to complete the cognitive curriculum. At post-test, 14 (93%, vs. pre-test 53%, p = 0.041) passed the FES skills exam. 14 (93%) passed the FES cognitive exam and 13/15 (87%) passed both the skills and cognitive exam and achieved FES certification. Our traditional clinical endoscopy curricula were not sufficient for senior residents to pass the FES exam. Implementation of a proficiency-based flexible endoscopy curriculum using bench-top models and the FES online materials was feasible and effective for the majority of learners. Importantly, with a modest amount of additional training, 87% of our trainees were able to pass the FES examination, which represents a significant improvement for our program. We expect that additional refinements of this curriculum may yield even better results for preparing future residents for the FES examination.
Helicases and Their Relevance to Aging

Abstract Molecular motor DNA unwinding enzymes known as helicases play prominent roles in cellular nucleic acid metabolism. A number of hereditary disorders with accelerated aging features have been identified in which the hereditary mutations reside in genes encoding DNA helicases. This has prompted tremendous interest in the aging community to characterize the molecular and cellular functions of these clinically relevant helicases and how their roles and pathways are important for the suppression of chromosomal instability, age-related diseases, neurodegeneration, and cancer. In this chapter, we focused our attention on some of the latest research developments pertaining to roles of helicases in DNA repair, transcriptional regulation, and genome maintenance, with a discussion of valuable mouse models. Progress in the field has provided new insight into the functional roles of helicases at the molecular, cellular, tissue-wide, and organismal levels, providing a launchpad for a more mechanistic understanding of age-related diseases and potential or emerging therapies.
Choice of optimal anticoagulant to support primary PCI: out with the new, in with the old.

“The past is never dead. It's not even past.” — William Faulkner, Requiem for a Nun [(1)][1] Bivalirudin, a direct thrombin inhibitor, is indicated as monotherapy in patients with unstable angina undergoing percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) [(2)][2]. Bivalirudin with
Mathematics in Use, As Seen on Postage Stamps.

The familiar "Apprenticeship" com memorative of the United States pictures the conventional micrometer caliper com monly used in the machine shop for mea suring the diameter of a wire or the thick ness of a sheet of metal in hundredths of a millimeter or thousandths of an inch. The Japanese stamp suggests that length, ca pacity, and mass are readily measurable. The Korean stamp specifically indicates the metric units of length (meter), capac ity (liter), and mass (kilogram), and the upper righthand corner reveals a cross section of the International Prototype me ter bar adopted in 1875. However, in 1960, thirty-six nations, including the United States, agreed to the "International Sys tem of Units," with the abbreviation "SI" in all languages (Syst?me International d'Unit?s). In this system the six basic units are as follows:
Use of Zymomonas mobilis immobilized in doped calcium alginate threads for ethanol production

Abstract Zymomonas mobilis immobilized in doped calcium alginate (Ca-alginate) threads was successfully employed for the production of ethanol in immobilized cell reactors operated with both vertical and horizontal flow. Polyethylene oxide (PEO) as a dopant for Ca-alginate threads was used to increase thread porosity. The influence of the direction of the flow into the reactor and the use of a dopant on the effectiveness of microbe immobilized Ca-alginate threads to produce ethanol was studied and results were compared to the widely used 2% Ca-alginate beads. Threads were able to obtain a similar ethanol yield to beads achieving 90.7% in vertical and 88% in horizontal flow reactors, while beads obtained 91% and 74.7%, respectively. The addition of PEO decreased the lag phase of the threads in both the horizontal and vertical flow reactors compared to a Ca-alginate standard over a 24 h period. The horizontal flow reactor's ethanol yield increased from 10.5% to 41.2% with the addition of PEO while the vertical flow reactor's ethanol yield increased from 15.5% to 69.6%. Additionally, doping with PEO lead to higher ethanol yield. This study demonstrates the use of threads for immobilization of microbes and the effectiveness of PEO as a dopant.
Reactive Power Compensation Using Plugged-In Electric Vehicles for an AC Power Grid

In recent years, Plugged-in Electric Vehicles (PEVs) have become more popular due to the growing interest in energy security and emission reduction. In addition to fulfilling these objectives, PEVs can play a crucial role in balancing the active power as well as compensating the reactive power of the smart power grid. These ancillary services provided by PEVs, not only help in improving the reliability and quality of the power, but also benefit the grid operators and PEV owners financially. In this paper, a PEV-based reactive power compensation and a novel phase-detector-based feedback control system is proposed. The effects of reactive power compensation on the battery's State-Of-Charge (SOC) are investigated. Also, detailed analyses are carried out to assess the impacts of various components of a reactive power compensation circuit. Simulation results are provided to support the analysis and demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed approach.
Asthma deaths in North Carolina: 1999-2016.

AbstractIntroduction: Despite the significant decline in overall death rates in the U.S. over the past decade, many asthma deaths could have been avoided. Eastern North Carolina (N.C.) is an econom...
Reducing blood viscosity and suppressing turbulence with magnetic field to prevent heart attack and stroke (Conference Presentation)

Heart attacks and strokes are the leading causes of death in USA. Research indicates that high blood viscosity and turbulence in blood circulation are the keys to trigger these vascular diseases. High blood viscosity and turbulence place much heavier work load on the heart. Turbulence in blood circulation can further rapture blood vessels and develop atherosclerotic plaque. Therefore, reducing blood viscosity and suppressing turbulence is the key to prevent heart attacks and strokes. On the other hand, these two tasks conflict each other. Presently, the only method to reduce the blood viscosity is to take medicine, such as aspirin. However, besides of heavy side effect, using medicine to reduce the blood viscosity only makes the turbulence worse because the Reynolds number goes up with the viscosity reduction. Moreover, neither medicine nor method is available presently to suppress turbulence in blood circulation. Here we report our new discovery with magnetorheology (MR): application of a strong magnetic field to blood along its flow direction, red blood cells are polarized in the magnetic field and aggregated into short chains along the flow direction. The blood viscosity becomes anisotropic: Along the flow direction the viscosity is significantly reduced, but in the directions perpendicular to the flow the viscosity is considerably increased. In this way, the blood flow becomes laminar, turbulence is suppressed, the blood circulation is greatly improved, and the risk for heart attacks is reduced. While these effects are not permanent, they last for about 24 hours after one magnetic therapy treatment. Our lab experiments and tests with mice confirm that this technology can successfully prevent development of atherosclerotic plaque. Our clinical trials further confirm that this MR technology can effectively cure hypertension for human and help people to prevent heart attack and stroke.
Effects of corrugation on the stiffness properties of composite beams for structural applications

The primary goal of this research was to investigate the stiffness characteristics of trapezoidal corrugated composite laminates under tensile and flexural load. Stiffness was calculated experimentally, analytically, and numerically in two directions. The longitudinal direction was defined as perpendicular to the corrugations and transverse direction along the corrugations. The stiffness ratio is the ratio of longitudinal stiffness to transverse stiffness. The effects of corrugations were measured by comparing changes to the stiffness ratios of flat and corrugated composite beams in tension and bending. For corrugated fibreglass coupons, the extensional stiffness ratio was increased from 1.0 to 49 and the flexural stiffness ratio was increased from 0.3 to 187. For carbon fibre coupons, the extensional stiffness ratio increased from 0.7 to 61.3 and the flexural stiffness ratio increased from 0.3 to 81.4. Corrugation of composite beams has shown a significant increase in stiffness for tensile and bending applications.
The World Bank and the Globalization of Participatory Budgeting

This article addresses the long-standing controversy over the World Bank’s role in the promotion of participatory budgeting (PB). Some on the left have celebrated the Bank’s funding and advocacy for PB as signifying the legitimacy or mainstream success of the process, while others see the Bank’s endorsement of PB as a sign that participatory budgeting is becoming watered down and losing its transformative potential, if it ever had such potential. This debate has mostly been an ideological one, and little research has been done to provide evidence to either side. The article is the first to address what the Bank is doing to promote PB and why. It makes six main points. First, the originators of participatory budgeting, the Workers’ Party in Brazil, is not promoting it as strongly as it used to. Second, the World Bank has become the most active promoter of PB (perhaps alongside the United Nations Development Program). Third, within the Bank, some promote PB as part of its fairly standard pro-market agenda, while others share many of the same goals as PB’s originators. Fourth, though the Bank has become very important for the diffusion of PB, overall PB remains marginal within the Bank. Fifth, the Bank has little influence over the eventual outcomes of PB in different countries because it has little or no control over many of the factors that affect PB in practice. And sixth, because PB’s effects have strong potential to be positive, the Bank’s role in promoting PB should be encouraged.
Strain-controlled impurity-induced disordered apertures for high-power single-mode VCSELs

Impurity-induced disordering in vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers (VCSELs) has demonstrated enhanced performance such as higher modulation speeds, reduced series resistance, and higher-order mode suppression for singlemode operation. Initiated by the diffusion of Zn, impurity-induced disordering intermixes discrete AlGaAs-based distributed Bragg reflectors (DBR) pairs which leads to lower mirror power reflectivity and increased optical loss. When formed into an aperture where the center is non-disordered, suppression of higher-order transverse modes for high-power single-mode operation can be achieved. For maximal mode suppression, deep disordering apertures are desirable. However, due to the isotropic nature of diffusion, these apertures are limited to the lateral diffusion encroaching onto the fundamental mode. By tailoring the film stress of the SiNx diffusion mask, the capability to modify the diffusion front of the disordering aperture is demonstrated. Defined by their lateral-to-vertical (L/V) diffusion ratios, an L/V ratio of 3.7 to 0.90 is measured for corresponding SiNx diffusion mask strains ranging from a compressive -797 MPa to a tensile +347 MPa. This demonstrates that tensile strained diffusion masks limit the amount of lateral diffusion. To further reduce the lateral encroachment, increasingly tensile diffusion masks are deposited by modifying the SiH4/NH3 flow ratios. This diffusion mask is employed to fabricate high-power single-mode VCSELs designed for 850 nm emission. Compared to VCSELs fabricated with non-optimized disordering apertures, enhanced transverse-mode control is achieved and singlemode output power in excess of 3.8 mW with a side mode suppression ratio greater than 30 dB is measured.
Tracking reduction of water lead levels in two homes during the Flint Federal Emergency.

Abstract A Federal Emergency was declared in Flint, MI, on January 16, 2016, 18-months after a switch to Flint River source water without phosphate corrosion control. Remedial actions to resolve the corresponding lead in water crisis included reconnection to the original Lake Huron source water with orthophosphate, implementing enhanced corrosion control by dosing extra orthophosphate, a “Flush for Flint” program to help clean out loose leaded sediment from service lines and premise plumbing, and eventually lead service line replacement. Independent sampling over a period of 37 months (January 2016–February 2019) was conducted by the United States Environmental Protection Agency and Virginia Tech to evaluate possible human exposure via normal flow (∼2–3 L/min) sampling at the cold kitchen tap, and to examine the status of loose deposits from the service line and the premise plumbing via high-velocity flushing (∼12–13 L/min) from the hose bib. The sampling results indicated that high lead in water persisted for more than a year in two Flint homes due to a large reservoir of lead deposits. The effects of a large reservoir of loose lead deposits persisted until the lead service line was completely removed in these two anomalous homes. As water conservation efforts are implemented in many areas of the country, problems with mobile lead reservoirs in service lines are likely to pose a human health risk.
What Is Just Compensation

The Supreme Court has held that “[t]he word ‘just’ in [‘just compensation’] . . . evokes ideas of ‘fairness.’” But the Court has not been able to discern how it ensures fairness. Scholars have responded with a number of novel policy proposals designed to assess a fairer compensation in takings. This Article approaches the ambiguity as a problem of history. It traces the history of the “just compensation” clause to the English writ of ad quod damnum in search of evidence that may shed light on how the clause was intended to ensure fairness. This historical inquiry yields a striking result. The word “just” imposes a procedural requirement on compensation: a jury must set compensation for it to be just. This historical understanding is especially important to modern law since the Supreme Court applies a historical test to determine whether the Seventh Amendment guarantees the right to a jury. This Article corrects the common misperception that juries did not determine just compensation in eighteenth-century English and colonial practice.
Comparison of patterns of laxative ingestion to improve bowel preparation for colonoscopy: a pilot randomized clinical trial.

Background and study aims Negative experiences with bowel preparation are a barrier to uptake of colonoscopy. The aim of this study was to examine the impact of different flavoring of polyethylene glycol (PEG) laxatives on patient satisfaction with and adequacy of bowel preparation during colonoscopy. Patients and methods This was a single-blind (endoscopist), parallel design, randomized trial (NCT 02062112) during which patients scheduled for colonoscopy were assigned to one of three groups: Group 1 (no laxative flavoring, n = 84); Group 2 (flavored entire laxative, n = 90) and Group 3 (tasted PEG with and without flavoring and decided how they want to drink the rest of the laxatives (choice group), n = 82). Patients rated their bowel preparation experience (satisfaction) and endoscopists accessed adequacy of bowel preparation during colonoscopy. Results There were no differences in patient ratings across the groups (1, 2 and 3) in taste of the laxatives (P = 0.67), ease of drinking (P = 0.53), and overall experience of bowel preparation process (P = 0.18). However, higher percentage of patients in the choice group would want the same laxative again if they were going to have a repeat colonoscopy in the future (72.5 % vs 81.3 % vs 88.9 %, P = 0.04). Surprisingly, adequacy of bowel preparation was highest among patients who drank their PEG unflavored (89.3 % vs 80 % vs 75.5 %, P = 0.07) and the had highest rates of adenoma detection (40.5 % vs 23.3 vs 39.0, P = 0.03). Conclusions There were no differences in overall tolerability of bowel preparation by patterns of flavoring of PEG. Those who drank unflavored PEG were less satisfied but had better clinical outcome, suggesting minimum justification effect in bowel preparation process.
Behavior problems in children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes in Zhengzhou

Objective To explore the influencing factors of behavior problems in children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes. Methods According to the content of Achenbach Children's, a questionnaire on the influencing factors was made by ourselves; and 59 children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes (an observation group) and 59 healthy subjects (a control group)were investigated by the questionnaire. Results The detection rate of behavioral problems was 40.68% in the observation group, and was 20.34% in the control group (P<0.05). The rate of bad communication was 22.03% in the observation group, and was 3.39% in the control group (P<0.05). The detection rate of anxiety and depression was higher in the observation group than in the control group (11.86% vs. 1.69%, P<0.05). Conclusions The incidence of behavior problems in children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes is higher than that in healthy people; and the behavior problems of these patients are caused by the interaction of many factors. Bad communication, anxiety, and depression are the main behaviors. Key words: Type 1 diabetes; Children; Adolescents; Behavior problems; Mental health
Pixel Perfect: Fashion Styling in Virtual Character Design Process

The main objective of this paper is to understand the process of designing 3D virtual characters in the gaming and animation industry in terms of clothing, hair styling and body proportions modeling. It focuses on the design practices and the creative decisions made by Computer Graphics (CG) professionals to bring virtual characters to life through fashion styling and character performance. A descriptive understanding of industry design practices can help build theories about the motivation and other human factors that goes into character design from the designers’ perspective.
Evaluation and Transplantation of a SARS-CoV-2 Seropositive Kidney Candidate

The COVID-19 pandemic affected transplant center activity in areas with high number of cases such as New York City and prompted reevaluation of patients awaiting organ transplant diagnosed with SARS-CoV-2 infection To resume safe transplantation at our center, we found it necessary to (1) identify transplant candidates with possible exposure to or history of COVID-19 infection, (2) outline a clinical and laboratory assessment to determine adequate clinical recovery from COVID-19 for transplantation, and (3) determine whether the possibility of perioperative COVID-19 transmission from the patient to staff would pose unacceptable risk Here, we describe our center's approach to proceeding with transplantation in a SARS-CoV-2 seropositive living donor kidney transplant recipient and describe early posttransplant outcomes [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] Copyright of Case Reports in Nephrology is the property of Hindawi Limited and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use This abstract may be abridged No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract (Copyright applies to all Abstracts )
Papillary thyroid microcarcinomas: does subtyping predict aggressive clinical behavior?

Summary The most common malignant neoplasm affecting the thyroid gland is papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC). PTC can demonstrate a number of morphologic variants including, but not limited to, classic, follicular, and tall cell. Each of these morphologic subtypes carry distinct clinical characteristics such that certain variants, like tall cell, behave more aggressively than others. PTCs measuring less than or equal to 1.0 cm are classified as microcarcinomas. Although these lesions are thought to be clinically indolent, we hypothesized that, like their larger counterparts, certain histologic variants may lead to worse patient outcomes. To test our hypothesis, we analyzed our pathology archives between the years 2009 and 2020 for papillary thyroid microcarcinomas and assessed whether different morphologic features correlated with more aggressive clinical behavior. Our findings suggest that certain variants exhibit features that portend a more worrisome clinical course and thus papillary thyroid microcarcinomas should be subtyped to help predict patient outcome.
Radiographic progression-free survival as a surrogate endpoint of overall survival in men with metastatic castrate-resistant prostate cancer.

5057Background: Radiographic progression-free survival (rPFS) is commonly used as a co-primary endpoint in randomized clinical trials in men with metastatic castrate-resistant prostate cancer (mCRP...
Simplified Gate Driving Strategy for GaN-Based Multi-level Buck Converters Operating at MHz Switching Frequencies

The utilization of low voltage rated gallium nitride field-effect transistors (GaN FETs) on flying capacitor multilevel (FCML) converters enabled multi-MHz switching frequency and improved the efficiency for telecommunication and data center applications. However, the gate driving circuit of a multi-level buck converter requires a dedicated DC power supply, a gate driver IC, and a signal isolator IC for each semiconductor device, which reduces the power density and increases the complexity of the high-frequency design. In this paper, a generalized gate driving strategy is proposed for flying capacitor three-level (FCTL) converter, which uses only two half-bridge gate driver ICs to drive the four GaN MOSFETs. A novel cascaded bootstrapping architecture with a single auxiliary DC source was proposed to meet the DC power supply requirements of the half-bridge gate driver ICs. The proposed gate driver uses a minimal number of parts to reduce the complexity and improve the power density to benefit the high switching frequency operation. An experimental prototype is built and tested up to 40 MHz PWM switching frequency. Results are presented as proof of concept.
SU-E-T-383: Evaluation of Deep Inspiration Breath-Hold Technique for Post-Mastectomy Proton Pencil Beam Scanning Therapy

Purpose: Deep inspiration breath-hold techniques (DIBH) have been shown to carry significant dosimetric advantages in conventional radiotherapy of left-sided breast cancer. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the use of DIBH techniques for post-mastectomy radiation therapy (PMRT) using proton pencil beam scanning (PBS). Method: Ten PMRT patients, with or without breast implant, underwent two helical CT scans: one with free breathing and the other with deep inspiration breath-hold. A prescription of 50.4 Gy(RBE) to the whole chest wall and lymphatics (axillary, supraclavicular, and intramammary nodes) was considered. PBS plans were generated for each patient’s CT scan using Astroid, an in-house treatment planning system, with the institution conventional clinical PMRT parameters; that is, using a single en-face field with a spot size varying from 8 mm to 14 mm as a function of energy. Similar optimization parameters were used in both plans in order to ensure appropriate comparison. Results: Regardless of the technique (free breathing or DIBH), the generated plans were well within clinical acceptability. DIBH allowed for higher target coverage with better sparing of the cardiac structures. The lung doses were also slightly improved. While the use of DIBH techniques might be of interest, it is technically challenging as it would require a fast PBS delivery, as well as the synchronization of the beam delivery with a gating system, both of which are not currently available at the institution. Conclusion: DIBH techniques display some dosimetric advantages over free breathing treatment for PBS PMRT patients, which warrants further investigation. Plans will also be generated with smaller spot sizes (2.5 mm to 5.5 mm and 5 mm to 9 mm), corresponding to new generation machines, in order to further quantify the dosimetric advantages of DIBH as a function of spot size.
Tradition, the Self, and Substantive Due Process: A Comment on Michael Sandel

Professor Sandel's purpose is "to bring out the truth" in the view that the "justice (or injustice) of laws against abortion and homosexual sodomy depends, at least in part, on the morality (or immorality) of those practices."' In particular, he wants to demonstrate that arguments against such laws cannot be carried entirely by a commitment to a "voluntarist"2 perspective, which defends the right of individuals to choose to engage in certain practices, regardless of the moral character of those practices. Sandel's project is to illustrate the inadequacy of this perspective through a critical analysis of "actual arguments"3 contained in recent cases in which the United States Supreme Court has developed the constitutional right to privacy, which protects from certain kinds of state interference such areas of life as abortion, procreation, marriage, and contraception. In this Comment I shall explore two problems with Professor Sandel's stimulating paper. The first is an important and suggestive ambiguity which lies at the heart of its exposition of the "voluntarist" perspective. The second is Sandel's seeming assumption that the discourse of moral and political philosophy ought to be transposed tout court into the arena of constitutional adjudication.
Conclusion and Recommendations

In concluding our discussion of the 2013 E-Males study of 273 FtM transgender Australians, this chapter outlines the key findings of the data. We urge all Australian government offices and other places where documentation (featuring name and sex) is required to familiarise staff with new national guidelines on the recognition of gender. We call for national education policy that includes guidelines around combatting transphobia and specific guidelines around issues like information provision, uniforms and bathrooms, and management plans. We recommend workplace equity training measures broadly, and training in gender identity issues for a range of other medical and health practitioners who may engage with FtM transgender Australians on various gender affirmation journeys. We highlight the need for consistency in provisions regardless of state, and the need for clearer standards based on research. Particular provisions for youth, genderqueer people and rural people are called for. Areas for further research are detailed.
Synthesis and assembly of adenovirus 2. I. Polypeptide synthesis, assembly of capsomeres, and morphogenesis of the virion.

Abstract Adenovirus type 2 hexon polypeptides have been traced from their synthesis on cytoplasmic polyribosomes through their incorporation into whole virions. Analysis of the methionine-containing tryptic peptides of hexon and penton revealed that they had no methionine-containing peptides in common, eliminating the possibility of a precursor-product relationship. Nascent hexon peptides were found on the cytoplasmic polysomes and required 3–4 min to be synthesized and released from the ribosomes. Between 80% and 90% of the hexon peptides were assembled into complete capsomeres within an additional 3–4 min of their release from the ribosome, while the remaining 10–20% were assembled more slowly. The penton base and fiber peptides were synthesized and released from their ribosomal site of synthesis in approximately 2 min. Although there was an initial rapid association of 24% of the fiber and penton base peptides into pentons, many hours were required for the completion of this assembly. Studies on the morphogenesis of complete virions showed that radioactive core peptides began to appear in virions within 15 min of their synthesis, when radioactive hexon peptides were still undetectable in assembled virus.
Performance evaluation of sinusoidal and Space Vector Pulse-Width-Modulation for power quality enhancement in distributed generation systems

The installation of Distributed Generation (DG) systems leads to harmonic distortions, unequal power sharing among the host feeders and system voltage and frequency imbalances. These power quality issues arise mostly when main grid interacts with DG systems or when they operate in islanded mode. Henceforth, with a two-step approach as this paper presents, proper frequency and voltage control of DG systems is acquired to solve these problems. In the first step, a comparison in terms of harmonic content is performed between Sinusoidal Pulse-Width-Modulation (SPWM) and Space Vector Pulse-Width-Modulation (SVPWM) techniques for interface inverters in distributed configuration. Secondly, an improved droop control method is implemented in order to regulate voltage and frequency as a function of customized droop equations. Validation of design method and parametric analysis of results is provided with the help of simulations.
Reflections on the Health Major Curriculum

(1977). Reflections on the Health Major Curriculum. Health Education: Vol. 8, No. 3, pp. 12-13.
The Cardiovascular System in Microgravity

The sections in this article are: 1 Fundamental Concepts 2 Acute Effects of Microgravity 2.1 Parabolic Flight of Aircraft 2.2 Spaceflight and the Prelaunch Posture 2.3 Peripheral Circulation 2.4 Central Circulation 2.5 Effective Circulatory Compliance 2.6 Psychological Stress 3 Acclimation to Microgravity 3.1 Leg Blood Flow 3.2 Leg Compliance 3.3 Splanchnic Circulation 3.4 Upper Body Vascular Adjustments 3.5 Transcapillary Fluid Balance and Microcirculatory Responses 3.6 Central Circulation 3.7 Cardiac Rhythm 3.8 Extracellular Fluid Volume and Composition 3.9 Hematopoiesis 3.10 Integrated Cardiovascular Function 3.11 Interrelationships among Systemic Adjustments to Microgravity 3.12 Validity of Ground-Based Models 4 Postflight Readjustment to Gravity 4.1 Orthostatic Intolerance 4.2 Reduced Upright Exercise Capacity 5 Countermeasures 6 Summary and Conclusions
The Influence of Confucianism on the Construction of the Chinese Political and Juridical System (L'influenza della concezione confuciana sulla costruzione del sistema giuridico e politico cinese)

It will be described the Confucian conception of social order, harmony, medium, and the position of individuals inside the Chinese society, the law (Fa), the costums and the morals (Li), the school of thoughts in the Chinese legal tradition, the legal pluralism and this notion adapted to the Chinese context.
FPGA based embedded processing architecture for the QRD-RLS algorithm

A novel implementation of the QR decomposition based recursive least squares (RLS) algorithm on Altera Stratix FPGAs is presented. CORDIC (coordinate rotation by digital computer) operators are efficiently time-shared to perform the QR decomposition while consuming minimal resources. Back substitution is then performed on the embedded soft Nios processor by utilizing custom instructions to yield the final weight vectors. Analytical resource estimates along with actual implementation results illustrating the weight calculation delays are also presented.
Increased Renal Pelvic Pressure Elicits Excitatory or Inhibitory Responses in Rat Renal Afferent Nerves that is Reduced by Renal Nerve Ablation

Renal denervation by radiofrequency (RF) ablation has been reported to ameliorate resistant hypertension and other cardiovascular diseases. Many have suggested that afferent renal nerves (ARN) are ...
A Comparison of Knee Kinetics between Male and Female Recreational Athletes in Stop-Jump Tasks

We compared the knee kinetics of 10 male and 10 female recreational athletes (aged 19 to 25 years) performing forward, vertical, and backward stop-jump tasks. Three-dimensional videography and force plate data were used to record the subjects' performance of the three stop-jump tasks, and an inverse dynamic procedure was used to estimate the knee joint resultant forces and moments. Women exhibited greater proximal anterior shear force than did men during the landing phase. All subjects exhibited greater proximal tibia anterior shear force during the landing phase of the backward stop-jump task than during the other two stop-jump tasks. Women also exhibited greater knee extension and valgus moments than did men during the landing phase of each stop-jump task. Men exhibited greater proximal tibia anterior shear force than did women during the takeoff phase of vertical and backward stop-jump tasks. These results indicate that female recreational athletes may have altered motor control strategies that result in knee positions in which anterior cruciate ligament injuries may occur. The landing phase was more stressful for the anterior cruciate ligament of both women and men than the takeoff phase in all stop-jump tasks. Technical training for female athletes may need to be focused on reducing the peak proximal tibia anterior shear force in stop-jump tasks. Further studies are needed to determine the factors associated with the increased peak proximal tibia anterior shear force in female recreational athletes.